3 minutes
LOS ANGELES: Dustin Johnson topped the leaderboard after three rounds at the PGA Championship in San Francisco on Saturday thanks to eight birdies but defending champion Brooks Koepka remains in strong contention as well.
The 2016 US champion Johnson leads by one stroke at 9 under par at Harding Park thanks to a 65 on the so-called “moving day” at the year’s first major.
On Johnson’s tail are Scottie Scheffler and Cameron Champ at 8 under par, while two-time champion Koepka will start his title defence – and bid for history – in Sunday’s final round from 7 under par.
In addition to Johnson’s sole major win, he has a string of near misses including the 2010 PGA Championship where he was penalized for grounding his club in what was deemed to be a bunker on the 18th at Whistling Straits.
“I’ve been in the hunt a bunch of times in a major,” Johnson said. “I’ve got one major, so having that experience is definitely going to be beneficial tomorrow (Sunday).
Koepka could become the first player to win three straight PGA Championships since Walter Hagen did so from 1924-27 when the tournament was contested in match-play format.
He narrowly missed a similar opportunity for three consecutive US Opens last summer.
“I like my chances,” Koepka. “When I’ve been in this position before, I’ve capitalized.”
England’s Paul Casey and 23-year-old star Collin Morikawa also sit at 7 under, while Jason Day and Justin Rose are among the group one further back.
Friday’s surprise leader Haotong Li shot 73 around the par-70 course, which is free of fans due to coronavirus restrictions, to drop 13th at minus-five.
“Obviously, we don’t have fans here, which I think makes it a little different when they’re hooting and hollering, which it can be fun if they’re cheering for you, but if they’re against you it’s not so much fun,” Koepka said.
Tiger Woods meanwhile looked out of contention for a 16th major title on Sunday after shooting 72 for a second straight day to find himself 11 shots behind Johnson.
“It was just a fight all day,” he admitted.
Another triumph would have made Woods the sole holder of the record for most PGA Tour wins. He is currently tied with Sam Snead on 82.
The PGA Championship was rescheduled from May with the US Open moved to September and the Masters, normally in April, the last major of the reworked season in November. The 2020 Open Championship was cancelled. – dpa
