Tiger Woods registered five birdies in six holes to charge up the leaderboard at the Pebble Beach National.
The former world number one carded a five-under 67 to end the third round at 11 under, only four shots behind South Korea's Charlie Wi.
Between them in second place is the American Ken Duke on 12 under.
Ireland's Padraig Harrington looked to be doing well, but two late bogeys saw him drop to eight under par for a share of eighth place.
Woods, playing in the California event for the first time in a decade, created a stir with his run of birdies but he had to settle for seven pars at the end of his round.
Wi, aiming for his first USPGA tour win, was steady throughout his three-under-par round of 69.
Phil Mickelson briefly threatened, but struggled on the par-five holes to shoot 70, ending six shots behind Wi.
