DeChambeau received treatment for a hip complaint throughout his round on Saturday but it did little to hold him back, the 2020 champion launching monster drives in his round of 3-under 67 to lead by three at 7-under through 54 holes.
The U.S Open champion at Congressional in 2011, Rory McIlroy (69) is in a tie for second at 4-under with Frenchman Matthieu Pavon (69) and American Patrick Cantlay (70), the trio among just eight players under par heading into the final round.
At 4-over par and in a tie for 25th, Lee is the best of the three Aussies who made the cut, his round of 2-over 72 comprised of five bogeys and three birdies.
All three birdies came in an even-par front nine of 35, the 25-year-old driving the green at the 316-yard par-4 third and two-putting from 56 feet for his first of the day.
A booming drive of 348 yards allowed Lee to go for the green in two at the par-5 5th, narrowly missing an eagle try from 24 feet for a second birdie in three holes.
Continuing to trade birdies for bogeys, Lee dropped a shot when he was unable to get up-and-down from the front of the par-3 6th but got back to even par on his round when he hit his approach inside three feet at the par-4 7th.
Second in Strokes Gained: Off The Tee in Round 3, Lee can now add to his strong performances in the majors this year having finished tied for 22nd at The Masters and tied 26th at the U.S PGA Championship.
Queenslander Cameron Smith moved into a tie for 35th and just one back of Lee thanks largely to a superb back nine on Saturday.
Min Woo Lee is the pick of the Aussies heading into the final round of the U.S Open. PHOTO: Getty Images.
5-over on his round after a double-bogey at the par-4 8th, Smith responded in impressive fashion.
A brilliant bunker shot set up birdie from just outside three feet at the par-5 10th, going back-to-back when he found the right side of the cup from 11 feet at the par-4 11th.
Despite finding the native area right of the fairway with his tee shot, Smith produced a brilliant approach shot to six feet at the par-4 18th, converting for birdie and a bogey-free back nine of 3-under 32.
There were no birdies and six bogeys in a frustrating third round of 6-over 76 for Adam Scott, Kiwi Ryan Fox (76) also enduring a difficult day in finding Pinehurst’s treacherous greens in regulation.
