Johnson holds off chasing pack at Sheshan
Print Edition
American Dustin Johnson will have to hold off a chasing pack comprising the European Tour’s finest players if he is to win the US$8.5 million WGC-HSBC Champions after a birdie barrage in Shanghai yesterday.
Johnson, despite two double bogeys on the back nine, shot a 6-under-par 66 to finish the third round on 18-under 198 on a day when birdies flew in all over the course at the Sheshan International Golf Club.
Johnson saw his five-shot overnight lead whittled down to three by Ryder Cup star and defending champion Ian Poulter, who shot a stunning 9-under 63.
England’s Poulter would have equalled the old course record, but Germany’s Martin Kaymer had already lowered that mark to 62 earlier in the day to get to 10-under after three rounds.
Four shots behind Johnson is former US Open champion Graeme McDowell who carded a 64. Two strokes further back are former world No. 1 Rory McIlroy (67), US Open champion Justin Rose (65) and Canada’s Graham DeLaet (65).
“Doubling the last hole hurt a little bit,” said Johnson, who took a seven at the par-5 18th after dumping his drive into water. “But I played really good today. If you had told me this morning that I would shoot 6-under I would have taken it.”
Poulter said he would be aiming to go low again today in pursuit of the mammoth winner’s check of US$1.4 million and hoped he could put some pressure on Johnson by playing alongside him in the final group. “He’s got a bit of a lead. It will be nice to keep an eye on him,” said Poulter. “Be nice to see if I can press if I need to press.”
Poulter shot two 65s on the weekend to win this title a year ago at Mission Hills, Shenzhen. Yesterday he fired eight birdies, an eagle and a sole bogey at 17.
“I’ve shot some low scores in Asia,” added Poulter who in 2010 carded a 60 at the Hong Kong Open. “If the conditions tomorrow are the same then guys are going to make a lot of birdies so I just have to attack and see what happens.”
Northern Ireland’s McDowell will be in the last group out today alongside Johnson and Poulter.
He lies second in the Race to Dubai European Tour standings with just two events left after this week and knows the importance of a good finish today to close the gap on leader Henrik Stenson of Sweden and keep daylight between those behind, England’s Rose is in third place, even if a win eludes him.
“Dustin is doing what he needs to do. It looks like Dustin is going to have to beat himself from here,” said McDowell. “Race to Dubai points are very important to me. I have a lot to play for tomorrow. If not the trophy, certainly second place.”
McIlroy has been back to near his very best this week. Apart from a stuttering back nine on Friday, he has been 15 under par for the other 45 holes at Sheshan, and thinks a fast start today could put him in with a shout of the title.
“I need to get off to a faster start. I need to be two or three under through four or five holes because there’s two good birdie chances on seven and eight,” said the 24-year Northern Irishman.
Earlier Kaymer shot a stunning 62 to beat the course he himself shared with four others.
The former US PGA champion began with a run of six birdies in his first seven holes to reach the turn in 30. He carded four more birdies on the back nine, but agonizingly missed a short putt at the ninth, his final hole, that would have equalled the lowest round of his career, a 61 at the 2007 Portugal Masters.
He beat the record 63 at Sheshan that he had jointly held with Johnson, McIlroy, Daisuke Maruyama and Ernie Els.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
