Dustin Johnson continued his peerless play at the Saudi International powered by Softbank Investment Advisers on Saturday to sit in pole position for a second victory there in three years.
The world No 1, the tournament’s inaugural winner in 2019 and runner-up last year, carded a 4-under-par 66 at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club to finish 13-under. It gave Johnson a two-shot lead going into the final day.
Frenchman Victor Perez represents the American's closet challenger, on 11-under, while Tyrrell Hatton, Tony Finau, Andy Sullivan and Soren Kjeldsen sit one further back. Another seven players are within four of the summit, including former Masters champion Sergio Garcia and two-time major winner Martin Kaymer.
Johnson, who was out early on Saturday to finish off his second round – the tournament has been interrupted by rain – birdied four of the first 10 holes in his third round, before a double-bogey on 13 stopped him in his tracks.
However, the reigning Masters champion recovered from his first drop shots in 54 holes in Saudi to birdie the final two, making him very much the man to beat come Sunday.
Reflecting on his superior form in the kingdom, Johnson said, without a hint of understatement: “I like the golf course. I think it sets up good for me. I've liked it since the first time I came here a couple years ago. I feel like I'm swinging it well and giving myself all the chances tomorrow. Just need to hole a few putts.”
A two-time major winner, Johnson said he has struggled somewhat to read the greens this week. Improve on that and a ninth European Tour title looks likely to be his, setting him up well for what promises to be a huge year in golf.
“It's always good to win no matter when it is,” Johnson said. “But yeah, it definitely would give me a lot of confidence for the rest of the year. It's a really good field. I'd definitely be very pleased. It's a pretty big golf tournament."
Johnson will be accompanied on Sunday by Perez, who set the early clubhouse lead with a bogey-free 66. The world No 35 is looking for a second win on tour after his success at the 2019 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
To his credit, Perez said he is relishing going up against the world’s highest-ranked player in King Abdullah Economic City.
“That's as good as it gets,” he said. “I'll be very excited for the challenge. I think this is all you strive for. The tour is doing great at having some of those great players being here and playing and giving us the chance, mostly staying in Europe the last two years, playing against those guys. It will be a great competition.
“Obviously will need to make some putts tomorrow. I don't know what the weather is going to be like, but even if it's good, somebody is going to have put a low one to win. And if it's going to be windy, it's going to be a grind coming down the stretch for sure.”
Johnson and Perez will most probably be wary of the likes of Hatton lurking not far back. The Englishman, who won in Abu Dhabi last month to climb to fifth in the global rankings, has been quick out of the blocks this season, and posted a 66 on Saturday to maintain that form.
"With the Ryder Cup points starting, it's key to get off to a fast start and obviously Abu Dhabi was amazing," Hatton said. "Everyone's naturally a little bit rusty when you start the year, so to nick a win is always a good start.
“Just try to go out and put a good round of golf together – what we do every time we tee it up – and tomorrow is going to be no different."
Tottenham's 10 biggest transfers (according to transfermarkt.com):
1). Moussa Sissokho - Newcastle United - £30 million (Dh143m): Flop
2). Roberto Soldado - Valencia - £25m: Flop
3). Erik Lamela - Roma - £25m: Jury still out
4). Son Heung-min - Bayer Leverkusen - £25m: Success
5). Darren Bent - Charlton Athletic - £21m: Flop
6). Vincent Janssen - AZ Alkmaar - £18m: Flop
7). David Bentley - Blackburn Rovers - £18m: Flop
8). Luka Modric - Dynamo Zagreb - £17m: Success
9). Paulinho - Corinthians - £16m: Flop
10). Mousa Dembele - Fulham - £16m: Success
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
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Pakistan squad
Sarfraz (c), Zaman, Imam, Masood, Azam, Malik, Asif, Sohail, Shadab, Nawaz, Ashraf, Hasan, Amir, Junaid, Shinwari and Afridi
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
FIGHT CARD
1. Featherweight 66kg
Ben Lucas (AUS) v Ibrahim Kendil (EGY)
2. Lightweight 70kg
Mohammed Kareem Aljnan (SYR) v Alphonse Besala (CMR)
3. Welterweight 77kg
Marcos Costa (BRA) v Abdelhakim Wahid (MAR)
4. Lightweight 70kg
Omar Ramadan (EGY) v Abdimitalipov Atabek (KGZ)
5. Featherweight 66kg
Ahmed Al Darmaki (UAE) v Kagimu Kigga (UGA)
6. Catchweight 85kg
Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) v Iuri Fraga (BRA)
7. Featherweight 66kg
Yousef Al Husani (UAE) v Mohamed Allam (EGY)
8. Catchweight 73kg
Mostafa Radi (PAL) v Abdipatta Abdizhali (KGZ)
9. Featherweight 66kg
Jaures Dea (CMR) v Andre Pinheiro (BRA)
10. Catchweight 90kg
Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Juscelino Ferreira (BRA)
COMPANY%20PROFILE%3A
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Fixtures:
Thursday:
Hatta v Al Jazira, 4.55pm
Al Wasl v Dibba, 7.45pm
Friday:
Al Dhafra v Al Nasr, 5.05pm
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai v Al Wahda, 7.45pm
Saturday:
Ajman v Emirates, 4.55pm
Al Ain v Sharjah, 7.45pm
RACECARD
6pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 – Group 1 (PA) $50,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
6.35pm: Festival City Stakes – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,200m
7.10pm: Dubai Racing Club Classic – Listed (TB) $100,000 (Turf) 2,410m
7.45pm: Jumeirah Classic Trial – Conditions (TB) $150,000 (T) 1,400m
8.20pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 – Group 2 (TB) $250,000 (D) 1,600m
8.55pm: Cape Verdi – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,600m
9.30pm: Dubai Dash – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,000m
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Roll%20of%20Honour%2C%20men%E2%80%99s%20domestic%20rugby%20season
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From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
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More on animal trafficking
What is a calorie?
A food calorie, or kilocalorie, is a measure of nutritional energy generated from what is consumed.
One calorie, is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water by 1°C.
A kilocalorie represents a 1,000 true calories of energy.
Energy density figures are often quoted as calories per serving, with one gram of fat in food containing nine calories, and a gram of protein or carbohydrate providing about four.
Alcohol contains about seven calories a gram.
The schedule
December 5 - 23: Shooting competition, Al Dhafra Shooting Club
December 9 - 24: Handicrafts competition, from 4pm until 10pm, Heritage Souq
December 11 - 20: Dates competition, from 4pm
December 12 - 20: Sour milk competition
December 13: Falcon beauty competition
December 14 and 20: Saluki races
December 15: Arabian horse races, from 4pm
December 16 - 19: Falconry competition
December 18: Camel milk competition, from 7.30 - 9.30 am
December 20 and 21: Sheep beauty competition, from 10am
December 22: The best herd of 30 camels
Bundesliga fixtures
Saturday, May 16 (kick-offs UAE time)
Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (4.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Freiburg (4.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin (4.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn (4.30pm)
Augsburg v Wolfsburg (4.30pm)
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (7.30pm)
Sunday, May 17
Cologne v Mainz (4.30pm),
Union Berlin v Bayern Munich (7pm)
Monday, May 18
Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen (9.30pm)
