Dustin leads the way as Gallacher falls back

World No. 1 Dustin Johnson will take a two-shot lead into today’s final round as he bids to win the Saudi International for the second time in three years.

Johnson, who was also runner-up in 2020, completed a delayed second round of 64 yesterday morning and then added a 66 to reach 13-under-par, with France’s Victor Perez also shooting 66 to lie in second place on 11 under.

Tyrrell Hatton, who won in Abu Dhabi a fortnight ago, is a shot further back alongside fellow Englishman Andy Sullivan, American Tony Finau and Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen.

After completing the final four holes of round two in one-underpar, Johnson began the third round a shot off the lead shared by Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher and Kiwi Ryan Fox.

Four birdies in the first 10 holes saw the Masters champion cruise into a two-shot lead and his only blemish of the week came when he found the water with his approach to the 13th to run up a double-bogey six.

“Felt like I played really well all day, other than 13, but I didn’t think I hit that bad a shot,” said Johnson, who birdied the 17th and 18th to give him a stroke average of 66.18 from his 11 rounds at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club.

“I pushed it a hair right of the flag but just came up well short of where I thought it would and ended up making six there.

“But other than that, I drove it well and hit a lot of really good iron shots in there to give myself a lot of good chances at birdie.

“I like the golf course. I think it sets up good for me. I’ve liked it since the first time I came here a couple of years ago.

“I feel like I’m swinging it well and giving myself all the chances tomorrow. I just need to hole a few putts.”

Perez carded four birdies in a bogey-free 66 and is relishing playing alongside Johnson in the

final round as he looks to boost his chances of qualifying for a Ryder Cup debut in September.

Sergio Garcia’s 64 was the lowest round of the day and lifted the Spaniard into a sevenstrong group on nine-underpar which also contains Viktor Hovland and Scot Calum Hill.

Gallacher’s third round of 72 left him on eight-under alongside Justin Rose, with Ian Poulter and US Open champion Bryson Dechambeau a shot further back.

Oban left-hander Bob Macintyre is on six-under after a fine third-round showing of 65, and David Law’s 69 took him to one-under-par going into today’s final round.