The 27-year-old will begin the final round in a tie for ninth and eight strokes back of Japan’s Nasa Hataoka (66), her world-class iron play coming to the fore as her putter faltered in a round of even-par 72.

Only Hataoka went lower in the third round than Gabi Ruffels, the U.S based Victorian continuing her love affair with major championships with a round of two-under 70 to move into a share of 14th. Sydney’s Grace Kim also made a positive move up the leaderboard with a round of one-under 71, while Hannah Green fell back into a tie for 45th with a four-over 76 in windy conditions on Saturday.

No player has come from more than five strokes back to win the U.S Women’s Open although amateur Barbara McIntire did come from eight strokes back in 1956 before losing in a play-off to Kathy Cornelius.

Lee will need to better that to win a third major championship but can call upon her own experience two years ago as inspiration.

She began the final round of the Evian Championship seven strokes off the lead yet forced a play-off with Korea’s Jeongeun Lee6 and sealed her breakthrough major at the first play-off hole.

Jiyai Shin and Hyo Joo Kim are the only players ahead of Lee to have won a major championship and, given the challenge posed by Pebble Beach this week, it is not inconceivable that an eight-stroke deficit can be reeled in.

Particularly given Lee is paired with the hottest new player on Tour, Rose Zhang.