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Two years after Max Homa played only one Sunday in an entire PGA Tour season, he showed his mettle at Quail Hollow by closing with a four-under 67 to pull away from the field and win the Wells Fargo Championship.

Homa, who started the day in a shared of the lead, began the back nine with two birdies to build a four-shot lead and didn't make any mistakes until it only affected the final margin.

Overnight co-leader Joel Dahmen saved par with a tough chip over the creek for a 70 to finish alone in second, three shots back.

Homa won for the first time in his 68th start as a pro and the victory gets him a two-year exemption, a spot at the PGA Championship in two weeks at Bethpage Black and the Masters next April.

The 28-year-old Californian was at No.829 in the world when he got his third crack at the PGA Tour in October but he made six of seven cuts coming into the week in Charlotte and played like he belonged.

Homa wrapped it up with a 10-foot par putt to finish at 15-under 269.

"Over the moon, man," he said before going to sign his card.

"It means a lot to do it under pressure, and job security is great. I haven't had that."

The victory was worth $1,422,000 ($A2.08m) - about $454,000 ($A650,000) more than he had made in his previous 67 starts.

Dahmen held his own until costly bogeys around the turn but that chip was on the 18th and his par meant a difference of $158,000 ($A225,000).

"I didn't beat myself today, which was kind of the goal," Dahmen said.

Justin Rose (68) finished alone in third and moved ahead of Brooks Koepka to world No.2.

Sergio Garcia and Rickie Fowler (both 68s), Paul Casey (69) and third-round co-leader Jason Dufner (73) tied for fourth while two-time tournament winner Rory McIlroy (73) struggled in the final round to finish in a share of eighth.

Defending champion Jason Day carded a two-under 69 on Sunday to get to four under and a share of 24th to finish best of the Australians, ahead of Matt Jones (71, one under) and John Senden (76, two over).

Jason Day's promising Wells Fargo Championship title defence has crumbled with a three-over-par 74 third round on a storm-interrupted Saturday.

Day went into the round tied sixth but finished tied 28th, nine shots behind joint leaders Jason Dufner (71), Max Homa (70) and cancer survivor Joel Dahmen (70).

Australia's former world No.1 mixed two birdies with three bogeys and a double bogey on the Quail Hollow course in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Overnight leader Dahmen, 2013 US PGA Championship winner Dufner and Homa got to 11-under 202, one shot clear of Pat Perez who had a bogey-free 66.

Very much in the mix is Rory McIlroy, who was reminded at every turn that it was his 30th birthday. He had a 68 to be two shots behind the leaders.

John Senden overtook Day as the leading Australian, tied 22nd at three under after a 69

Storms moved in sooner than expected causing two delays, each lasting a little more than an hour.

Dahmen, who keeps a light perspective on golf following his brush with cancer, had never been in the top five starting a round on the weekend before.

He had a chance to fade quickly when he found himself four shots behind after five holes, including a double bogey at the third hole.

He answered with a shot into 12 feet on the par-5 seventh for eagle, a wedge to 6 feet for birdie on the next hole and solid golf the rest of the way.

"I thought I was going to be a lot more nervous in those opening holes and I wasn't," Dahmen said.

"After I made double, then I got nervous because I didn't want to shoot myself out of this thing. I wanted to keep having fun and keep being in this tournament. Geno, my caddie, did a great job today, just kept it light."

With two players going for their first win, and Dufner still trying to emerge from a slump, McIlroy liked his position two shots behind.

He is well placed to join Tom Weiskopf as the only three-time winners at Quail Hollow. Weiskopf won the old Kemper Open three times on this course before the tournament moved to Washington.

"This golf course really rewards patience and rewards discipline," McIlroy said. "And I feel like I was both of those today."

Minjee Lee is an outside chance of successive LPGA victories after the world No.2 worked her way back into contention at the Mediheal Championship in California.

Australian Lee carded a third-round five-under 67 at a cold and windy Lake Merced Golf Club to be in a share of fourth at four under - six shots off the pace.

The 22-year-old had four birdies and a bogey before she wrapped up her round with an eagle on the par-5 18th.

A winner at the LA Open last week, Lee struggled in the opening round with a 76 but a 69 on Friday and Saturday's round have her lurking behind leader Sei Young Kim.

A four-under 68 lifted South Korean Kim to 10 under and a three-shot advantage over England's Charley Hull heading into the final round.

Playing through a back injury that has forced her to alter her swing, Kim rebounded from an opening bogey with an eagle on the par-5 fifth and three more birdies.

