Masters 2020: Dominant Dustin Johnson takes lead with four shots at Augusta

-16 D Johnson (USA); -12 S Im (Kor), A Ancer (Mex); -11 D Frittelli (SA); -10 J Thomas (US); -9 S Munoz (Col), P Reed (USA), J Rahm (Spa) Selected others: -8 R McIlroy (NI), T Fleetwood (Eng), B Koepka (US); -6 P Casey (Eng); -5 T Woods (US), D Willett (Eng); -4 M Wallace (Eng); -3 J Rose (Eng), L Westwood (Eng); -2 I Poulter (Eng) Location: Augusta National Date: 12 November 15th Cover: Radio and text commentary online with in-play clips. Daily Highlights on BBC Two – full details here

World's number one Dustin Johnson will take a four-stroke lead in the final round of the Masters after a dominating performance in Augusta on Saturday.

Johnson took off with a bogey-free seven-under-65, his second of the week, to go down at 16 after round three.

] The American, on the hunt for a first Green Jacket, equaled the Masters' lowest score after 54 holes.

South Korean Sungjae Im, Abraham Ancer from Mexico and Cameron Smith from Australia are closest to him at 12 under.

Dylan Frittelli of South Africa, who was joint leader after the first round, shot a five-under 67 and is 11 under, with world number three Justin Thomas a further blow.

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland completed a nice round of 67 to climb to eight under par.

Johnson Chasing Records at Good-natured Augusta

Cooler, wetter weather in November has seen Augusta National play longer, but a mild few days and Thursday's thunderstorm have made perfect conditions to score.

Johnson again made the most of the soft greens with an eagle and five birdies in round three that knocked him out of the field.

The 36-year-old, who won the US Open in 2016, plays one of the best courses of his career in a season that also missed two tournaments while isolating himself after contracting from Covid-19.

He opened with rounds of 65 and 70 at Augusta and, after a short ninefold tie at the start of round three, sped up clear with a tap-in eagle at the second hole to to get below 11.

[1945905] 6] From that point on, Johnson was nearly flawless, making an up-and-down par on 18 to become the first player in Masters history with multiple rounds of 65 or less in the same tournament.

Johnson equaled Jordan Spieth's record low score of 16 under after three rounds when he won it in 2015 and aims to become the first number one in the world to win the Masters since Tiger Woods in 2002.

"I played really well, I just need a few putts to drop," said Johnson, who finished in second place last year.

"It was a really good day, I swam well all week. Even after getting off to a good start, I tried to be patient and be aggressive when I could.

"There are so many really good players in the lead, I'll have to go out and play well if I'm going to win. I have to go out and execute.

Challengers Struggle To Keep Up

South Korean sensation Im is one of Johnson & # 39; s biggest challengers after he took his one bogey of the day on 17 had canceled with a birdie finish.

The PGA Tour rookie of the year 2019, says he plays so regularly that he prefers to move from hotel to hotel between tournaments by finding accommodation in the US instead of.

That persistence paid off, and the 22-year-old put himself in the fight with his Masters debut with a great round of 68 with a sublime chip-in birdie on 11.

Mexican Ancer and Australian Smith, who jointly finished fifth in 2018, were tied for fifth place in the third round and both had three under 69.

Jon Rahm appeared to be taking on a challenge of his own, but the Spaniard's hopes threatened to unravel after a bizarre double bogey on the par five eighth.

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He made the red back three times

with four bogeys to finish six of the pace.

McIlroy left for rue slow Augusta start

McIlroy produced another impressive lap on Saturday that will let the Northern Irishman ruin his slow start on Augusta after Friday's 66 with a 67 out of five under par.

It cost him a total of eight under, but emphasized how expensive an opening 75 was in his bid to win the Masters and is only the sixth player to win a Grand Slam in his career.

McIlroy fired a shot back on the second before adding a hat-trick of birdies down the turn and chip from a greenside bunker for another on Augusta's iconic 12th.

He immediately bogeyed the 13th with a sloppy nine-foot three-putt, dropping back to seven under, but got a smart par-save on his 15th after he had the water found with its approach.

The 31-year-old birdied the par-three 16th to get back to eight-under, leaving himself eight off the lead on his way to Sunday's final round.

"I set a goal to try and get double digits below par, didn't quite get there, but I played a really good round of golf," said McIlroy.

"I didn't really have a good run here on Sunday, so it's about time. I feel good, my game is up, I showed that for the past two days.

] "I probably need something lower than today, set the clubhouse goal the boys should follow."

McIlroy played alongside 63 -year-old Bernhard Langer, who became the oldest man to make the cut at Augusta and the first of his two Green Jackets won four years before the world's number five was born.

The Showing German he can produce most ill moments to enjoy, holing a giant 63-foot birdie putt at 15 and threw his visor in the air in delight. He sits on two bottom.

Woods fades, just like English challenge

Tiger Woods defied the odds me t a fairytale victory over Augusta 19 months ago, but the 15-time great champion is not adding a sixth Green Jacket to his collection this year.

Woods posted a 68 Thursday, but had to return Saturday morning to put the finishing touches on a one-under-71, before going back to post a level-par 72 that him on five under for the tournament.

The 44-year-old, who had previously undergone back and knee surgery, seemed to be moving somewhat cautiously towards the end of his round, admitting that the day felt like a "long rut. ".

"I can't beat where I am, but I can birdie and fight for a top 10 finish," he added. "I just have to do birdies – I didn't take any this week.

" Today was a long day, but I still had my chances.

Tommy Fleetwood is the best placed of the English contingent eight under par, with Paul Casey two strokes behind and 2016 champion Danny Willett five under.

Twice Runner-up Justin Rose & # 39; s hopes faded when he put a four-over 76, including seven bogeys, on the map to match him back to three-under, along with fellow countryman Lee Westwood