AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Dustin Johnson began his assault on Augusta National with a 5-iron for a tap-in eagle, and he never relented until he matched the 54-hole record at the Masters and built a four-shot lead to put himself in prime position for another major.

Johnson has been in this position before, and he plans to lean on his experience.

Not from the 82 he shot at Pebble Beach in the 2010 U.S. Open. Not the three-putt from 12 feet on a bumpy 18th green that cost him at Chambers Bay. Not even the one-shot lead he lost three months ago at Harding Park. They were among four times he had at least a share of the 54-hole lead in a major without converting.

He's talking about the last three days at Augusta National. It's been a masterful performance.

"If I can play like I did today, I think it will break that streak," Johnson said Saturday. "Tomorrow, it's just 18 holes of golf. I need to go out and play solid. I feel like I'm swinging really well. If I can just continue to give myself a lot of looks at birdie, I think I'll have a good day."

A third round that began with 10 players separated by one shot turned into a one-man show.

The No. 1 player in the world looked every bit the part with a 7-under 65, pulling away with the eagle and two birdies in the opening four holes, nearly holing a wedge from the seventh fairway, handling the par 5s on the back nine with two-putt birdies and going the last 30 holes without a bogey.

He was at 16-under 200, matching the 54-hole record Jordan Spieth set in 2015 when he won the Masters by four shots over Phil Mickelson and Justin Rose.

The cast of challengers are not nearly as experienced.

Two of them are Masters rookies. Sungjae Im, the supreme ball-striker from South Korea who won his first PGA Tour title two weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down golf in the spring, birdied the last hole for 68. Abraham Ancer of Mexico saved par on the 18th for a 69.

Joining them at 12-under 204 was Cameron Smith of Australia, who had 12 straight pars before running off three straight birdies and then closing with three scrambling pars for a 69.

"He's been there before multiple times, and No. 1 in the world," Ancer said. "I think he's right where he wants to be. We know that we have to go low, and that's it. It's very simple. If DJ goes out there and plays really solid like today, it's going to be pretty much impossible to catch him. Whatever has to be done out there has to be pretty special."

Still, there is enormous pressure on Johnson because of his history. He has not converted two 54-hole leads, nor has he won at two majors where he shared the 54-hole lead. His only major was the 2016 U.S. Open when he rallied from four shots behind at Oakmont.

"Anyone with a four-shot lead is expected to win," Smith said. "There's going to be plenty of boys firing tomorrow."

Attacking flags is what Augusta National has allowed in November, with rain earlier in the week and warm, calm conditions that have kept the turf soft and vulnerable.

Johnson, who had to sit out two tournaments after testing positive for the coronavirus a month ago, still came into the Masters having won twice, finishing runner-up three times and tying for sixth in the U.S. Open.

"I'm very comfortable with having the lead going into tomorrow. I've been in this situation a lot of times," Johnson said. "I'm looking forward to the challenge. It's still going to be a tough day. I'm going to have to play well if I want to get it done."

Justin Thomas and Jon Rahm had their chances only to make untimely mistakes. Rahm nearly topped his second shot on the par-5 eighth, which he attributed to mud on his golf ball, and hit his next one off a tree and into the bushes on his way to a double bogey.

Thomas sailed his second shot over the 15th green and into the water, making bogey on a par 5 where he was hoping to make up ground. Both bogeyed the 18th hole. Thomas shot 71, Rahm had a 72.

Asked to describe his day, Rahm didn't mince words.

"Seriously? How would I describe? Pretty awful," he said.

Starting times for the final round have been moved up to finish by 3 p.m. so CBS can honor its NFL contract, and it will be threesomes off both tees. And just like all week, and all year, there will be no roars to add to the pressure.

"Unfortunately for all of us chasing DJ is there's no fans or nothing to make that moment even harder, to have the buzz, to have the adrenaline, to have a little bit more pressure put on him that won't be there this year," Thomas said.

Defending champion Tiger Woods will stick around Sunday to present the green jacket, and he'll have to leave his at Augusta National until he returns.

Woods was 4 under through 10 holes to start the Masters, and he picked up only one more shot over the next 44 holes. He finished off a 71 in the second round Saturday morning, had a 72 in the third round and was 11 shots behind.

U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau was more dizzy than sore. He felt so odd on Thursday night that he had another COVID-19 test to be sure -- it came back negative -- and the betting favorite of this Masters was in the middle of the pack, 13 shots behind.