Known for an attacking style that has led to two of three lowest 72-hole scores in LPGA Tour history, Kim has been forced to play more cautiously this week.

"It's really tough to escape from the rough because today's pin positions really tough," Kim said.

"Just try to get the right number, that's all key today. ... Some holes I have to avoid the pin."

Hull was second after a 70, but could rue a missed six-foot putt for birdie on the last, while Puerto Rico's Maria Torres was five under after a 71.

Lee was in a group a shot further back that includes Lexi Thompson (69), Amy Yang (70), Louise Ridderstrom (72) and Eun-Hee Ji (73).

Second-round leader So Yeon Ryu had a disastrous 79, which included a triple bogey in the par-4 16th, to plummet to even par.

Jason Day's chances of retaining the Wells Fargo Championship have taken a hit despite putting together another solid round on day two at the Quail Hollow course.

The Australian shot a two-under-par 69 but is six shots behind Jason Dufner, who stormed to the lead after firing an eight-under-par second round.

Dufner, the 2013 PGA Championship winner, never looked back after pitching in from 35 yards for birdie at the first hole.

He added a 40-foot birdie putt at the penultimate hole en route to his 63 that matches his career-low round on the PGA Tour.

"I played what I would consider the scoreable holes really well, and then I threw in some others," the 42-year-old told PGA Tour Radio.

"That's what happens on a day when you get in the low 60s. Everything kind of meshed together."

With an 11-under 131 halfway total, Dufner heads fellow Americans Max Homa (63) and Joel Dahmen (66) by one stroke with most of the field back in the clubhouse.

Rory McIlroy seemed likely to remain close to the lead until he butchered the easy par-four eighth, his 17th, where his tee shot found a bunker and from where he took five more strokes to negotiate the final 55 yards.

He also bogeyed his final hole and signed for a 70 that left the two-times Wells Fargo winner five shots off the pace, where he is tied with American Patrick Reed.

Justin Rose was more pleased with his morning's work, a 67 to trail by six shots, where he is joined by Day, Englishman Rose, Seamus Power of Ireland and American Pat Perez.

Day's compatriot Matt Jones finished at two-under after shooting 70.

Queenslander John Senden shot 73 to drop down the leaderboard to one under after making a 68 in the first round while Curtis Luck, Rod Pampling, Cameron Davis and Mathew Goggin all missed the cut.

Defending champion Jason Day and fellow Australian John Senden took advantage of the benign early conditions to post solid first-round scores and finish two behind the leaders at the PGA's Wells Fargo Championship.

Both players carded rounds of three-under par 68 to sit tied eighth, with world No.4 Rory MclIroy and Joel Dahmen heading the field.

Patrick Reed, fellow American Adam Schenk, Scotland's Martin Laird, Canadian Nick Taylor and South Africa's Dylan Fritelli are a shot behind.

McIlroy, a two-time winner at the famed course, twice made birdie when he was out of position off the tee and ran off three straight birdies on the back nine for his lowest start in his 10 appearances at Quail Hollow.

"I didn't play my best today, but I managed my game well, scrambled well (and) it added up to a good score at the end of the day," McIIroy told reporters.

Dahmen holed a 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to finish a bogey-free round - no small task on a firm, fast course - to match McIlroy.

Last year's Masters champion Reed admitted he played "boring golf" to post good figures.

"I know from the past you have to on the early day shoot a number," he said.

"The biggest thing, especially around this place is to play boring golf. From that point I was able to put the ball from point A to point B fairly well and make some putts."

Among the other big names out early, American Phil Mickelson shot 71, while Hideki Matsuyama of Japan, who almost won the PGA Championship on the same course two years ago, battled to a 73.

Meanwhile, players at the PGA Tour event paid tribute to this week's shooting victims at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, and their families by wearing a small ribbon with the school's colours on their hats for the opening round.

Two students were killed and four others wounded on Tuesday when a former Charlotte student opened fire in a campus classroom.

The university is about 20 miles (30 kms) from the course.

The ribbons were handed out on the first tee box where golfers also signed a memorial board.

Title holder Day insisted he wanted the focus to be on the victims, not the shooter.

"We live in a very, very different world right now when people are taking other people's lives," the Queenslander said.

"It's frustrating to hear about the young kids that are just starting their lives, or are going to start their lives, and the families that have to do deal with this heartbreak."

Jason Day admits he is beginning to feel impatient with a winless US PGA Tour season after an embarrassing missed cut alongside fellow Australian Adam Scott at a teams event in New Orleans last week.

But the former world No.1 feels a win is close as he returns to the Wells Fargo Championship in North Carolina as the defending champion.

