No. 1 Johnson equals 54-hole mark to take Masters lead

Top-ranked Dustin Johnson took command of the Masters on Saturday, equaling the 54-hole record at Augusta National to take a four-time lead in pursuit of a second major title.

Moving away from an elite field at Augusta National, the 36-year-old American, who grew up just an hour’s drive from the field, shot a 65 of seven under par to 200 of 16 under par after three rounds.

“I’m very confident in everything that I’m doing,” Johnson said. “Tomorrow I’m going to have to go out and do the same.

“I have many great players around me. I’m going to have to play a really good round if I want to wear that green jacket. “

Johnson posted a career-best four under par on the first four holes, hitting an eagle on the second par 5, making a six-foot birdie jump on the third and sinking a long birdie putt on the fourth .

He added tap-in birdies at par 4 seventh, par 5 13 and par 5 15 to match the 54-hole mark set in 2015 by Jordan Speith.

“These greens are really hard to read,” Johnson said. “You get a lot of putts that break a lot. We are reading them very well. Definitely pleased with the launch of three rounds. “

Johnson is the first player to shoot 65 or more twice in the same Masters after 65 in the first round.

Four way chase

Im Sung-jae, a 22-year-old South Korean who could become the first debut winner of the Masters since 1979, closed with a birdie to shoot 68 and share second place in 204 with Abraham Ancer of Mexico, another Augusta newcomer, and Cameron Smith from Australia.

“I played my first round of practice on Monday. I immediately felt that the field suited my game and I thought I would do a good job, ”Im said through a translator.

“I really feel like I will keep my composure. My putting has been really good the last three days and I will continue to do what I have been doing. “

He could become the second Asian man to win a Major after South Korea’s Yang Yong-eun at the 2009 PGA Championship.

Johnson, the 2016 US Open champion, is trying to become the first top-ranked golfer to win the Masters since Tiger Woods in 2002.

Defending champion Woods, who started four strokes off the beat, battled back pain to shoot 72 and stand at 211, responding bogeys at par 5 eighth and par 4 11 with birdies at par 3 12 and par 5 fifteen .

“Long days like this, I’m going to get a little sore,” Woods said. “I can walk all day. The hard part is bending and turning. “

Woods, a 15-time Major winner who turns 45 next month, is looking for a sixth green jacket and an 83rd PGA Tour win to break the record he shares with Sam Snead.

McIlroy fades

Nine golfers shared the lead at a time when Augusta National’s notorious rolling greens dried up and sped up.

Smith, who closed with an eagle and three birdies to take part of the 36-hole lead, birdie 13, 14 and 15 to share second with Im and Ancer, who birdie 15 and 16 on a late charge.

Dylan Frittelli, 100th seed from South Africa, shot a bogey-free 67 with birdies on all four par-5 holes to finish fifth at 205.

“The putt is the big difference,” he said. “I feel quite comfortable on the greens.”

Another hit adrift was third-placed American Justin Thomas, who settled for 71 after a final bogey.

Second-ranked Jon Rahm shared seventh place in 207 with Colombian Sebastián Muñoz and 2018 Masters winner Patrick Reed.

Spaniard Rahm suffered a double bogey disaster in the eighth, bounced back with birdies on 14 and 15, but stumbled on a final bogey.

Fifth-ranked Rory McIlroy, who only needed a green jacket to complete a lifetime Grand Slam, shot 67 to stand at 208, but sees little hope of passing the green jacket.

“Being realistic here, I just need to go out and shoot one good morning and see where it puts me,” McIlroy said. “But I have no thoughts about winning this golf tournament at the moment.”

US Open winner Bryson DeChambeau, who many feared would overwhelm Augusta National with his powerful driving game, tested negative for Covid-19 on Friday after feeling dizzy on the field. He shot 69 on Saturday to settle at 213.