Jacobson, riding a hot putter, carded a five-under 67 on Saturday and, at 16-under, leads by two from 2010 Open champion Louis Oosthuizen and by three from world number eight Adam Scott.
That trio will form the final group on Sunday while the penultimate three-ball will consist of world number two Lee Westwood, world number three Rory McIlroy and 2010 US Open champion Graeme McDowell.
McIlroy surged up the leaderboard with a bogey-free 65 while Westwood is also now four shots back on 12-under after a 67. McDowell is a further shot back alongside Martin Kaymer.
Jacobson, one in front of Oosthuizen at start of play, had a hat-trick of birdies from the second hole, but drove into the rough on the ninth and had his first bogey since the seventh hole of day one.
The world number 54 came straight back with a 15-foot birdie putt on the next and added birdies at 13 and 14. He had further chances to extend his lead but couldn't convert at 16 and 18.
Jacobson said: "I've still got to shoot a good score, but they will have to catch me. I sometimes feel a little bit stressed if I start off a few shots behind, so I prefer any time I can get a lead.
"I do feel good about my game and it's nice to make some long putts. "Freddie Jacobson Quotes of the week
"I do feel good about my game and it's nice to make some long putts.
"It's a little bit of a bonus when you make the long ones, but that's sometimes what happens in a round.
"I try not really to worry about the result too much and focus on the procedure and the shots and the routine, and where to hit the ball. That normally takes care of a lot of potential tension."
Westwood, runner-up to Francesco Molinari last year, had four birdies in the first 10 holes but then got stuck on the par train before finding one more after a two-putt from just off the green at the par five 18th.
The Englishman said: "I really didn't hit it very well. I struggled with my swing and wasn't very consistent.
"But I putted well and I'm going to have a chance to win the tournament. That's all you ever ask at any tournament."
McIlroy found his best form of the week and drove the ball beautifully in his seven-under round which included four birdies to the turn and further gains at 14, 16 and 18.
The Northern Irishman said of his 65: "It's definitely what I needed to give myself some sort of chance.
"I was five behind going into the last day at the Dunhill (at St Andrews last month) and made a good charge and hopefully I can do the same again.
"I just didn't make silly mistakes. I feel as if there's a lot of good scores in me and I was able to produce one of those today."
The 22-year-old US Open champion would have been in the final group on Sunday but was usurped by an incredible finish from Scott.
The Aussie was one over for the day with three to play after mixing four birdies with three bogeys and a double bogey seven on the eighth.
But he birdied 16 and 17 to get under par for the day and jumped to 13-under par when his approach to the 18th span back into the hole for an eagle three.
Paul Casey, meanwhile, had moved up to second place after a 15-foot eagle putt on the eighth, but was disturbed by a noise on the 10th tee, pushed his iron into thick rough and double-bogeyed.
He came back with a birdie at 12 but then took a costly six at 18 after finding water with his second and slipped back to 10-under.
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