Saturday February 12, 2011, 09:47 AM

Taiwan's Yani Tseng powered to a three-shot lead in the Australian Ladies Masters Saturday to put the world number one ranking within touching distance going into the final round.

Tseng, who said she had made a subtle adjustment to her earlier play, was in ominous touch at Royal Pines with nine birdies in a blistering bogey-free third round of 63 to lie at 20-under 196.

The Taiwanese superstar (67-66-63) took charge of the tournament as she came from one shot behind the halfway leaders to blow her rivals away with a stunning mix of power, superb iron play and brilliant putting.

The three-time major winner got off to a flying start with birdies on the opening three holes, before posting another on the 9th to go out in 33. She came home in 30 with another five birdies.

"It's really exciting because my putting is much better than yesterday and I just figured out something before I went out to play," Tseng said.

"I worked out that I was standing too far away yesterday and today I tried to get closer and it worked really well."

Tseng, 22, appeared unaware a win in Sunday's final round would move her to number one in the world.

"So if I win, I will be number one? Geez, I will be nervous," she smiled.

"I feel very excited. I want to go out and shoot a lot of birdies tomorrow."

South Korea's Jiyai Shin holds the top ranking, but Tseng is on the verge of displacing her following a seven-shot victory in last weekend's Australian Open in Melbourne and now her strong showing in the Ladies Masters.

If Tseng takes victory on the Gold Coast, she will be only the second player to win the Australian Open and Ladies Masters titles in the same year.

In 54 holes, Tseng has claimed 23 birdies and has given up just three bogeys.

She American Stacy Lewis (67-65-67) by three shots, with a further two shots to another American, Ryann O'Toole (68-66-67) on 201.

South Africa's Ashleigh Simon is fourth after a four-under 68.

© 2011 AFP/sid