Johnson positions himself for honors

CARMEL, Ind. — U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson ran off four birdies in his last five holes Saturday for a 4-under 68, giving him a threeshot lead going into the final round of the soggy BMW Championship.

Johnson couldn’t make any putts early. He couldn’t miss late.

His late run to seize control began with a 10-foot birdie putt on the 14th hole and ended with an 18-foot birdie putt on the 18th.

Paul Casey did his best to stay with him. Casey, coming off a runner-up finish on Labor Day at the TPC Boston, matched two of Johnson’s birdies during his late run until he had to scramble for pars on the last two holes. He managed a bogey-free 68 and will be in the final group Sunday.

Johnson was at 18-under 198.

He will be going for his third victory of the year, which would move him to the top of the FedEx Cup going into the finale at the Tour Championship in two weeks and make him a heavy favorite to win PGA Tour player of the year and the Vardon Trophy.

Still in the mix was J.B. Holmes, who shot a 68 and was four shots behind. Holmes at least is making a compelling case to be a captain’s pick for the Ryder Cup when Davis Love III announces three of his selections Monday. Holmes finished 10th in the U.S. standings.

Jordan Spieth had such a poor day putting that the distance of his total putts added to 30 feet, 6 inches. Spieth routinely makes one putt from that distance in a round. He was helped by two chipins, one for birdie and one for eagle, but closing with two straight bogeys gave him a 68. In other golf news: • Bryson DeChambeau shot a 2-under 68 to take the third-round lead in the Web.com Tour Finals-opening DAP Championship in Beachwood, Ohio.

DeChambeau, the 22-year-old former SMU player who swept the 2015 NCAA and U.S. Amateur titles, had an 8-under 202 total at Canterbury Golf Club.