Fortinet Australian PGA Championship - Day three digest

Everything you need to know from day three at Royal Queensland Golf Club.

Min Woo Lee made a charge to get back into contention for a third DP World Tour title while Cameron Smith moved out in front as Liu Yan Wei nearly won a new BMW on day three of the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship.

Here is everything you need to know from the third round at Royal Queensland Golf Club.

Lee makes moving day charge

After a disappointing two-over-par 73 in the second round, Min Woo Lee bounced back to move into contention heading into the final round with a 68 on Saturday. The home favourite, who held a share of the lead after day one, made back-to-back birdies in different two spells on the front nine. After a brilliant start with birdies at the opening two holes, the 24-year-old holed a lengthy birdie putt at the sixth before another followed at the seventh. Another front-nine charge like that on Sunday will certainly have him in the hunt for his third DP World Tour title.

Smith moves out in front

Cameron Smith began the third round one shot adrift of overnight leader Jason Scrivener, but by the end of the day had opened up a three-shot lead in his bid to become a three-time champion. The World Number Three made four birdies in his opening seven holes as he threatened to move out of sight but four bogeys in his last ten holes, including one on the 18th, left him ruing what could have been. “I think it was a little bit frustrating there on that back nine, but in these conditions I would have taken two-under at the start of the day, so it’s kind of the case that beggars can’t be choosers,” he said. But [my game] was really hot obviously on that front nine. I felt really good and it’s just frustrating to end like that.”

So close to an ace for Liu

The all-electric BMW i7 is on offer this week for a hole-in-one at the par-three 11th. China’s Liu Yan Wei was a flagstick away from driving away with the new motor, but despite the disappointment of missing out he was focusing on the positives as he goes in search of a first DP World Tour victory. Ahead of playing in the final group alongside Smith and Japan’s Masahiro Kawamura, he said: “I’m definitely going to be a little bit edgy out there tomorrow, but [I'll have] the same mindset last two days and just give it my best shot.”

Kawamura making the impossible possible

The commentator’s curse struck on Saturday when Kawamura exceeded expectations from a greenside bunker at the par-three fourth. The 29-year-old, who is another player targeting his first DP World Tour win, expertly made a sandy save from a downhill lie on his way to a level-par 71.

Eagle time for Meronk

The third round might have been an inconsistent affair for Poland’s Adrian Meronk but there was one notable highlight for this year’s Horizon Irish Open champion. Coming off back-to-back bogeys, the 29-year-old found the driveable par-four 12th off the tee, before pouring in his eagle putt from long range. How about that!