Johnson gets hot late, leads
Three birdies over last four holes give him edge in Genesis Open
LOS ANGELES — Dustin Johnson is closing in on that elusive victory at Riviera, and a shot to reach No. 1 in the world.
And he still has a long way to go.
Johnson made two tough pars around the turn and poured it on late with three birdies over his last four holes for another 5-under 66 and a one-shot lead in the Genesis Open. It was a good place to be Saturday afternoon, except he was only halfway home at rainy Riviera.
The tournament lost an hour to fog Thursday, then seven hours when heavy rain and wind arrived in Southern California on Friday, and two more hours Saturday morning to get the course cleaned up for play.
So what day is it? “Saturday,” Johnson said. “Yeah, I think it’s Saturday.” He was at 10-under 132 and had a one-shot lead over Pat Perez, who birdied his last two holes for a 66, and Cameron Tringale, whose wedge from 82 yards flew straight into the cup on No. 18 for a birdie and a 64.
Jhonattan Vegas finished his second round well before lunch with four pars for a 68. He was in the group at 7-under 135 along with Patrick Rodgers (67) and PGA Tour rookie J.T. Poston (69).
Sam Saunders, who opened with a 7-under 64 on Thursday and didn’t play at all on Friday, stumbled to a 77. He was right on the cut line and was in danger of becoming the first player in four years to go from leading the first round to missing the cut until a long birdie on the 17th. Saunders was nine shots behind.
The PGA Tour got a big break when 71 players made the cut, making it possible to complete 72 holes by Sunday. The third round began Saturday afternoon, though the last two groups did not tee off because of darkness and will face 36 holes on the final day. The weather had cooperated enough that players no longer could lift, clean and place their golf balls in the short grass.
Johnson was in control of his game and the focus going into a marathon Sunday.
Chubb Classic: Miguel Angel Jimenez birdied two of the last four holes to take a one-stroke lead over Fred Couples and Kevin Sutherland into the final round of the Chubb Classic at Naples, Florida. Jimenez birdied the par-4 15th and par-5 17th in a bogey-free 5-under 67 that got him to 12-under 132 in the PGA Tour Champions event at The TwinEagles Club.
Women’s Australian Open: Lizette Salas shot a 2-under 71 to take a two-stroke lead into the final round at Royal Adelaide. Salas birdied Nos. 14, 15 and 17 to reach 10-under 209. The two-time U.S. Solheim Cup player won the 2014 Kingsmill Championship for her lone LPGA Tour victory.