The 31-year-old Day has not won on the PGA Tour since last year at Charlotte's famed Quail Hollow Club, but has earned several strong results this season - including a share of fifth at the recent Masters.

However, he teamed up with Scott at last week's Zurich Classic and the two major winners were tipped as tournament favourites yet missed the 36-hole cut.

Day admitted the missed cut reminded him that he has had five top-10 results from 11 events this season without lifting a trophy.

"It's hard to be patient sometimes, because you know you want to win," Day said at Quail Hollow on Wednesday.

"Last week wasn't how we wanted it; Scotty and I but overall I feel like I played pretty good."

However, Day has had several chances to win recently - including sharing the 36-hole lead at Augusta National - and says a 13th career victory on the PGA Tour is imminent.

"It's right there; I feel really good about the progress I've made so I'm coming in this week feeling pretty confident," he said.

Day has been plagued by chronic back injuries this year, which forced a withdrawal from the Arnold Palmer Invitational and on-course medical treatment at the Masters.

But with round-the-clock physiotherapy, his ailing back is improving.

"I'm very optimistic about my body," Day said. "I'm seeing my (physio) every morning and every night.

"I'm doing any exercises for probably an hour and a half worth every single day."

But Day says there is a silver lining to not securing a win this season; it means he has not peaked too early

The Queenslander admits he was guilty of that last year when he won twice before May but never threatened the leaderboard for the rest of the 2018 season.

"There are guys who go out there and win early in the season; they hit their peak early and fizzle out a little bit," said Day, who has one eye on the US PGA Championship in New York later this month.

Joining Day in the field at Quail Hollow are fellow Australians Cameron Davis, Matt Jones, Curtis Luck, Rod Pampling and John Senden.

Among the big names in the field are two-time Quail Hollow winner Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Rickie Fowler, Phil Mickelson and Paul Casey.

Australia's Minjee Lee has a fifth LPGA title in her sights after overcoming a triple bogey to hold the lead going into the final round of the LA Open.

World No.4 Lee reeled off seven birdies, five of them after her big blemish on the third hole, and finished with a four-under 67 to reach 11-under at Wilshire Country Club on Saturday.

That gave the 22-year-old Perth product a one-stroke lead from Denmark's Nanna Koerstz Madsen, who also had a 67, with a three-shot gap back to third-placed Inbee Park (68).

The super-consistent Lee is seeking her first win since last year's Volvik Championship, having finished top-three in three of her past eight starts this year, including last week's Lotte Championship, where she tied third.

Last season she had 13 top-10 finishes and finished second on the LPGA season money list.

"I sort of fought my way back to my score today," Lee said.

"After that (triple) I wasn't super nervous or anything. I just sort of tried to believe in myself and just go out there and make as many birdies as I can, try and hit as many good shots as I can."

Lee she will have her work cut out to break through on Sunday amid some prolific competition.

South Korean star Park has won seven majors among her 19 LPGA Tour titles.

"It's extremely hard to stay patient on these greens," Park said. "I really feel like I should be 15-under par easily by now. These greens are just so complicated,

World No.1 Jin Young Ko is tied fourth with American Morgan Pressel (70), five shots behind Lee after a 67.

She's the only player with multiple victories this year, taking the Founders Cup in Phoenix and the major ANA Inspiration in Rancho Mirage.

Young Australian Hannah Green is also in line for a good pay day, tied 10th on four under after a 71.

The Presidents Cup preparations of Jason Day and Adam Scott have suffered a setback with the Australian duo failing to make the cut at the PGA Tour's team event in New Orleans.

The former world No.1s combined at the Zurich Classic but an even-par 72 second round, in alternate-shot format, left them at seven under and a shot shy of the cut line.

Day and Scott teamed up for the first time since the 2015 Presidents Cup at the request of International team captain Ernie Els, who wanted his players to strengthen their chemistry before the clash with the United States at Royal Melbourne in December.

They were among half the field who had to return at the crack of dawn on Saturday to complete their second rounds after a long weather delay on Thursday.

Two late bogeys - as Scott missed a 6-1/2 par putt at the 16th and a 3-footer at the 17th - proved costly for the favoured pairing.

"It was hard. There's no excuses. We did have the tougher side of the draw but there's no excuses," Day told pgatour.com.

"We just needed to come out and play well, and unfortunately I think we just didn't have the momentum going."

Scott, too, was disappointed, noting that he and Day failed to build on their promising first round in the best-ball format.

"The foursomes format can be tough," he said.

"We missed greens from the fairway and then our short games were under pressure.

"It's tough to get a rhythm going, and we were grinding hard and didn't quite get it going."

