Michael Campbell is turning heads and turning back the clock this week at the Portugal Masters on the European Tour.

The 2005 US Open champion carded a four under par 67 at the Oceanico Victoria Golf Club in the third round to sit just four shots back from Austrian Bernd Wiesberger heading into tonight's final round.

Campbell, ranked 607th in the world, has had rounds of 68, 69, 67 for a nine under par total. His third round effort saw him climb three places on the leaderboard and included five birdies and a bogey at the last hole.

Having made the cut in seven out of 15 events in 2012, Campbell is in a great position to improve on his best finish for the year - a tie for 11th at the French Open - and possibly claim a rare piece of silverware.

"It's seven years since my last win and I was surprised how calm I was out there,'' the 43-year-old told EuropeanTour.com

"But I've won enough around the world to know what to do, and I'm pretty excited about tomorrow.

"Over the last three or four years, I've put too much pressure on myself to perform. I've gone back to basics, and it's fun once again.''

It is a long awaited return to form for the eight-time European Tour winner who has been without a victory since claiming the World Match Play title in 2005.

Campbell has not even been in contention to win a title since he finished third at the French Open and runner-up at the New Zealand Open at Gulf Harbour, both in 2006.

Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, New Zealand No 1 Danny Lee is fighting for his life on the PGA Tour.

The 21-year-old Rotorua professional carded a four under par 67 in round three of the Frys.com - the second event of the Fall Series - to climb eight places into a share of seventh.

Lee, who is 151st on the PGA Tour money list, needs to climb inside the top 125 to keep his card. He has made positive progress toward that target this week, signing for rounds of 69, 67 and 67 for a 10 under par total.

He will begin the final round at the CordeValle Golf Club in San Martin, California only five shots back from American John Mallinger.

Lee had an impressive front nine that included six birdies, two bogeys and a par to make the turn in four under, before making a bogey and a birdie coming home to card a 67.

He has made the cut in 11 out of 22 events on the PGA Tour in 2012, with his best result a tie for 19th place at the Byron Nelson Championship in May.

On the web.com Tour Tim Wilkinson (72, 75) and Steve Alker (78, 75) missed the cut at the Miccosukee Championship in Florida.

- APNZ