Dustin Johnson leading in WGC-HSBC Champions with three shots despite 'birdie barrage'

American golfer Dustin Johnson saw his five-shot overnight lead in the WGC-HSBC Champions at Shanghai cut down to three on Saturday by Ryder Cup star and defending champion Ian Poulter, who shot an impressive nine-under par round of 63.

Johnson, despite two double bogeys on the back nine, shot a six-under par round of 66 to finish Saturday's third round on 18-under par 198 on a day when birdies flew in all over the course.

According to Sport24, Johnson will have to hold off a chasing pack containing the European Tour's finest players if he is to win the 8.5 million-dollar Shanghai tournament.

Poulter would have equalled the old course record had it not been for Germany's Martin Kaymer, who had already lowered that mark to 62 earlier in the day to get to 10-under par after three rounds.

Former US Open champion Graeme McDowell, who is four behind Johnson, carded a 64, while two further back are former world number one Rory McIlroy (67), US Open champion Justin Rose (65) and Canada's Graham DeLaet (65), the report added.