Webb Simpson was back in front the Wells Fargo Championship on Saturday - but Rory McIlroy lurks two shots back.

Simpson's third-round three-under-par 69 took his total to 14 under par, one shot clear of Ryan Moore (68) and D.A. Points (69), and two shots ahead overnight leader Nick Watney (72) and Rory McIlroy, who surged into contention with a superb 66.

Rickie Fowler is three shots back thanks to a 67, tied with Stewart Cink, who had a 71.

Simpson lives a stone's throw away from Quail Hollow and despite the home crowd advantage he admits it's been a nervy week, playing the first two rounds with Tiger Woods and holding the lead after the first and now the third round. He's doing his best to block out everything but the next shot.

"It seems like when guys on this level do get nervous, it seems like every time they focus a little better, they just tighten up their thoughts a lot better," Simpson said. "Seems like when I'm more nervous, for the most part, I play better. It's not a good thing when we get comfortable out there because you start getting lazy and losing focus on your target."

McIlroy is playing better each day and now is in reach of victory and the World No 1 ranking, which would go back to him should he secure a top-seven finish.

The Northern Irishman shared the lead at one stage on Saturday, but a three-putt bogey on the 16th saw him fall back.

"I definitely feel like I've left a couple out there," McIlroy said. "A 66 is a good score out there, and I feel like I've got another one of those scores in me, and looking forward to doing that tomorrow."

McIlroy won the Wells Fargo two years ago with a final-round 62, something he hopes his rivals will be aware of.

"I hope so," McIlroy said. "I'm not so sure. The guys that are at the top of the leaderboard are really accomplished players, and I'm just one of a bunch of guys that can go out and win there tomorrow. But maybe. Maybe if they see my name on the leaderboard, they might start to think about it a little bit more."

Three shots back, Rickie Fowler can't be discounted either. He's desperate for a breakthrough PGA Tour win and he's given himself a chance at achieving it.

"All in all, it was what we needed to do -- moving day, moving in the right direction, and put myself into a position where we can go out and have a little bit of fun tomorrow," Fowler said.

Golf 365