PGA TourBrian KeoghGenesis Open, Graeme McDowell, Padraig Harrington1 Comment

McDowell and Harrington five behind as DJ chases win and world No 1 spot

PGA TourBrian KeoghGenesis Open, Graeme McDowell, Padraig Harrington1 Comment
McDowell and Harrington five behind as DJ chases win and world No 1 spot
Dustin Johnson birdied the last for a second successive 66 at Riviera Country Club

Dustin Johnson birdied the last for a second successive 66 at Riviera Country Club

Pádraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell were tied for 27th, five shots behind Dustin Johnson, when play was suspended early in the third round of the weather-delayed Genesis Open in Los Angeles.

With no chance of making the cut, Shane Lowry withdrew on Friday night as expected and flew straight back to Ireland to be with his heavily pregnant wife, Wendy.

He was six over with two holes of his second round to play when play was called off due to a dangerous weather condition on Friday.

McDowell was one of the lucky ones who got finished on Friday, finishing on three under par.

And he got to return late on Saturday to start round three, making two birdies and a bogey in his first six holes to get to four under for the tournament alongside Harrington, who also managed six holes.

The Dubliner opened with a 67 on Thursday but did not get to play at all on Friday before returning early on Saturday to battle his way to a one-over-par 72 in round two.

He began with a birdie three at the 10th, but clearly still struggling for distance off the tee due to his neck injury, he bogeyed the 11th, 12th, 16th and 17th to slip back to one under par.

He was in danger of missing the cut but rallied and came home in 33, signing for a 72 thanks to birdies at the first and fifth.

He then birdied the first and parred the next five holes to be tied for 27th on four-under par overall, six shots behind leader Dustin Johnson.

The US Open champion carded a pair of 66s to lead by a stroke from Pat Perez (67 66) and Cameron Tringale (69 64).

Jordan Spieth (69 6) is tied 17th on five-under with world No 1 Jason Day back in 53rd on one-under.

As for Johnson, he's seeking not just to extend his record of consecutive winning seasons to ten in a row but to become world No 1.

Johnson can take over from Day at the top of the Official World Golf Ranking if he wins the tournament and Day finishes in a three-way tie for third or worse.

“Obviously I would like to be the best in the world,” said Johnson, currently No 3 behind Day and Rory McIlroy.

“But how you get there is winning golf tournaments. If I win this week and I happen to get to No. 1, great. I’ll definitely be excited, be proud.

“But I’ve got to take care of this week first.”