The scoring has been low all week. The 36-hole cut Saturday morning was at even-par 144, the lowest in Masters history, another update to the club's record book.

Still in front of Johnson is a chance to set the 72-hole record. All he cares about is a green jacket, and given his past experience, he knows better than to look ahead.

SEBRING, Fla. – Chevrolet claimed the GT Le Mans Manufacturers title in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Saturday after the Corvette C8.R started the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.

It marks Chevrolet’s 13th manufacturers title in IMSA GT competition since 2001 and concludes the mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette C8.R’s inaugural season.

Corvette Racing fielded two of the new Corvette C8.Rs in the WeatherTech Championship.

Antonio Garcia, Jordan Taylor and the No. 3 Corvette Racing team clinched the GTLM drivers and team championships two weeks ago at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

“The first season for the Corvette C8.R has shattered all of our expectations,” said Mark Reuss, GM president. “The success of the Corvette Racing team wouldn’t be possible without the close link between the crew and the Corvette engineering team. It has been great to watch these two teams work closely together to learn from each other. I can’t wait to see what next season brings.”

The mid-engine C8.R and 2020 Corvette Stingray were developed simultaneously, and the race car and production vehicle share more technology and parts than any previous-generation Corvette.

When initial Corvette C8.R design and development work began more than five years ago, Corvette Racing engineers worked closely alongside Corvette production personnel.

Within the last 18 months, track testing began with a heavy emphasis on wind tunnel and simulation testing.

Chevrolet swept the three full-season GTLM titles for the third time in five years. It’s only the second time that a first-year Corvette race car has won an IMSA championship. In 2005, the Corvette C6.R won American Le Mans Series championship in its first season.

Corvette Racing captured six victories leading into Sebring. Garcia and Taylor gave the Corvette C8.R its first victory at Daytona International Speedway in July, Corvette Racing’s 100th IMSA win.

Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner won the next race in the No. 4 Corvette C8.R with Garcia and Taylor in second – the first 1-2 finish for the C8.R.

In addition, the Corvette C8.R claimed seven pole positions and posted fastest GTLM race lap at five events this season.

VALENCIA, Spain – Petronas Yamaha SRT rider Franco Morbidelli secured his second MotoGP World Championship pole of the year in a frantic qualifying session Saturday at Circuit Ricardo Tormo.

Morbidelli toured the 2.488-mile, 14-turn course in 1:30.191 to earn his first pole in Valencia and the second of his MotoGP career.

He’s yet to finish a Valencia Grand Prix in two prior attempts.

Morbidelli edged out Pramac Racing’s Jack Miller by .096 seconds for the top qualifying honors, with Takaaki Nakagami of LCR Honda Idemitsu filling out the front row.

Fourth through sixth were Johann Zarco, Red Bull KTM’s Pol Espargaro and Monster Energy Yamaha’s Maverick Viñales, with Aprilia Racing Team Gresini’s Aleix Espargaro, Pramac’s Francesco Bagnaia, Red Bull KTM’s Brad Binder and Red Bull KTM Tech3 rider Miguel Oliveira filling out the top 10 in qualifying.

A tough day for the top three in the point standings meant that Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Joan Mir will start 12th Sunday, just behind 11th-place Fabio Quartararo of Petronas Yamaha SRT.

Mir’s teammate, Alex Rins, failed to make it out of Q1 and will roll off 14th for the race.

Valentino Rossi will start 16th for his second-to-last race as a part of the Yamaha factory squad.

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – Josh Williams received one of the highest honors of his racing career this week with his nomination for the National Motorsports Press Ass’n Third-Quarter Pocono Spirit Award.

Williams is one of three nominees for the honor, alongside Roger Penske – the owner of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the NTT IndyCar Series and Team Penske – and 2018 NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano.

He was nominated based on his efforts with the Musselman’s Josh Williams Hospital Tour, which allows Williams to regularly visit with young patients at children’s hospitals across the United States.

“This is one of the biggest honors I’ve ever personally received,” Williams said. “To know that people in the sport see what we’ve been doing for these kids over all these years means the world to me, and it’s way more than I could have ever expected. I’m humbled to be nominated alongside Roger Penske and Joey Logano, two giants in our sport who give back as much as they can in their own right.

“The hospital tour is for the kids and about bringing joy to as many of them as we can, and it’s an honor we look forward to continuing going forward.”