The leaders after the third round are the teams of Spaniard John Rahm and American Ryan Palmer and the all-US pair of Scott Stallings and Trey Mullinax at 23 under.

Rahm and Palmer carded a 64 while Stallings and Mullinax trumped that score with a 62.

However, the round of the day was carded by the third-placed South African pairing of Branden Grace and Justin Harding who had 12 birdies in their 61 to move to 22 under - best of the potential International team combinations.

Australian youngster Curtis Luck, searching for a maiden PGA title, and American partner Hank Lebioda carded a third-round 64 to be tied for sixth at 19 under in a group of teams that includes European Ryder Cup stars Sergio Garca and Tommy Fleetwood (69).

The only other Australian to make the cut was Matt Jones, who along with J.J. Spaun, is at 16 under after a 64.

Sunday's final round will use the alternate-shot format.

Australian Minjee Lee took advantage of compatriot Hannah Green's problems to take the second-round lead in the LPGA LA Open.

The fourth-ranked Lee shot a 2-under 69 to reach 7-under 135 at Wilshire Country Club. She holed a wedge from 114 yards for eagle on the par-4 14th.

"Out of all the ones that I have been close to making, I think that's the only one that I actually saw drop into the hole," Lee said. "It was pretty cool to see it happen for the first time."

Green birdied three of the first six holes to get to 9 under, then played the final 12 in 5 over for a 73 that left her three strokes back at 4 under. She had a double bogey after hitting into the water on the par-4 17th - her eighth hole - and also had three bogeys.

"I just hit a really bad shot and got into the water," Green said. "Couldn't really get myself out of jail, but definitely did not have the putter rolling as much as I would've liked. Had a couple three-putts, so that was pretty disappointing."

Lee had the eagle, two birdies and two bogeys.

"I think like it's a second-shot golf course, so obviously it's pretty generous off the tee," Lee said. "If you have your irons on and you have solid iron play then it's really going to help you. I think that's what I'm good at, so, yeah, I think that's what is really helping me."

The four-time LPGA Tour winner tied for third last week in Hawaii for her third top-three finish of the season.

Denmark's Nanna Koerstz Madsen was second after a 67.

"If you hit a good drive you get rewarded and you don't have too far on the green, but if you're a little bit off-line then it gets hard," she said.

Morgan Pressel (66) and Mexico's Gaby Lopez (68) were 5 under.

"This course kind of has its quirks to where if you get on the wrong side of the pin it can be really challenging to get it up and down and save par," Pressel said. "I played smart and gave myself a lot of opportunities."

She was in the first group of the day off the first tee.

"It was definitely fresh greens," Pressel said. "Poana can definitely get bouncy, especially late in the afternoon."

Stacy Lewis, tied with Green for the first-round lead, matched Green with a 73 to finish at 4 under with playing partner Inbee Park (70), Danielle Kang (66), Jaclyn Lee (67), Shanshan Feng (70).

Lewis had six bogeys, three on the first four holes.

"I really hit it good all day," she said. "Hit a couple squirrely shots, but it was harder, I thought, with the wind this afternoon."

Top-ranked Jin Young Ko was 2 under after her second straight 70, playing alongside third-ranked Ariya Jutanugarn and No. 7 Brooke Henderson.

Henderson, the winner in Hawaii, was 1 under after a 73. Jutanugarn was another shot back after a 71.

Second-ranked Sung Hyun Park, No. 6 Lexi Thompson and No. 10 Nelly Korda missed the cut. Sung Hyun Park shot 76-71, Thomson 75-72 and Korda 73-77.

Tiger Woods said Jack Nicklaus's record of 18 major championships is in his sights following his triumph at the Masters as he enjoys a career "extension" after a prolonged period of injury woes.

In his first comments since winning his 15th major title and fifth green jacket, the 43-year-old American said he always thought Nicklaus's mark was reachable, provided his career was long enough.

"It took him an entire career to get to 18," Woods said in an interview with streaming service GOLFTV.

"So now that I've had another extension to my career - one that I didn't think I had a couple of years ago - if I do things correctly and everything falls my way, yeah, it's a possibility."

"I'm never going to say it's not, except for a couple of years ago when I couldn't walk," he said with a laugh.

"Now I just need to have a lot of things go my way, and who's to say that it will or will not happen? That's what the future holds, I don't know. The only thing I can promise you is this: that I will be prepared."

Woods will make his first start since the Masters at the May 2-5 Wells Fargo Championship in North Carolina where he will bid to match Sam Snead's all-time record of 82 PGA Tour victories.