Back to the Top News Newsfeed

Big-hitting Johnson muscles into U.S. Open lead

View gallery

Jun 20, 2015; University Place, WA, USA; Dustin Johnson reacts after a birdie on the 5th hole in the …

UNIVERSITY PLACE, Washington (Reuters) - Power was trumping putting as big-hitting American Dustin Johnson muscled his way to the top of the U.S. Open leaderboard midway through the third round on Saturday.

Johnson had an adventurous outward nine, two bogeys and four birdies on a brilliant sunny day in the Pacific Northwest putting him at two-under, one clear of South African Branden Grace and two in front of Masters champion Jordan Spieth.

One of the longest courses ever for a golf major, Chambers Bay was tailor-made for Johnson, who has relied on his power to get him into contention for a first major while Grace and Spieth depended on a delicate touch on and around the tricky greens.