#Dustin Johnson has green jacket in sights after scorching Masters day

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Dustin Johnson earlier this week was asked what his favorite Masters tradition is.

After a pause, Johnson answered: “The sandwiches.’’

Asked which one, he responded, “All of them.’’

That opinion may change on Sunday if Johnson keeps playing the way he did Saturday, opening up a four-shot lead entering the final round after shooting a third-round 65 to get to 16-under.

The tournament record of 18-under, shared by Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth, is in serious jeopardy of being shattered.

If Johnson maintains his mojo on Sunday, he’s going to be awarded a green jacket, his own place inside the Champions Locker Room and — most importantly — an invite to play the Masters until he’s 65 years old.

Then he can have all the sandwiches he wants.

Johnson, the 2016 U.S. Open winner, is seeking his second career major championship.

He leads Sungjae Im (68 in the third round), Abraham Ancer (69) and Cam Smith (69) — who are all 12-under — by four shots. Im and Ancer are both playing the Masters for the first time and trying to join Fuzzy Zoeller (1979) as the only first-timers to win a green jacket.

Dylan Frittelli (67) is five shots back at 11-under and Justin Thomas (71) is six back at 10-under. Jon Rahm, Patrick Reed and Sebastian Munoz are 9-under.

The only player to win the Masters who began the final round outside of the top-five was Nick Faldo in 1996 when he overcame Greg Norman.

Johnson is ranked No. 1 in the world and is the game’s hottest player. His last six tournaments: Runner-up, win, runner-up, win, sixth and runner-up.

He’s done everything at Augusta except win the Masters, having finished tied for sixth, tied for fourth, tied for 10th and runner-up in the last four in which he’s played.

So, Johnson, who grew up an hour away from Augusta National in Columbia, S.C., but never played the course until he was about to play his first Masters in 2009, is due.

He has, however, had a complicated history with 54-hole leads. In his career, he’s converted 10 of 22 into victories. In majors, though, he’s 0-for-4, having lost the PGA Championship in August at Harding Park in San Francisco, along with the 2010, 2015 and 2018 U.S. Opens.

“If I can play like I did today, I think it will break that streak,’’ Johnson said. “[Sunday] it’s just 18 holes of golf. I need to go out and play solid. I feel like I’m swinging really well. If I can just continue to give myself a lot of looks at birdie, I think I’ll have a good day.

“I put myself in the situation a lot of times. I know what it takes. I know how I respond in this situation. I’m very comfortable with having the lead going into [Sunday]. I’ve been in this situation a lot of times. I’m looking forward to the challenge. It’s still going to be a tough day. I’m going to have to play well if I want to get it done.

“The game is in really good form right now. It’s just very consistent. I feel like I’ve got a lot of control what I’m doing, controlling my distance well with my flight and my shape. I’m very comfortable standing over the golf ball right now, and obviously that’s a really good feeling.’’

Johnson said his form feels “very similar to what it was back in 2017.’’

Johnson was the odds-on favorite in 2017 but never made it to the first tee, suffering a fall at the home he was renting, injuring himself and having to withdraw before the first round.

“I’m going to have to go out and play well,’’ he said. “There’s a lot of really good players right around me, so as we all know here, if you get it going, you can shoot some low scores. I’m going to need to go out and play a really good round of golf if I’m going to get a green jacket.’’

Entering this week, Johnson’s previous low score at Augusta was 67. He’s shot 65 in the first and third rounds this week and has gone the past 30 holes without a bogey.

Incredibly, Johnson is just five weeks removed from testing positive for COVID-19. His first tournament back after quarantining was last week in Houston, where he finished runner-up.

The day began with 10 players within one shot of the lead and it ended with Johnson in complete control, thanks to him seizing control with an early outburst in the third round, during which he went 4-under for the first four holes — an eagle and two birdies.

The chase was on from there … to be continued on Sunday.