Davidson will enter the final round of the ($US13 million) $18.2 million Women's PGA Championship in Minnesota five shots off the lead in a tie for eighth at six under par.
The 27-year-old had been seven strokes back at the halfway point before posting a third-round one-under-par 71 at Hazeltine National Golf Club.
But, ironically, Davidson's task might just have become more challenging after the accomplished Haeran Ryu claimed the lead from fellow South Korean Ina Yoon on Saturday (Sunday AEST).
Ryu carved out a four-under 68 to surge to 11 under for the championship and earn a one-stroke lead over Canada's dual major champion Brooke M Henderson (69).
Yoon slipped back to the pack with a three-over 75 to find herself two strokes behind Ryu in the race for the record $US1.95 million ($A2.82 million) winner's cheque.
A Lim Kim (71) and Dutchwoman Dewi Weber (68) are three behind at eight under, one stroke ahead of history-chasing world No.1 Nelly Korda (71) and fellow American Alison Lee (68).
Korda is bidding to become only the third woman since 1950 to win the first three majors of the year after already capturing the Chevron Championship and US Open crowns in a stunning start to 2026.
She will enter championship Sunday just four shots back - and one ahead of Davidson, who has the chance to join Australian greats Jan Stephenson (1982), Karrie Webb (2001), Hannah Green (2019) and Minjee Lee (2025) as an LPGA Championship winner.
Fellow Australian Grace Kim (72) is tied for 32nd at one under, with Robyn Choi (73) equal 41st at even par,
Green and Lee both missed the halfway cut.
In the last 35 Women's PGA Championships, the eventual winner was leading or within four shots of the lead after three rounds.
Korda has struggled on the greens over the first three rounds, going 7 for 11 on putts between three and five feet, ranking 65th among the 68 remaining players. She was 19 of 20 from that distance over four rounds when she won the US Open earlier this month.
"The greens are pretty slick. They don't have too much grass on them. The short putts are pretty difficult," said Korda, who three-putted two greens in her round.Â
"Putting in general, when it gets this windy, you have to calculate in the wind, too, and a gust here and there. Sometimes you just aren't as confident with your lines."
Ryu's score tied for the lowest round of the day, one day after her 64 was Friday's low score.
She played the first seven holes in 4 under, including a 28-foot eagle putt on No.7, and a birdie putt on No.9 that rimmed around three-quarters of the hole before falling. Ryu was 1-over on the back nine.
"It was more windy and a lot of tough shots and tough putts, but I just made one bogey today, so it was good for me for tomorrow, and tomorrow I just want to have more confidence and more calm," she said of potentially winning her first major.
With AP
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