Dustin Johnson of the US threatened to run away with the US$8.5 million WGC-HSBC Champions tournament yesterday, before a double-bogey at the final hole of his third round gave a glimmer of hope to the field.
Johnson pushed his tee shot into the water at the par-five 18th — which followed an earlier double-bogey — yet he still managed a six-under-par 66 in perfect scoring conditions to lead England’s Ian Poulter (63), the defending champion, by three.
Soft greens and the absence of a breeze led to a birdie blitz and also deteriorating air quality as smog hung unrelentingly over Sheshan International.
Photo: AFP
However, Johnson was more bothered by his tardy finish than the smoky air, despite posting an impressive 18-under 198 total with one round left.
“I’m still a little mad from my double bogey at 18, but obviously a three-shot lead going into Sunday is good,” the long-hitting Johnson, a seven-time PGA Tour winner, told reporters.
“It’s a good score. I made 10 birdies, hit a lot of good shots. I’m definitely happy with what I shot, just not happy with the way I finished,” he said. “Making two doubles, there’s no excuse for that, especially the way I’m playing.”
Englishman Poulter vaulted into second place on 15-under, with Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell (64) another shot behind.
McDowell’s compatriot Rory McIlroy (67), Englishman Justin Rose (65) and Canadian Graham DeLaet (65) are six strokes back of Johnson in a tie for fourth.
Martin Kaymer, the 2011 winner, shot a course record 62, but he is still eight shots off the pace in a tie for seventh.
British Open champion Phil Mickelson plunged from contention with a mediocre 72.
After running off five consecutive birdies to the turn, Johnson’s first double bogey come at the par-four 10th, where his tee shot finished just left of the fairway, leaving what looked like a straightforward shot to the green.
However, his approach shot came up short and then he twice chipped weakly and his ball rolled back down the hill. He eventually holed a 12-foot putt to salvage a six.
At the par-five 18th, he pushed his drive into the water and could not be sure where it crossed the hazard line so he decided to re-tee, rather than risk any possible penalty.
Poulter also took advantage of the easier front nine, reeling off five birdies in a row from the third hole to reach the turn in 30 strokes.
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