FORT WORTH, Texas — You wanted live sports with consequence?

You’ve got it.

The first three rounds of the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club has both given the players exactly what they’ve craved for the three-month COVID-19 layoff and given golf fans everything they’ve been missing.

Sunday’s final round is almost certain to deliver drama, thanks to a scintillating Saturday shootout that left 13 players within three shots of Xander Schauffele’s lead at 13-under par.

“Everyone coming out of quarantine wanted this,’’ Schauffele said.

Schauffele, who followed his 65 and 66 the first two days with another 66 on Saturday, leads reigning U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland, Justin Thomas, Branden Grace, Collin Morikawa and Jordan Spieth by one shot. Those five are 12-under par.

Daniel Berger, who quietly has a streak of 27 consecutive rounds of par or better going (the longest on Tour), shot a third-round 67 and is 11-under par, tied with 36-hole leader Harold Varner III.

Patrick Reed, who showed the way early, posting a 7-under-par 63 to climb up the board to get to 10-under, is tied with Mexican Abraham Ancer, Canadian Corey Connors, Englishman Justin Rose, Irishman Rory McIlroy and American Bryson DeChambeau.

“You get a field like this, it definitely has a major feel,’’ Woodland said. “You’ve got a lot of the top players in the world, and everybody is playing well. I think everybody is excited to be out here.

“Adrenaline was definitely going a little bit more [Saturday] the first two days. I expect more of that [Sunday]. You’ve got a great leaderboard, a great field and a great golf course and a great tournament, so it should be fun.’’

McIlroy said, “for a Saturday afternoon being in contention on the PGA Tour, it felt sort of weird out there’’ with no fans.

“The first couple days it was fine, but definitely [Saturday] it’s feeling strange,’’ he said. “I’m sure [Sunday] will feel pretty strange, especially with so many guys in and around the lead.’’

Thomas said he’s “into it,’’ adding that the week “is a little bit more competitive honestly than I thought it would be.

“I was hoping that I’d be in this position to where I’d have a good chance to win the tournament and see how I feel, but it is going to be different, especially come those last couple of holes if you have a lead or if you’re trying to chase someone down or if you’re tied for the lead,’’ Thomas added. “It’ll be interesting to see how that adrenaline plays a role. But I’m looking forward to hopefully having that opportunity.’’

Reed set an early tone Saturday and the fireworks continued.

“It’s what I needed to do today,’’ Reed said.

Sunday offers some subplots with demons that must be exorcized by Varner, who’s seeking his first win, and Spieth, who hasn’t won in three years.

Varner has had three good chances to win entering the final round and hasn’t gotten it done. He entered the final round of the PGA Championship last year at Bethpage tied for second and shot 81. He was tied for the lead at the 2018 Greenbrier and shot 72 to finish tied for fifth.

“I’ve been close before, so I feel comfortable and I just know I’m going to have to play well,’’ Varner said. “I like that. [Saturday] I felt so comfortable, which I don’t know if it was a good thing or a bad thing. Yeah, one time I shot 81, and I actually just played bad. The other times I just wasn’t ready, just wasn’t comfortable, didn’t execute as well. But I know what to do [now].’’

Spieth, in his slump, had five tournaments last season when he started with two rounds in the 60s and was unable to break par in the third round, fading from contention. That was not lost on him Saturday.

“Today was a day where I look at the last couple years and potentially say that would have been a 2- or 3-over and taken me all the way out of the tournament,’’ Spieth said. “I like the progression I’ve been able to make. I feel comfortable going into [Sunday] that I can shoot a good score. If it happens, it happens, and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t.

“It should be really fun,’’ Spieth added. “Golf is kind of the only thing on TV [Sunday], and hopefully there can be a fun shootout with the number of guys, and hopefully I can be one of them.’’