Dustin Johnson finishes strongly to set up weekend title challenge

Sky Sports Golf, 5pm Saturday

European Ryder Cup colleagues Jon Rahm and Henrik Stenson lead the Hero World Challenge at the halfway stage, the Spaniard and the Swede reaching ten under par through 36 holes.

Rahm carded a second-round 63 to outscore the rest of the 18-man field in round two, while Stenson followed an opening 68 with a 66 to join him.

Rahm and Stenson, 12-1 and 25-1 respectively ante-post, are 7-2 and 9-2 after two rounds. Rahm was a World Challenge debutant, while Stenson finished second two years ago. Stenson took his family to The Bahamas for Thanksgiving this year, before sending them home so he could practice alone at the Albany course for a few days. The thorough preparation is paying off.

Outright punters should arguably be concentrating on Rahm, Stenson, Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler. Lack of course experience was the biggest negative next to the name of Rahm this week – and it told in his opening 71 – but he has quickly got to grips with Albany and should prove difficult to beat over the weekend.

Stenson has done his Albany homework, appears to be getting closer to full fitness after elbow surgery, and must be respected, while Johnson finished round two strongly and has a track with five par-fives at his mercy. It was doubtful whether his usual caddie, brother Austin, would be working this week – Austin got married at the weekend – but honeymoon plans are clearly on hold and he is beside his brethren.

Johnson has a great chance to put the Ryder Cup debacle and a generally disappointing year to bed by claiming Hero glory from one shot behind. Johnson at 3-1 and Fowler at 20-1 are the two best value prices at this stage.

Breezy conditions are forecast for the weekend and these two are adept at handling them. Fowler has a five-shot deficit to make up, but he was seven shots behind with 18 holes to play last year and ended up winning by four. Fowler and the rest of the field will be aware of his potential for a closing flourish at this venue.

Third-round twoballs punters are pointed towards Johnson, who can see off uninspiring Californian debutant Patrick Cantlay in the penultimate match (5.44pm UK and Ireland time), while Bryson DeChambeau can defeat Tiger Woods in the 4.49pm contest. Woods has looked weary this week and is playing under a scoring cloud after failing to call a penalty on himself for what looked like an illegal second shot at the 18th hole in round two.

Twoballs recommendations
D Johnson
3pts 5-6 Betfair, Betway, Power

B DeChambeau
2pts 6-5 bet365, 188bet

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