The 27-year-old driver of the No. 92 DGM Racing Chevrolet Camaro recently ran his annual “handprint car” during the Xfinity Series finale at Arizona’s Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 7, a tribute to the many pediatric patients he visits each year during the Musselman’s Josh Williams Hospital Tour.

Williams’ hospital tour concluded its sixth year in 2020, after debuting in 2015, while he was competing as an owner/driver in the ARCA Menards Series.

Though the COVID-19 pandemic stopped the possibility of in-person hospital visits this season, Williams took his hospital tour virtual and spent time with patients via video conferencing and virtual visits.

Williams’ recent online stops included spending time with patients at Sunrise Children’s Hospital in Las Vegas, Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, N.C.; and Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital in Orlando, Fla.

“Our visits are always unique and always special, and at the end of the year, the kids always get a kick out of seeing their handprints on the ‘apple sauce car,’ as they call it,” Williams noted. “Running that car is our way of thanking Musselman’s for helping to make my visits with them possible, and it’s one more way to help keep smiles on all the kids’ faces while they go through whatever battles they’re going through.”

Penske was nominated for his work in leading the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the NTT IndyCar Series through the COVID-19 pandemic this season, including ensuring the safe running of the Indianapolis 500 in August and helping the Indy car field complete a 14-race schedule.

Logano’s third-quarter charitable efforts centered around the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs this fall. Each week through the 10-race postseason stretch, Logano donated $22,000 through the Joey Logano Foundation to a North Carolina charity. The beneficiaries included organizations supporting homeless children, those in foster care or those who were aging out of the foster-care system.

Voting for the NMPA Third-Quarter Pocono Spirit Award is open to NMPA members through Nov. 30.

There were nine players tied for the lead at one point during Saturday's third round of the Masters Tournament.

Enter Dustin Johnson.

Johnson began his scoring barrage on Augusta National's first nine by nearly holing his second shot on the par-5 second, from 221 yards. He tapped in for eagle to move to 11 under par, two clear of the field.

Johnson then made an 8-footer for birdie at the par-4 third.

And then rolled in a 38-foot birdie putt at the par-3 fourth.

Following a pair of pars, Johnson spun back his approach shot on the par-4 seventh to 2 feet. The birdie got him to 14 under and gave him a three-shot advantage.

At the par-4 ninth, DJ bombed a drive 341 yards, over the left corner and down the slope. He had only 108 yards to the pin, but was unable to make birdie. Johnson two-putted for par to shoot 5-under 31 on the opening nine holes and carry a three-stroke lead into the second nine.

Sergio Ramos has become the most capped male European footballer ever, making his 177th appearance for Spain in their UEFA Nations League match with Switzerland on Saturday.

The Real Madrid defender -- who captains both club and country -- has now played one game more than the previous record holder, former Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who retired from international duty in 2018.

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Ramos, 34, is now targeting the world record held by Egypt's Ahmed Hassan, who played 184 games for his country between 1995 and 2012. The defender could reach that milestone at next summer's Euro 2020 tournament, if he features in all of Spain's matches before then.

"They're numbers that are only within the reach of the exceptionally gifted," Spain coach Luis Enrique said earlier this week, after bringing Ramos on as a substitute for his 176th cap in a 1-1 friendly draw with the Netherlands on Wednesday.

"He doesn't even get a cold. He's different. His level is unique."

Luis Enrique, however, made a change at goalkeeper for Saturday's match against the Swiss, deciding to bench Manchester United's David de Gea in favour of Athletic Bilbao's Unai Simon.

De Gea had started Spain's last four Nations League matches but made a costly mistake in a 1-0 shock loss to Ukraine in October. Luis Enrique came to defence of the embattled keeper following that defeat, saying it was a "bad habit" for critics to continually blame him for his form for club and country.

It is Simon's second straight start, as he was between the posts for the draw against the Dutch.

As for Ramos, Saturday's start further etches a remarkable international career that began when he made his Spain debut in March 2005, coming on for Carles Puyol at half time in a 3-0 friendly win over China.

He initially featured as a right back -- including at Euro 2008, Spain's first tournament win in 44 years, and in the country's only World Cup winning side in 2010 -- before switching to centre back for their defence of the European Championship title in 2012.

Ramos has scored 23 goals for Spain, making him his country's eighth all-time top scorer, and has been the national team's first-choice penalty taker since 2018.

Despite turning 35 next March, he has expressed a desire to feature not just at the Euros in June, but also the Tokyo Olympics, describing the possibility as "a nice idea, an event no-one would say no to."

