Dustin Johnson is at the top of his game, so he didn’t let one bad shot bother him.
Johnson, who is No. 3 in the World Golf Rankings, has played flawless golf other than a double-bogey 6 on the 10th hole of the third round, when he shot 5-under-par 66 to take a four-stroke lead over ninth-ranked Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland in the WGC-Mexico Championship at Club de Golf Chapultepec www.Club de Golf Chapultepec in Naucalpan, Mexico, just west of Mexico City.
“I knew I was playing well so I didn’t really let it bother me and there were plenty of holes I could make birdie,” said DJ, who won this tournament two years ago for one of his five WGC victories.
“I’ve hit the ball really well and I’ve played really good, but I missed a bunch of I felt like easy up-and-downs. I’ve got a game plan out here. I’m not going to change it.”
The 34-year-old Johnson, who is seeking his 20th PGA Tour victory, eagled the second hole and bounced back from the bad hole with birdies on the 11th, 12th, 15th and 17th holes to finish with a 54-hole score of 16-under 197.
McIlroy, who was the first round leader with a 63, collected seven birdies in his third-round 68 to stay within hailing distance of Johnson.
“D.J. is playing very well,” said McIlroy, who has won two WGC titles. “He seems to be comfortable on this golf course. He’s going to be very tough to beat. Tomorrow I’m going to have to go out there and probably shoot something similar to what I shot the first day to have a chance.”
Patrick Reed eagled the second and 11th holes en route to a 64 and is seven shots back in a tie for third with Patrick Cantlay (65) of Los Alamitos and UCLA, Cameron Smith (68) of Australia and Sergio Garcia (69) of Spain.
Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand posted a 68 and is one more back in a tie for seventh with Ian Poulter (69) of England, while Tiger Woods, who has won a record 18 WGC titles, finished at 70 and is 10 back in a tie for ninth with Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa, who wound up at 69, and Tommy Fleetwood of England, who came in at 72.
Seventh-ranked Xander Schauffele of La Jolla and San Diego State shot 66 and is in a tie for 13th that includes 10-ranked Francesco Molinari of Italy, who had a 70, while ninth-ranked Rickie Fowler of Murrieta totaled 68 and is in a tie for 30th that includes second-ranked Brooks Koepka, who had a 69.
Fourth-ranked Justin Thomas struggled to a 74 and is tied for 37th, while sixth-ranked Jon Rahm of Spain had a 72 and is in a tie for 52nd with defending champion Phil Mickelson, who also had a 72, and fifth-ranked Bryson DeChambeau of Clovis is tied for 63rd following a 73.
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