Oakville: A hard-charging Dustin Johnson fired a seven-under 65 to seize a share of the third round lead at the Canadian Open here Saturday, setting the World No.1 up for another shot at a title that has slipped his grasp.
Twice a runner-up in Canada, Johnson used a scorching start that included five birdies over his first six holes and a birdie-birdie-eagle rampage on the back nine to get to 17-under.
He was in a four-way tie at the top of the leaderboard with South Koreans Kim Whee (67), An Byeong-hun (66) and American compatriot Kevin Tway (68), whose father Bob Tway hoisted the Canadian crown in 2003.
With 18 PGA Tour wins, including two this season, Johnson will head into the final round as the heavy favourite since the three other men sharing the lead are all chasing maiden PGA Tour titles.
American Hudson Swafford and South African Rory Sabbatini sit four off the pace on 13-under. After missing his first cut of the year last week at the British Open, Johnson has been almost flawless at Glen Abbey. Having wrapped up a bogey free 66 with a birdie Friday, Johnson picked up where he left off by carding three consecutive birdies.
The 34-year-old American, who started the day three off the pace, took a breather with a par at the fourth but was quickly back in top gear as he hit birdies in the fifth and sixth holes en route to an error free start.