DUSTIN JOHNSON OPENS FOUR-SHOT LEAD IN MEXICO

Dustin Johnson watched a six-shot lead shrink to two before putting together enough birdies Saturday for a 5-under 66 and a four-shot lead over Rory McIlroy going into the final round of the Mexico Championship in Mexico City.

Johnson nearly threw away his sixshot lead through eight holes when McIlroy made a 35-foot birdie putt on No. 9, and then Johnson ran into some serious tree trouble on the 10th hole. He hit trees with three consecutive shots and had to two-putt from across the green to salvage a double bogey.

It was his first score worse than par at Chapultepec Golf Club this week.

“I didn't let it bother me because I knew I was playing well and there were plenty of holes I could make birdie,” Johnson said. Johnson answered with two straight birdies, sandwiched two birdies around a big par save, and restored a cushion going into Sunday. McIlroy got no closer than two shots all day and had to settle for a 68.

Tiger Woods pulled within four shots after Johnson's blunder, but his hopes ended on the greens.

Woods had a 5-iron from the middle of the fairway on the par-5 15th, put it into a bunker, blasted out weakly to 25 feet and four-putted for a double bogey, with the last three putts from just outside 3 feet.

He followed that with a three-putt bogey on the 16th, and a birdie on the final hole gave him a 70. Woods is 10 shots back.