Buffalo Bills cornerback Josh Norman has tested positive for COVID-19, the team announced Saturday, and will miss Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals.

Along with Norman, tight end Tyler Kroft, cornerback Levi Wallace and safety Dean Marlow were deemed to be in close contact with Norman and were also placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. None of the four players will travel to Arizona this weekend.

Their absence leaves Buffalo without four players who are either starters or immediate back-ups at their respective positions. Norman was set to return to action after missing the past three games with a hamstring injury; it would have been just the second game this season where the Bills had both Norman, Wallace and Tre'Davious White active at cornerback.

In their stead, the team activated cornerbacks Daryl Worley and rookie Dane Jackson from the practice squad, along with linebacker Darron Lee, wide receiver Jake Kumerow and safety Josh Thomas.

Kroft has statistically been the teams best tight end this season with 119 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Without him, the team will rely heavily on 2019 third-round pick Dawson Knox.

Kentucky honored offensive line coach John Schlarman, who died this week after a long battle with cancer, by lining up without a left guard and taking a delay of game penalty on the first play from scrimmage against Vanderbilt on Saturday.

Vanderbilt declined the penalty.

Kentucky senior left tackle Landon Young then came in on the next play, wearing Schlarman's No. 65 jersey.

Schlarman was a four-year starter at Kentucky from 1994 to '97, earning All-SEC honors as a senior, before going into coaching.

He coached at Troy before returning to Kentucky as part of head coach Mark Stoops' first staff in 2013. Schlarman's offensive lines were among the best in the SEC, nicknamed "The Big Blue Wall." In 2016 and 2019, they were semifinalists for the Joe Moore Award given to the nation's top offensive line.

Schlarman was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, a rare cancer of the bile ducts, more than two years ago. He rarely missed a practice, shuttling back and forth from Lexington to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston to receive treatments.

Recently the cancer had spread to his liver, lungs and peritoneal cavity.

Schlarman, who died Thursday at the age of 45, was beloved by players and coaches for his kindness, determination and overwhelming optimism. Stoops said his nickname was "The Great American" because he was so well liked.

Fellow assistant coach Vince Marrow said he'd never met anyone as strong as Schlarman, calling him his hero.

"I'm heartbroken to learn about the passing of my friend, John Schlarman," Stoops said in a statement. "My prayers go out to LeeAnne and the kids, Joseph, Benjamin, Matthew and Evelyn, through this very difficult time.

"John was everything we all strive to be -- honest, tough, fair, respected. Kentucky football won't be the same without him but his legacy will never fade. He was a fighter and we will strive every day to honor his warrior spirit."

Drake Jackson, a veteran offensive lineman, told ESPN in March that Schlarman was -- and remained -- the funniest person in the building.

"He has a charisma and a work ethic all coaches strive for," Jackson said. "He's just a complete person. It's not fake. It's not artificial."

Hooker Jamie George's hat-trick helped England to a comfortable six-try victory against Georgia in their first match at Twickenham since March.

Elliot Daly added a fourth before half-time after an impressive break in midfield from Jonathan Joseph.

George completed his hat-trick with a replica of his first two scores before Dan Robson darted over.

England are now top of their Autumn Nations Cup pool and have two more group games against Ireland and Wales before facing a yet-to-be-determined opponent from Pool B to decide final placings.

Disciplined England claim first-half bonus point

England had not played at Twickenham since their Six Nations defeat of Wales eight months ago, before coronavirus brought rugby to a standstill.

With the stands empty, all the pressure was on the players to give an entertaining performance to make up for the lack of atmosphere in South-West London.

So it looked promising when captain Owen Farrell sent a cross-field kick to Jonny May, but the wing knocked it on to miss out on the chance of an early score.

The Georgians held off England heroically, rewarded with cheers from their subs bench rather than 80,000 at Twickenham, but Willis finally found his way across after 15 minutes.

The 23-year-old's first cap had been given plenty of column inches before the match and he completed the perfect debut narrative as he drove his legs, twisted and turned to make his way across the tryline.

A lack of fans was not the only change at Twickenham. English rugby edged its way into the 21st century as recent number one Head & Heart played out to celebrate the try, with the usual Sweet Caroline soundtrack absent.

England's backline stalled as Georgia continued to put up a good fight, but George eventually crossed at the back of a maul after an England line-out in the corner.

