Johnson claims clubhouse lead
Dustin Johnson carded a five-under-par 66 to claim a one stroke lead of the Northern Trust Open before play was halted at the PGA Tour event on Thursday.
The American was one of the first players on course in conditions ideal for low scoring and claimed the early lead in front of a big group of 10 players all on four-under.
Another player – JB Holmes – was also on four-under but he was still on course, along with 14 other players, when darkness stopped play for the day.
In fact, Holmes was one of four players to take the early lead before dropping back into the pack later in his round.
He made his sixth birdie of the day on the 13th, but then bogeyed the 16th to drop down to four-under before play was halted with him on the 17th.
The 10 players who completed rounds of 67 are Robert Garrigus, Francesco Molinari, Scott Stallings, Charley Hoffman, Matt Jones, Brian Harman, Blake Adams, Jimmy Walker, Sang-Moon Bae and Charlie Beljan.
Walker, who won at Pebble Beach last week, birdied his last three holes to join the chasing pack.
Starting on the back nine, Johnson birdied 17, 18 and one before dropping a shot at four – the only blemish on his round. He responded by making another birdie on the eighth to claim the early lead.
“I just got off to a good start and just continued to play really solid all day,” said Johnson after his round.
“I kept it in play, and hit a lot of greens, had a lot of looks at birdie.
“The game’s right where I want it to be.
“Any score under par out here is a pretty solid round. It’s a tough course, but it’s right in front of you, so it’s just a golf course that I really like.”
Garrigus, on the other hand, had a day of rare success on a course he struggled with previously – a tie for 51st his best finish in four previous starts there.
“I just stopped telling myself that I hated this place,” said Garrigus after his round.
“I convinced myself this is my favorite golf course of the year and I tell you what, this is the best shape I’ve ever seen it.”
Other notable players in the clubhouse includes Jim Furyk and Ricky Fowler – both on three-under – while Charl Schwartzel and Lee Westwood are another stroke further behind after rounds of 69.
Latest
-
European TourCollin Morikawa wins Race to Dubai as Rory McIlroy’s frustrations boil over
The Northern Irishman appeared to rip his shirt open in the recording area behind the 18th green.
-
NewsTiger Woods shares footage of him hitting balls as rehab continues
Woods was injured in a car accident in February.
-
-
European TourRory McIlroy takes one-shot lead into final round in Dubai after shooting a 67
England’s Sam Horsfield is just a shot off the lead, one ahead of Scot Robert MacIntyre.
-
European TourDouble bogey on final hole sees Rory McIlroy slip shot off the pace in Dubai
The round one leader is a shot behind Ryder Cup team-mate Shane Lowry, England’s Sam Horsfield and American John Catlin.
-
European TourI’m on the right path – Rory McIlroy excited about road to next majors challenge
McIlroy is now a combined 148 under par in the £6.6million season-ending DP World Tour Championship.
-
European TourOpen champion Collin Morikawa determined to take chances in Race to Dubai bid
Morikawa had the chance to top the Order of Merit by winning last year’s DP World Tour Championship.
-
European TourRory McIlroy unlikely to change schedule despite new-look European Tour
The European Tour will be known as the DP World Tour from the 2022 season but Florida-based McIlroy will continue to focus on the PGA Tour.
-
European TourPunter’s pointers at the DP World Tour Championship: Course and desert specialists to the fore
It’s the final week of the 2021 European Tour season and the best 50 players of the season are convening at Jumeirah’s Earth Course.
-
European TourJB Hansen wins AVIV Dubai Championship to claim second European Tour title
The Dane finished a shot clear of Italy’s Francesco Laporta and Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger.