The Masters: Dustin Johnson leads by four after third round at Augusta National | Golf news

The number 1 in the world shoots 65 in the third round to reach 16 under and approach the Green Jacket while Jon Rahm and Justin Thomas falter on the third day at Augusta National; Rory McIlroy shoots a 67, but is eight behind

Dustin Johnson separated from the field as he reached a four-stroke commanding lead after the third round of the 84th Masters.

Johnson underscored his status as the world’s number 1 golfer with a seemingly effortless 7-under 64 that took him to 16 under, equaling the 54-hole scoring record, and a sub-70 final round will beat the tournament. overall best held jointly by Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth.

Round two concluded on Saturday morning with Johnson leading the nine-down alongside Jon Rahm and Justin Thomas, the first time in major history that the world’s top three players had shared the lead after each round.

But Rahm’s challenge stalled with a double bogey seven to eighth, while Thomas dropped three shots in four holes on the last nine to leave Sungjae Im, Abraham Ancer and Cameron Smith as Johnson’s closest rivals in the last. day.

Rory McIlroy continued his impressive rebound from his opening 75 when a 67 took him to eight under, though he insisted he had “zero thoughts” of catching Johnson on Sunday, while defending champion Woods endured 26 holes. long the third day and the green jacket will be presented to a new champion in the butler’s cabin.

Johnson had the luxury of enjoying a leisurely Saturday morning awaiting the conclusion of round two, with Rahm making a five-foot putt for birdie on the 13th with his opening shot of the day to join the leaders overnight Johnson, Smith, Ancer and Thomas out of nine below par.

Rahm was unable to snatch the definitive advantage by finishing with five pars in a row to post a 66, while Woods finished a solid 71 to be only four behind mid-stage and pre-tournament favorite Bryson DeChambeau crossed the line without nothing to lose at par.

DeChambeau birdied 13, 14 and 16 before bogeyed the last two holes to leave himself an anxious wait to see if he would be required for the last 36 holes, and revealed that he had been suffering from vertigo which prompted him to undergo a Friday night. coronavirus test.

With round two finally in the books, it was Johnson who took control of the tournament early in round three, punching a splendid second to intercept distance for the eagle to the second which followed with a three-way bird and a putt. 30 feet to another quarter.

Johnson picked up another shot in the seventh, and Rahm’s challenge ended on the long eighth when he passed a fairway-wood with his second, rubbing it left and through the pines, and his attempt to put it back into play brought the his ball cannoning a tree trunk and into the grove.

The Spaniard’s failures resulted in a damaging double bogey seven, as Johnson completed a serene 31 outside and barely missed a shot as he pulled out a string of stress-free pars and added additional birdies on 13 and 15.

The 2016 US Open champion missed a good chance to extend his lead to the next, and atoned for a stuck approach at the last with a well-rated putt from the green that finished for par and his second 65 of the week.

I kept his hopes of becoming the first Asian Masters champion with a 68 that included one of the day’s shots, a sublime birdie chip-in at difficult 11th, and was first in the clubhouse with 12 under par.

That score was matched by two final group members, Smith and Ancer both carding resolute rounds of 69, while Thomas was troubled by inconsistency along the stretch as he tripped over three bogeys in four holes limiting damage with birds to 13th. and 16 °.

But Thomas made a mistake again at the last to sign for a 71 which left him six shots adrift from Johnson and one behind South African Dylan Frittelli, who returned a bogey-free 67 to secure a spot in the top five after 54 holes. – an impressive performance only on his second appearance in Augusta.

Rahm repaired the damage of the eighth hole with birdies at 14 and 15 before a last bogey added to a 72 that left him at nine under along with 2018 champion Patrick Reed, who finished his 71 with consecutive bogeys.

McIlroy was again left to reflect on his wayward opening round and admitted making eight shots on Johnson on the final day was an unlikely prospect, while four-time winning mate Brooks Koepka (69) and Ryder Cup teammate Tommy Fleetwood (71) completed the top 10 with Hideki Matsuyama.