US PGA Championship: Dustin Johnson Takes the Lead with England's Paul Casey Two Shots Behind

Former World Number One Dustin Johnson has won one major – the 2016 US Open -9 D Johnson (US); -8 C Champ (US), S Scheffler (US); -7 P Casey (Eng), B Koepka (US), C Morikawa (US); -6 T Fleetwood (Eng), J Rose (Eng), J Day (Aus), D Berger, B DeChambeau, T Finau (all US) Selected others: -5 Li Haotong (Chn); -3 I Poulter (Eng); -1 J Thomas (US), S Lowry (Ire); Level R McIlroy (NI); +2 T Woods (US); +4 R MacIntyre (Sco)

Former World Number One Dustin Johnson stormed into the lead on a thrilling third day at the 2020 US PGA Championship in San Francisco.

The lead changed hands several times during the penultimate lap, with the American making eight birdies in a five-under-65 to go to nine-under.

Scottie Scheffler also shot a 65 at TPC Harding Park to track one with Cameron Champ, hitting a 67.

Paul Casey is two shots back, next to defending champion Brooks Koepka.

English compatriots Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood are also still in the mix one shot further back at six below par after posting both 1970s.

] The pair were two shots behind the night's leader, Li Haotong of China, whose three-over-73 saw him drop to five under for the week.

Fleetwood would also lose ground, but claimed two birdies in the last three holes to save an equal round and keep himself firmly in the fight on the way to the final

Earlier in the day, Tiger Woods' quest for a fifth US PGA Championship came to an end after taking up his second consecutive two-over-par 72 to sit on second. and in a tie for 59th.

The 102nd US PGA was rolled back from May due to the coronavirus pandemic and is played without spectators.

Mixed Day for British Contingent

Paul Casey & # 39; s best finish in a major is tied for third place at the 2010 Open

On the way to the weekend, there was a heartfelt belief that the American PGA could be won by an Englishman for the second time – and for the first time since Jim Barnes in 1919.

Fleetwood and Rose were two off the lead overnight, but got off to a slow start, with Fleetwood dropping a shot on the third and Rose having three bogeys in the first five holes.

And although Rose recovered with three birdies over the corner, Fleetwood's putts just wouldn't land and he had another bogey on the 10th.

But just as an overcrowded leaderboard seemed to get away from the world's No. 13, Fleetwood's persistence paid off with a strong finish to return to six under with Rose, who also went around 70.

However, a shot further back at night, Casey finished his front nine with two birdies to put himself in the chasing platoon .

As the battle for the lead intensified, Casey nearly sank a birdie on the 17th, but he did enough to get ahead of his countrymen.

Previously, Rory McIlroy seemed poised to kickstart the British challenge as the 2012 and 2014 champions came second for the day, but a string of four bogeys on his way. last six holes saw him drop to a 71.

Li drops out after a thrilling chase

Champ & # 39; s best finish at a Major so far was in 32nd place at the US Open 2017

With the English contingent lurking, and a large number of Americans ready to attack their own patch, it promised an entertaining pursuit of Li Haotong to become.

And the first major of the year was delivered on day three with 10 players within two shots of the night leader as he started his round.

Cameron Champ went out in 33, so a bogey on the fifth before Li saw him join the American at seven below.

He recovered with a birdie on the seventh, at which point there were two shots covering the top 19 players.

Then Scheffler hit three consecutive birdies to take the full lead on his way to the 18th tee and become the first man to hit a week nine down, then end up with a bogey .

Li responded with a birdie on the 12th to regain the lead, but moments later Champ joined him after a birdie on the 14th, before Johnson took the lead.

A strong start was knocked back by a double bogey on ninth, but the world's number five shrugged and came home in 31 with the most birdies he had in a single completed a round in a major.

Li dropped four shots in four holes to fall off the board past day one leader Jason Day, Collin Morikawa – who shot a 65 – and Bryson DeChambeau, whose 96ft putt saw him end with a birdie and a four-under 66.

Johnson Aiming For Big Number Two – What They Said

[1 9459083] Dustin Johnson: "I've had a lot of arguments and I've done it many times. Tomorrow is no different. I'll have to play good golf if I want to win.

" It's simple. I have to hit a lot of fairways and a lot of greens. If I can, I have a good chance of coming down. on the back nine.

"Just take what the golf course gives me and just keep going because it doesn't really matter what other guys are doing. I can only control myself."

Paul Casey: "I've been on tour for quite some time and of course I would love to add a major to the resume and have had my chances, but I feel incredibly relaxed.

"I have nothing to prove, there is a great standings that I am part of with great champions and almost rookies so to speak with the young guys, and we still have a lot of play golf. "