Saudi International: Dustin Johnson takes two-shot lead over Victor Perez into final | Golf News

Dustin Johnson gave up his last two holes to move two ahead of Victor Perez at Saudi International; world No 1 won the event in 2019 and finished second to Graeme McDowell in last year’s competition

Dustin Johnson can extend his win as world No. 1 with victory at Saudi International

Dustin Johnson will lead a two-part lead into the final round of Saudi International, with Tyrrell Hatton and Tony Finau among the running pack.

The No. 1 world returned early Saturday morning to end its second round with the effects of the weather, where a 15-foot eunie closed at the end 64 without a bog and fired a bullet off the direction halfway through .

Johnson then fixed the third round of 66 at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club to get to 13 under and pull ahead on a full board, with a birdie-birdie finish being lifted by two cleaners of Victor Perez.

Hatton and Finau sit in tied third and three off the lead alongside Andy Sullivan and Soren Kjeldsen, with Viktor Hovland, Sergio Garcia and Martin Kaymer all on nine under and in a seventh-place portion.

Johnson moved in from 10 feet at first and overcame his approach into the fourth par-five to still make a birdie, with a nine-foot advantage at the top. eighth gives him a two-stroke advantage.

Dustin Johnson played alongside Ryan Fox, who posted 71 out on Saturday

The Masters champion put a 15-footer at the 10th and rose up and down from the green bunker to save par at the next par-three, just to see his lead cut to one when Na – in the group that preceded them – started his back nine with consecutive birdies.

Johnson missed a six-foot birdie chance at the 12th and then a two-bogey the next, after pulling his way into the water, while The three-putt bogey followed at the 13th with a bogey -doubled the 14th to go back to nine under.

Perez made three birdies in a five-hole stretch in front of his nine and turned from 10 feet at the 17th to 66 without shutting out and setting the clubhouse target at 11 under, just for Johnson to play. birdie the 17th and put two -putt wins from 10 feet in the last five to get two-pointer back.

More to follow …