Rory McIlroy finds himself three shots from the lead after a ‘Long Horn City’ stampede for the front on day three of the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas.

McIlroy was just two shots off the lead at nine-under par through two days but a ‘moving day’ one-under par 69 sees the World No. 1 heading into day four just inside the top-10 at 10-under par in the first Tour event in some three months.

American Xander Schauffele birdied the last in a second straight four-under par 66 to move to 13-under par and break free of a log-jam at 12-under par in the $US 7.5m event being held on the Colonial Club course.

“I played solid and it was quiet, as always, or at least for the last couple of days, and it was fast,” said Schauffele.

“We played in twosomes, and it was good day.  You know, I tried to stay as cool as possible, hang out in the shade, adn take care of business.”

The World No. 12 is chasing a fifth Tour victory and his first in some 18 months.

Xander Schauffele on route to a final hole birdie at a one-shot lead after three rounds of the Charles Schwab Challenge.

Five players – Gary Woodland (66), Branden Grace (66), Justin Thomas (66), Colin Morikawa (67) and Jordan Spieth (68) – are locked in second at 12-under par.

McIlroy and former Fort Worth winner Justin Rose (68) are in a group two shots further back.

McIlroy kick-started his third day with a birdie at the first to be now four-under on the easiest hole on the course but he stalled over the next five holes with pars and then headed to the turn at one-over for his round having bogeyed the par-4 seventh and the par-3 eighth holes.

For a first occasion in three rounds, McIlroy birdied the par-5 11th hole after finding a right greenside bunker with his second shot and then splashing out to six-feet and holed the putt.

McIlroy then got back to one-under for his round with a 23-foot gem for birdie at the par-14th and eventually work his way to within two shots of the lead before confirmation being three behind.

“I started pretty similar to the first day, a little scrappy,” said McIlroy.

“I birdied the two par-5s and one other hole. I had a couple of loose iron shots on the 7th and the 8th, which cost me bogeys there. But yeah, I guess I didn’t feel like I played very well today, but looking at the leaderboard, no one else really pulled away.

“I’m still going to be within striking distance going into tomorrow. If that’s a bad day out of the way, then hopefully I can post a good one tomorrow.”