Cameron Smith has threatened to turn Sunday into an Australian PGA Championship victory lap after blazing to a three-shot lead midway through his third round.

The world No.3 and hometown hero turned at 12-under on Saturday, Smith’s sublime form rewarded with four birdies in front of thousands following his group at Brisbane’s Royal Queensland.

The two-time tournament winner started one shot behind overnight leader Jason Scrivener.

But he had a two-shot lead an hour later thanks to a two-shot swing on the fourth hole.

Smith had birdied the second and then put his approach to the par-three fourth within a metre of the flag, while Scrivener was unable to get up and down after finding the bunker.

He then birdied the sixth and seventh to build a four-shot lead, Smith’s only trouble coming on the ninth when a drive sliced wide into the canopy and led to a bogey.

He recovered to the fairway, put his third shot into a deep greenside bunker and then missed his putt for par.

Scrivener (seven under) dropped three shots on the front nine as his pursuit of a first title since 2017 faltered, while playing partner Masahiro Kawaruma (nine under) did his best to stay in touch.

Royal Queensland member Jake McLeod and David Micheluzzi were eight under in a group three holes ahead of Smith.

Min Woo Lee’s birdie putt on the ninth stopped on the lip, denying him a fifth birdie in a hot start for the emerging West Australian star.

He’s still in the mix though at seven under through 13 holes, while Spaniard Alfredo Garcia-Hernandez (67) holds the clubhouse lead at six-under.

Entering the weekend on the one-over par cut line, US PGA Tour winner and President’s Cup representative Cameron Davis (65) eagled his second hole and climbed to four under.

And starting in the morning’s first group, Scott Strange also carded a 65 to shoot to four under.

– AAP