Sunday 29 October 2017 11:06, UK
Dustin Johnson is closing on World Golf Championship history after opening up a six-shot lead in the third round of the WGC-HSBC Champions.
The world No 1 carded a four-under 68 in breezy conditions at Sheshan International Golf Club to extend his overnight advantage over Brooks Koepka, who stuttered to a one-over 73.
Victory would be Johnson's fifth of 2017 and see him become the first player to claim three World Golf Championship titles in a calendar year.
Henrik Stenson lies seven strokes off the pace in third spot after a three-under 69, while Justin Rose birdied the last to join Brian Harman in tied-fourth on nine under.
Koepka took advantage of Johnson's opening-hole bogey to birdie the first and match his opponent's gain at the second, before holing from eight feet at the third to briefly move two clear.
Johnson responded by posting a 15-foot gain at the fourth and getting up and down from a tough lie to pick up a shot at the seventh to pull level, only to be gifted top spot at the par-five next.
As Koepka found the trees twice on his way to a triple-bogey eighth, Johnson made birdie to reach the turn in 33 and open up a four-stroke cushion.
Johnson had to pitch out of the bushes on his way to a double-bogey at the 10th, where Koepka bogeyed, but holed a 10-foot birdie at the 11th and saw his lead increase further when the US Open champion dropped another stroke at the 12th.
The two players extended their lead over the chasing pack by exchanging birdies at the 14th and 17th, only for Johnson's lead to increase to six when Koepka found water on his way to a closing bogey.
Rafa Cabrera Bello joins Peter Uihlein and Kyle Stanley in a tie for sixth, with Tyrrell Hatton birdieing the last to join Matt Kuchar in ninth.
Defending champion Hideki Matsuyama sits in a share of 60th after a level-par 72, as Patrick Reed carded four double-bogeys and one triple-bogey on his way to an erratic 82.
Watch the final round of the WGC-HSBC Champions live on Sunday from 3am on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event.
