The 25-year-old Sydneysider shot a six-under-par 66 on the PGA West Stadium course at La Quinta, California be just three shots behind joint leaders Max Homa (65), Si Woo Kim (67) and Tony Finau (67).

Davis boosted his score with eagles at the eighth and 15th holes and finished the day in a tie for eighth at 12 under.

His second eagle provided the shot of the day and he holed out from 157 yards from a section of rough below the 15th fairway.

The 2017 Australian Open champion is well-placed to surpass his best US tour result of tied sixth at the Sanderson Farms Championship three months ago.

Countryman Matt Jones is just a shot further back after a 67 while Rhein Gibson (69) is at seven under.

Chasing his second tour win, Homa has 17 birdies in the last two rounds.

"There's obviously a handful of very daunting holes, but I've been fortunate enough to play here a ton, so I have a pretty good feel for the place," Homa said.

Kim was bogey-free, while the streakier Finau bounced back from a double bogey on the 13th with three consecutive birdies.

Australian Associated Press