Head coach Eddie Jones had spoken all week about England's tactical discipline being more important than fireworks against their tier-two opponents and his side continued to do the basics right.

The third try mirrored the second as the maul rolled on and George crossed again.

Things took a more exciting turn as Joseph, on the wing for the day but told he had free rein going into the game, broke through in the midfield.

He sent the ball right and Daly was at the end of the line to sprint over for his score. That was Joseph's final play of the match as he limped off and was replaced by Joe Marchant.

Rain slows hosts' second-half progress

The wind picked up during half-time and rain began to fall, dampening England's momentum.

Willis' debut, which he had been waiting for since injury stole his chance before the South Africa tour in 2018, came to an early end when he was replaced by Ben Earl in the 47th minute.

With little happening for the hosts on the pitch, Jones continued to work through his bench as props Mako Vunipola and Kyle Sinckler came on for Ellis Genge and Will Stuart.

Some life was breathed into the match as Georgia were given their best chance of the match thanks to a kick out on the full from Daly.

The Eastern Europeans kicked to the corner but their maul was stopped by Charlie Ewels and England were soon back down the other end.

Again, they went to the tried and tested George method and the hooker went over again, capitalising on the power of his fellow forwards in a carbon-copy of his first two scores.

England continued to build pressure and Robson picked the ball up from a ruck and sniped through two tackles to cross for England's sixth and final try.

Shortly after, Robson opted to kick the ball out rather than play on as the clock went red and The Greatest Showman theme tune rang out as the Twickenham DJ signalled their approval of the home side's performance.

Man of the match: Jamie George

'You can't give it the big one after maul tries'- what they said

England hooker Jamie George, speaking to Amazon Prime: "It was a great team performance. Most pleasing for me was forwards-wise we stepped up to the plate.

"It's something we pride ourselves on. We are back here at Twickenham, missing the crowd massively, but we constantly try to push it with our set-piece so it was great to get over the line.

"You can't give it the big one after maul tries! I was happy keeping it low key."

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, England head coach Eddie Jones said: "Georgia obviously came out and wanted to play a certain way, and we wanted to prove a point that they wouldn't be able to out-scrum us.

"When you play in these conditions it is enormously important and if you get an opportunity to keep the ball, it's a way of scoring tries.

"Ireland will come here with a plan. The last few games we have probably had the edge so they will be motivated to change that."

England debutant Jack Willis told BBC Radio 5 Live: "It is something I have dreamed of since I was a young lad. To get this opportunity is something I will always be grateful for.

"Eddie has been great since I have been in camp and this is a group that is building. I'm lucky to be a part of it. I loved every second of it and hopefully I can get another chance soon.

"There are some incredible players in the back row and it's a job for me to try and break into that group."

'Georgia lacked creativity and strategy'- analysis

Former England scrum-half Matt Dawson on BBC Radio 5 Live

Georgia stood up to England as best they could, but they did not have the creativity, strategy or gameplan to take England on.

The contrast next week is that Ireland will match England up front for longer.

There will be parity for longer than Georgia provided so the emphasis will be on the backline to back up the work of the forwards.

Key stats

Line-ups

England: Daly; Joseph, Lawrence, Slade, May; Farrell (capt), Youngs; Genge, George, Stuart; Launchbury, Ewels; Itoje, Willis, B Vunipola.

Replacements: Marchant for Joseph (38), Earl for Willis (46), M Vunipola for Genge (47), Sinckler for Stuart (47), Robson for Youngs (61), Malins for Lawrence (61), Dunn for George (64), Curry for Ewels (64).

Georgia: Khmaladze; Tabutsadze, Kveseladze, Sharikadze (capt), Svanidze; Abzhandadze, Aprasidze; Nariashvili, Mamukashvili, Gigashvili; Jaiani, Kerdikoshvili; Saginadze, Tkhilaishvili, Gorgadze.

Replacements: Gogichashvili for Nariashvili (46), Bregvadze for Mamukashvili (46), Kaulashvili for Gigashvili (59), Giorgadze for Gorgadze (59), Javakhia for Kerdikoshvili (64), Lobzhanidze for Aprasidze (65), Jalaghonia for Tkhilaishvili (72), Todua for Svanidze (79).

Host Ralph Sheheen highlights a few of the spots on the 2020 PRI Road Tour.  The crew stopped by SPEED SPORT’s hometown of Mooresville, N.C., to visit a couple of shops that are dedicated to helping racers achieve their goals.