Dustin Johnson shot 77 on Saturday but will enter Sunday’s final round of the 118th US Open in a share of the lead after Shinnecock Hills turned unplayable, writes WADE PRETORIUS.
READ: Grace four back after wild Saturday
No player in the final 22 groups broke par on Saturday: Rickie Fowler started the day five back of Dustin Johnson before ballooning to an 84, Phil Mickelson took to hitting a putt while the ball was still moving and Daniel Berger and Tony Finau will start in the final group.
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This is just a sprinkling of the evidence to suggest the USGA had ‘lost the course’, much like Zach Johnson had said in a TV interview after his round. He had no clue of what was to follow.
His namesake, Dustin, started the day with a four-shot lead but that was gone after the 7th hole as the world’s best player fired a front nine 41. He somehow found some focus and a swing and returned in 36 shots to give himself a chance on Sunday.
He was overtaken at a point by Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson but the Englishman faltered and starts one back. The Swede played the back nine in five over par for a 74 and starts two behind.
DJ lost his final pairing spot to Daniel Berger and Tony Finau, who both shot 66 but were tucked away safely in the clubhouse just as Johnson was started out. The trio are tied in first place at +3 with defending champion Brooks Koepka, whose 72 must’ve felt like 65.
‘You were seeing shots that were well played and not rewarded,’ said Mike Davis, the chief executive of the USGA. ‘It was a very tough test, but probably too tough this afternoon.’
Saturday’s scoring average was the highest in 18 years with +3 the highest 54-hole leading score since 1974.
