Johnson take one-shot lead after Round 3 at RBC Heritage

After a close call in the Masters, Dustin Johnson said showing up for the RBC Heritage has been ideal.

He hopes to carry that through one more round.

Johnson moved into the lead of the tournament by shooting a 3-under-par 68 during Saturday's third round at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head, S.C.

He's at 10-under 203 after his third straight sub-70 round.

Johnson is a local favorite from his time as a college golfer at Coastal Carolina. The South Carolina native also is coming off a runner-up finish in the Masters.

"It's a lot of fun to come play for all the fans here in South Carolina," Johnson said.

Going into Sunday's final round, Slovakia's Rory Sabbatini (68), England's Ian Poulter (67) and Ireland's Shane Lowry (71) are at 9 under.

Johnson hadn't played the Hilton Head course in about a decade until entering last year's tournament.

Yet with windy conditions, there were rough closing stretches for several golfers. Johnson said he knows he has to keep making the adjustments.

"Just keep doing exactly what I've been doing," Johnson said. "I'm swinging well, placing the ball where I want to. Hopefully I can roll in a few putts."

Golfers hope the winds die down for the final round.

"This golf course is tough enough as it is," Johnson said.

Johnson had birdies on Nos. 13-15 before carding bogeys on 16 and 17.

Lowry led at the conclusion of play in each of the first two days, though he had to finish holes from the second round when play resumed Saturday. He held a one-stroke lead at the tournament's midway mark.

In the third round, Lowry was 3 under through nine holes and extended his advantage before giving those back during a 3-over backside.

Until the 13th hole Saturday, Lowry had only one bogey in the tournament. He has played the par-3s in 2 over.

Poulter said playing in this tournament is the ideal situation following the stress associated with the Masters.

"I've had some decent rounds around this place," Poulter said. "I haven't really finished the week off properly yet. I feel this is a good golf course. This golf course is one I've played many times and I enjoy it."

Patrick Cantlay (66) is at 8 under in a tie for fifth place tie with Trey Mullinax (71), Scott Piercy (68), Taipei's C.T. Pan (69), Argentina's Emiliano Grillo (70) and South Korea's K.J. Choi (69).

Cantlay, who was among the contenders in the final round last weekend at the Masters, was 3 under on the backside Saturday.

Part of the plan for Saturday was to stay in contention despite some tough stretches.

"We knew it was going to play hard," Mullinax said. "We just tried to be patient."

Poulter said the approach to the conditions has been critical to being in the mix near the top of the leader board.

"It's easy to miss these greens," he said. "Easy to get in a lot of trouble. So you've just got to be patient, take your time."

Sam Burns (69) is at 7 under, hurt by a double-bogey on the last hole. He shares 11th place with Matt Kuchar (68).

Webb Simpson carded a bogey-free 65 for the low round of the day and stands tied for 13th. He was 4 under through eight holes.

Fifty-six golfers had to finish the second round Saturday morning after weather-related delays interfered a day earlier.

--Field Level Media