This Masters is Dustin Johnson’s to lose, and he won’t be caught off guard

AP photo by David J. Phillip / Dustin Johnson watches his second shot on the 11th hole at Augusta National Golf Club during the third round of the Masters on Saturday. Johnson made an eagle and two birdies in his first four holes as he took control of the tournament on his way to tying the 54-hole record at 16-under-par 200. AP photo by David J. Phillip / Dustin Johnson watches his second shot on the 11th hole at Augusta National Golf Club during the third round of the Masters on Saturday. Johnson made an eagle and two birdies in his first four holes as he took control of the tournament on his way to tying the 54-hole record at 16-under-par 200.

By DOUG FERGUSON / The Associated Press November 14, 2020 7 min read

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Dustin Johnson began his assault on Augusta National Golf Club with a 5-iron shot for a tap-in eagle Saturday afternoon, and he never relented until he matched the 54-hole record at the Masters and built a four-stroke lead to put himself in prime position for another major championship.

Johnson has been in this type of situation before, and he plans to lean on his experience.

Not from the 82 he shot at Pebble Beach Golf Links in the final round of the 2010 U.S. Open. Not the three-putt from 12 feet on a bumpy 18th green at Chambers Bay that cost him in the 2015 U.S. Open. Not his final round at Shinnecock Hills in the 2018 U.S. Open, when a scattering of bogeys kept him from gaining ground in a four-way battle. Not even the one-shot advantage he lost three months ago at Harding Park in the PGA Championship.

All four times he had at least a share of the 54-hole lead in a major without converting.

No, he’s talking about the last three days in Augusta. It’s been a masterful performance.