Dustin Johnson is known for his prowess with the driver, but he’s leading the 102nd PGA Championship after putting a trusty, old putter bag in his bag.
The 36-year-old Johnson, whose only major title came in the 2016 U.S. Open at Oakmont, carded a 5-under-par 65 in foggy and breezy conditions at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco to take a one-stroke lead over Cameron Champ of Sacramento and Scottie Scheffler heading to the final round of the first major in this season affected by the Coronavirus pandemic.
“The greens here are really good and you can make some putts if you make good reads, but some of them are a little tricky,” said DJ, who has finished second four times in the majors. “I hit the ball pretty well, managed my game well and made a lot of putts.
“I did a great job of staying patient and will have to do the same tomorrow. I have to drive the ball better, although that part of my game is not that far off, but I have been hitting my irons well and made some putts.
“I got off to a good start, put myself in a good position and feel good about my chances if I can do that again tomorrow.”
The fifth-ranked Johnson, who finished second to Brooks Koepka in the 2019 PGA, collected eight birdies and overcame a double-bogey six on the ninth hole to finish 54 holes at 9-under 201.
Scheffler was tied for the lead before making a bogey on the final hole and also finished with a 65, while the long-hitting Champ collected six birdies in a 67.
“I like this course, it sets up well for me off the tee, and I love the pretty cypress trees,” said Scheffler, who was 2019 Player of the Year on the Korn Ferry Tour after winning twice. “I’ve been driving the ball well this week, missing the bunkers, giving myself chances on the greens and it’s been nice to see some putts going in.”
Said Champ: “I grew up only a couple hours away and so it’s comfortable for me despite the lack of fans (because of the pandemic). That’s different, but we just have to adjust. It was cooler, but I was finding my reads and the speed on the greens, so my putting was consistent. I was just into my process, playing my game and not looking at the leaderboard.”
Two-time defending champion and sixth-ranked Koepka shot 69 and is two strokes back and in a tie for fourth with Collin Morikawa of La Canada Flintridge and Cal, who had a 65, and Paul Casey of England, who finished at 68.
Seventh-ranked Bryson DeChambeau of Clovis sank an incredible 96-foot birdie putt on the last hole to cap a 66 and is one more behind in a tie for seventh with Tony Finau, who shot 67, and Justin Rose of England, Jason Day Australia, Daniel Berger and Tommy Fleetwood of England, who all finished at 70.
Second-round leader Haotong Li of China struggled to a 73 with a double bogey and two bogeys on the back nine to fall into a tie for 13th.
Tenth-ranked Patrick Cantlay of Los Alamitos and UCLA posted a bogey-free 66 and is in a tie for 21st that includes second-ranked Jon Rahm of Spain, who had a 68, plus fourth-ranked Webb Simpson and eighth-ranked Patrick Reed, who both wound up at 70.
Ninth-ranked Adam Scott of Australia is in a tie for 30th after a 70, 2017 PGA winner and top-ranked Justin Thomas shot 68 and is tied for 43rd, third-ranked Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland is tied for 43rd following a 71 and Tiger Woods, a four-time PGA champion who has won 15 major titles, managed only a 72 and is tied for 59th.
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