Johnson takes command at Augusta

Dustin Johnson matched the lowest 54 hole score in Masters Tournament history as he opened up a four shot lead heading into the final round at Augusta National Golf Club.

The World Number One got off to a blistering start and then took advantage of the two par fives on the back nine as he matched the lowest score of the week with his second 65 to get to 16 under.

Mexican Abraham Ancer, South Korean Sungjae Im and Australian Cameron Smith were the nearest challengers, a shot clear of South African Dylan Frittelli and two ahead of World Number Three Justin Thomas.

Reigning Race to Dubai champion Jon Rahm and current Race to Dubai leader Patrick Reed were then at nine under alongside Colombia's Sebastian Munoz.

Johnson's 16 under par total matches that of Jordan Spieth after three rounds in 2015 and with the soft conditions this week, the American may also be aiming for the record 72 hole tally of 18 under shared by Spieth and Tiger Woods.

A victory would make Johnson the first wire to wire winner at the Masters since Spieth and see him add a second Major Championship to his collection after the 2016 U.S. Open.

"I know what it takes," he said. "I know how I respond in this situation. I'm very comfortable with having the lead going into tomorrow. I've been in this situation a lot of times. I'm looking forward to the challenge.

"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 want to win tomorrow."

The five man leading group after 36 holes soon swelled to eight with the second and third proving gettable but when Johnson reached Pink Dogwood, he burst clear.

The 36-year-old hit a remarkable second to tap-in range to eagle the second and when he put a pitch to eight feet at the the third and holed a 40 footer on the fourth, he led by three.

I'm very comfortable with having the lead going into tomorrow. I've been in this situation a lot of times. I'm looking forward to the challenge

He spun his approach to two feet on the seventh and while the lead was briefly trimmed back to two, Johnson made serene progress with two putt birdies on the par five 13th and 15th.

His lead was five at one point but Im trimmed it back to four as he holed from 14 feet on the last to bounce back from a bogey in a 68.

He had earlier taken advantage of the second and holed from six feet on the third before chipping in at the 11th and making a two putt birdie on the 15th.

Ancer had failed to take advantage of the second but he holed from five feet on the third and six feet on the seventh to sit in second but he bogeyed the 13th after a poor tee shot and a three putt.

He was forced to lay up on the 15th but put his third to six feet and then put his tee shot to ten feet on the next in a 69.

Smith started his round with 12 pars but broke that run on the 13th from ten feet before he put an approach to similar range at the next and got up and down for birdie on the 15th.

He then made a trio of excellent par saves, getting up and down on the 16th and last and taking four on the 17th after playing up the 15th fairway to match Ancer's score.

Frittelli carded a bogey free 67 with gains on the four par fives and the 11th, while Thomas had been the nearest challenger but made four bogeys in his last seven holes in a 71.

A double bogey at the eighth after a topped second shot and tree trouble with his third knocked Rahm off course in a 72, while 2018 champion Reed was sat in second before a bogey-bogey finish in his 71.

Former World Number Ones and four time Major winners Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka were at eight under alongside 2017 Race to Dubai champion Tommy Fleetwood and Japan's Hideki Matsuyama.