JOHNSON DUSTIN’ THE FIELD
Top- ranked player leads by four going to final round of Masters
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Dustin Johnson began his assault on Augusta National with a 5- iron for a tap- in eagle and never relented until he matched the 54- hole record at the Masters and built a four- shot lead to put himself in prime position to win another major.
Johnson has been in this position before, and he plans to lean on his experience.
Not from the 82 he shot at Pebble Beach in the 2010 U. S. Open. Not from the threeputt from 12 feet on a bumpy 18th green that cost him the 2015 U. S. Open at Chambers Bay. Not even from the one- shot lead he lost three months ago at the PGA Championship at Harding Park. They were among four times he had at least a share of the 54- hole lead in a major without converting.
He’s talking about the last three days at Augusta National. It has been a masterful performance.
‘‘ If I can play like I did today, I think it will break that streak,’’ Johnson said Saturday. ‘‘ Tomorrow, it’s just 18 holes of golf. I need to go out and play solid. I feel like I’m swinging really well. If I can just continue to give myself a lot of looks at birdie, I think I’ll have a good day.’’
A third round that began with 10 players separated by one shot turned into a oneman show.
Johnson, the top- ranked player in the world, looked every bit the part with a 7- under- par 65, pulling away with the eagle and two birdies in the first four holes, nearly holing a wedge from the seventh fairway, handling the par- 5s on the back nine with two- putt birdies and going the last 30 holes without a bogey.
He was at 16- under 200, matching the 54- hole record Jordan Spieth set in 2015, when he won the Masters by four shots over Phil Mickelson and Justin Rose.
The cast of challengers is not nearly as experienced this year.
Two of them are Masters rookies. Sungjae Im, a supreme ball- striker from South Korea who won his first PGA Tour title two weeks before the COVID- 19 pandemic shut down golf in the spring, birdied the last hole for a 4- under 68. Abraham Ancer of Mexico saved par on the 18th for a 3- under 69.
Joining them at 12- under 204 was Cameron Smith of Australia, who had 12 consecutive pars before running off three birdies in a row and then closing with three scrambling pars for a 69.
‘‘ He’s been there before multiple times,’’ Ancer said of Johnson. ‘‘ I think he’s right where he wants to be. We know that we have to go low, and that’s it. It’s very simple: If DJ goes out there and plays really solid, like today, it’s going to be pretty much impossible to catch him. Whatever has to be done out there has to be pretty special.’’
Still, there is enormous pressure on Johnson because of his history. He has not converted two 54- hole leads, nor has he won at two majors where he shared the 54- hole lead. His only major victory was the 2016 U. S. Open when he rallied from four shots behind at Oakmont.
‘‘ Anyone with a four- shot lead is expected to win,’’ Smith said. ‘‘ There’s going to be plenty of boys firing tomorrow.’’
Attacking flags is what Augusta National has allowed in November, with rain earlier in the week and warm, calm conditions that have kept the turf soft and vulnerable.
Johnson, who had to sit out two tournaments after testing positive for the coronavirus a month ago, still came into the Masters having won twice, finishing second three times and tying for sixth in his last six starts.
‘‘ I’m very comfortable with having the lead,’’ Johnson said. ‘‘ I’ve been in this situation a lot of times. I’m looking forward to the challenge. It’s still going to be a tough day. I’m going to have to play well if I want to get it done.’’