Ryder Cup player Hatton maintained his two-shot lead through three rounds after shooting a four-under-par 67 on Saturday, while Australia's former British Open champ lies five shots adrift in joint-fourth place going into the final round.

"I think it's going to be really windy tomorrow; it's going to be a grinder's type of day out there," said Smith, after his two-under 69 left him at five under for the tournament, having lost a couple more strokes to the in-form Hatton.

"Tomorrow, I feel like I'm in a position where I can give it a good shot. I just need to kind of hang in there, given the conditions we're likely to get."

The 32-year-old Queenslander remains encouraged by his form as he seeks his first triumph since winning a LIV event in Bedminster, USA, back in August 2023.

"Just need much more of the same, really," he said of his last-round challenge. 

"I feel like it's a golf course if you play overly aggressive, it can get away from you really quickly. Just more quality shots, and hopefully a few of those longer putts go in.

"There's glimpses of brilliance; I just need to kind of make that a little bit more consistent, and then the really good stuff will come.

"I like the golf course. I feel like I like golf courses that frustrate other people, I feel like I've got a leg up on that."

What he needs is the sort of blistering round that Dustin Johnson delivered on Saturday, a seven-under 64 that vaulted him alongside Smith, local hero Jon Rahm (68) and M‌exican Abraham Ancer (67) into fourth.

The former Master, who started his round at No.8, had a dazzling finale, going through the last seven holes in five-under, including a hole-in-one at the short third.

Hatton's the man to catch, though, as he holds a two-shot lead over Thomas Detry (67) and a four-shot advantage over Valderrama specialist Sergio Garcia (68) in third.

"Got off to a great start making birdie on the first hole," said Hatton, who's enjoying his first tournament back since his wife Emily gave birth to their first child, a baby girl.

"Well, it's going to take something good. Obviously Tyrrell is playing amazing, and he's 10-under," Garcia enthused when asked about his chances.

Among the rest of the Smith-led Ripper GC team, his great mate Marc Leishman was tied for 12th at one-under after a 69, but Lucas Herbert, the day after his hole-in-one, struggled with a 75 which has left him at three-over and Elvis Smylie carded a 73 for a four-over total.