CROMWELL, Connecticut, June 23, 2012 (AFP) - Englishman Davis fired a six-under 64 to reach 12-under 198 after 54 holes. He is level with Thatcher who shot a five-under 65.
"It was one of those things where you had the rhythm, you were playing and you just kept going," Davis said of his front nine. "We hit the back nine and the wind's picked up, and all of a sudden it was two groups on every tee coming it. Sort of lost some momentum a little bit."
Davis rolled in six birdies with a 29 on the front nine. Thatcher had a one-shot lead on the back nine but missed a seven-foot par putt on the 17th hole that set him back. He had three consecutive birdies during one productive stretch of his round.
"It's been a really good three rounds, obviously one more to go, and it's a really packed leaderboard up there," Thatcher said.
The tournament was hit by stormy weather Friday which resulted in half the field not finishing the second round. The players returned early Saturday and the event is now back on schedule after some players had to play 36 holes in one day.
Nine players shot 65 or better as the players took advantage of soft conditions.
"It played longer, softer, but we didn't have any mud balls, so that was nice," said Will Claxton, who shot a 69.
John Rollins, James Driscoll and Stuart Appleby were two strokes adrift of the leaders.
Defending champion Fredrik Jacobson shot even par to remain at nine under. He managed a round of even-par 70 on Saturday and is tied for sixth place with five others. Jacobson led the event after 36 holes.
Three-time major winner Padraig Harrington (65), Matt Kuchar (66), Tim Clark (66), Charley Hoffman (67) and Claxton are also at nine under.
Four of the last six winners of the Travelers Championship have been first-time winners on the USPGA Tour.
Scores on Saturday after the third round of the $6 million US PGA Travelers Championship (USA unless noted, par 70):
198 - Brian Davis (ENG) 67-67-64, Roland Thatcher 66-67-65
200 - Stuart Appleby (AUS) 68-65-67, James Driscoll 68-66-66, John Rollins 68-67-65
201 - Tim Clark (RSA) 66-69-66, Will Claxton 65-67-69, Padraig Harrington (IRL) 69-67-65, Charley Hoffman 67-67-67, Fredrik Jacobson (SWE) 65-66-70, Matt Kuchar 67-68-66
202 - Robert Karlsson (SWE) 68-68-66, Chez Reavie 66-71-65, Camilo Villegas (COL) 68-64-70, Bubba Watson 66-71-65
203 - Blake Adams 69-64-70, Brandt Jobe 67-72-64, Webb Simpson 66-69-68, Brendon de Jonge (ZIM) 72-65-66