3 things you should know after Round 3 at the Northern Trust

The leader was four strokes worse than he was the day before. The leader’s lead is three strokes better. The course was harder on him. He was harder on the field. Here are three things you should know after Saturday’s third round of the Northern Trust at TPC Boston in Norton, Mass, the first event in the FedEx Cup playoffs.     

Dustin Johnson leads 

Dustin Johnson was 9-under through nine holes during the second round and 11-under through 11 before parring the final seven holes to finish one stroke short of a 59. 

He played the final seven better on Saturday. 

Tied for the lead with Harris English midway through the back nine, Johnson birdied 17 and eagled 18, while English bogeyed 16 and 17, and Johnson finished with a 7-under 64, a 22-under total and a five-shot lead over English and Scottie Scheffler.   

“Obviously I’m in a great position and like where I’m at, but I’m still going to have to go out and shoot a good score,” Johnson said. “You can go low out here, and guys are going low every day, especially with the conditions we have: Perfect greens, golf course is in great shape and not a lot of wind.”

Only two players are within five shots 

English, who shot a 5-under 66, and Scheffler, who followed up a 12-under 59 with a 67, are the only two players within five shots of Johnson. 

Louis Oosthuizen is seven shots back, Harry Higgs, Daniel Berger and Danny Lee are eight shots back and Bubba Watson is nine shots back. 

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy play poorly 

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy played together. They also played poorly together. 

Woods shot a 2-over 73, his first round over par in the tournament. McIlroy shot a 3-over 74, also his first round over par in the tournament. 

Only two players who made the cut have higher three-round totals, so Woods and McIlroy will play together again on Sunday.