DUSTIN JOHNSON is closing in on his first Green Jacket after a stunning final day at the Masters.
While the day hasn't been as kind to last year's champ Tiger Woods who hit TEN on the tricky 12th.
- TV/Live stream: Sky Sports Golf/NOW TV
Follow ALL the latest updates with our live blog below…
- James Anderson
-20
That's madness. This is madness.
Dustin Johnson birdies the 15th to move to 20 under par – that's his third on the bounce. Just a procession of excellence.
What was all that pressure on the back nine nonsense about?
- James Anderson
RAHM MOVES UP
Jon Rahm has gone eagle-birdie at 15 and 16 to move to -10. I think he was second-favourite to win at the start of the week.
- James Anderson
EH?!
Well how's he done that? Having found the drink and nearly taken a few heads off – Cameron Smith makes birdie on the 15th. He's outright second now on -15.
And HELLO to Justin Thomas! The world No.3 won't be troubling DJ today but he's enjoying his best ever finish at Augusta.
The American sinks an eagle on the 15th to take him to -13 and -3 on the day.
- James Anderson
GREEN JACKET INCOMING
- James Anderson
“OH S***!”
Yep, that's about right.
Cameron Smith looks to attack the 15th but he's hooked it and managed to find the only spectators on course. He barks: “Oh s***”, which I think was his effort at warning the good folks of Augusta.
The Aussies challenge is over.
- James Anderson
EXHIBITION
It's fast turning into an exhibition for Dustin Johnson, folks. He's been peerless since holes four and five.
He's just pumped a 324-yard drive down the 14th and then wedges to within six feet. In with a chance of an eagle… CLOSE! Not quite but that's going to be birdie with four holes remaining.
He's only the second player to reach -19 at any point during Masters.
- James Anderson
DJ LEADS BY FOUR
- James Anderson
BIRDIE
Dustin Johnson takes a MASSIVE step closer to glory. He's absolutely nailed his birdie putt on 13 and moves to 18-under.
If DJ makes one more birdie coming in, he'll shoot 69 to break the Masters scoring record.
Sungjae Im also sinks his birdie, and joins Cameron Smith on -14.
Three more birdies to mention. Dylan Frittelli moves into fourth outright on -12. Brooks Koepka proves his stickability at -10. And Corey Conners, another of my EW picks, is T9 on -9.
Consider yourselves updated.
- James Anderson
LEADERS
- -17 Johnson (12)
- -14 Smith (13)
- -13 Im (12)
- -11 Frittelli (13)
- -11 McIlroy (14)
- -11 Thomas (13)
GOOD ROUND
Pan Cheng-tsung has enjoyed himself today. He's currently on -4 for the day and -10 overall. The Taiwanese star is seventh in the standings and that's despite a 70 in his opening round and 74 yesterday.
TIGER OUT
Tiger Woods has finished an eventful round. What an understatement that is.
Obviously the 10 on the par-three will be discussed forever BUT he birdied five of the last six and finished his week on -1.
PAR
DJ converts his fourth par on the bounce. And why not? He can afford to be sensible with nobody launching a late effort. He's got six holes remaining and a three-shot lead. What could possibly go wrong?
THE RESPONSE
The champ! Tiger Woods shoots a 10 and then birdies four of the next five holes. Absolutely no quit in him.
DRY AT 12!
Dustin Johnson didn't give his nerves time to affect him on the dreaded 12th. Very quick shot.
The American got the club out, hit it true and stuck it on a sixpence. Sungjae Im also stays dry but he's in the sand.
Who knows what Abraham Acer is doing? He's on +5 and they've stopped showing his round. Ouch.
HOLE 11 – COMPLETED
Dustin Johnson produces a delightful chip to leave himself with a gentle right to left on the par-four 11th. He rolls it in from four feet and lets out a bit of emotion… and believe me, that's most unlike him!
The first leg of Amen Corner is ticked off in par by DJ.
Justin Thomas moves to -11 with a birdie. Rory McIlroy does the same and they both join Dylan Frittelli T4.
JUST A NUMBER
Bernhard Langer completes a round of 71. The 63-year-old finishes on -3 for the week. He's T31 at the moment.
That's currently one shot ahead of tournament favourite Bryson DeChambeau, who cost me a pretty penny. What a performance.
BE BRAVE
Ok folks, we've reached the business end of proceedings now.
Dustin Johnson is 9 holes away from winning his first Green Jacket. He's had a few nervy moments but birdies on the sixth and eighth have settled him down.
It doesn't look like the world No.1 is going to drop many – so it's on the challengers to step up.
Cameron Smith is on -3 for the day and is within two shots of DJ.
As for the rest of them – go BIG or go home. Attack the pin and get those birdies.
IT BEGINS…
So they say The Masters doesn't really start until the back nine on Sunday.
Well, that's where DJ is strolling now.
The Augusta leader missed a birdie chance on the ninth but made par and remains on -17. That par will look even better with second-placed Cameron Smith (-15) hanging it well out to the right ahead of him on 10.
THE PAIN
It took Tiger Woods 23,789 holes on the PGA Tour before he made his first 10. You can thank Justin Ray for that stat.
LEADERS
-17 Johnson (8)
-15 Smith (9)
-13 Im (8)
-11 Frittelli (9)
-10 McIlroy (10)
-10 Thomas (9)
FYI – Cameron Smith birdies No. 9 and is just two shots back at Augusta.
BIRDIE
DJ takes care of business. Two big shots and mopping things up with a birdie on eight. Simple. The leader moves to -17, three shots ahead of his nearest rival Cameron Smith.
Speaking of Smith, he's just produced one of the shots of the week.
Straight out of the pine straw, ricochets off the top of the bunker and gently rolls a couple of feet from the flag.
That would have sent the patrons crazy if they were here. I miss that.
Source: Read Full Article
