New putter helps propel Johnson to halfway lead

A new putter helped world

No 1 Dustin Johnson produce a stunning burst of scoring to claim the halfway lead in the WGCHSBC Champions in Shanghai.

Johnson birdied six of the last seven holes at Sheshan International in a brilliant, bogeyfree 63 to reach 13 under par, a shot ahead of first-round leader Brooks Koepka.

Koepka also kept a bogey off his card as he added a 68 to his opening 64, leaving the US Open champion three clear of Olympic gold medallist Justin Rose and Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat.

A victory for Johnson tomorrow would make him the first player to win three World Golf Championship events in the same year after he won the WGC-DELL Technologies Match Play and Wgc-mexico Championship on back-to-back starts in March.

“Obviously I played very well,” Johnson said after covering the back nine in 29.

“But I actually got a putter like about 20 minutes before I teed off. It’s a (Taylormade) Spider, so it’s one that I’ve used before.

“I wasn’t really pleased with the one I played with (on Thursday), so the guys here in China made me one. I got it right before I walked to the tee. I hit a few putts on the practice green with it and I was like, ‘Oh, this will work pretty well’.

“I went out and holed a lot of putts, so I kind of like it.”

Johnson also clearly likes the course at Sheshan International, where his 24-under-par winning total in 2013 included a second round of 63.

“It suits my eye very well,” the 33-year-old added. “For me, if I drive it good out here, I feel like I can make a lot of birdies.

“I can reach all the par fives if I drive it in the fairway. The rest of the holes, I feel like if I’m in the fairway, I can attack the golf course.

Rose was disappointed to bogey the par-five 18th in his 68, but was pleased with his overall performance as he continues to struggle with a shoulder problem.

“It’s nothing major, just a tiny bit of tendonitis,” the world no 13 said. “It’s not impeding my golf.

“It was a disappointing way to finish. I felt like I was running out of steam a little bit coming in, but it’s my first tournament in a month or so, so to back up a good start with another good round is good and now I feel like I’m into the weekend, which is where you want to be.”

Aberdonian Richie Ramsay posted a one under par round which left him level for the tournament in a tie for 49th and 13 shots behind Johnson.