Nice birdie for Dean Burmester on the long par five but not trying to use his length as he plays it like a true three-shotter - leaving himself 12 feet for birdie which he nailed.

He actually played a better approach than Scottie Scheffler, which is a rarity, but the American was just in the first cut so couldn't get any grab on his approach.

Image source, PA Media

At the par-three fifth, both Shane Lowry and Dan Brown are safely on the green off the tee.

Neither have realistic birdie opportunities but both tickle in close and tap home for par.

Onward to the behemoth par five at six.

Image source, PA Media

Well Graeme, I've just watched Xander Schauffele spend a good few minutes drying everything off under that giant golfing umbrella.

And then he's pinged the most majestic of shots onto the eighth green.

Postage Stamp? He's found the tip of a pin there.

Absolute genius from the American who is about to move to four under.

Graeme Storm
Two-time European Tour winner on BBC Radio 5 Live

It is just how wet your hands can get and how cold they can be. The one thing that is so vitally important is the caddie as they have to do a great job. They have got to be there with eight different arms, different towels.

It’s such a difficult job but it is making sure the boss is nice and dry, calm and relaxed.

In a championship, that will be everything that you’re going to need.

More of the same for Jon Rahm at the start of his back nine as he finds the fairway and then the green but not really close enough to threaten a birdie.

It's really nicely played in these awful conditions, but being one over as he is, he needs to make some sort of move forward soon.

Peter Scrivener
BBC Sport at Royal Troon

There are plenty of fine eating establishments in the seaside town of Troon. The one I and the Radio 5 Live team happened to be in last night was called 'The Three Idiots'.

The owner was keen to show us a photo of himself with Scottie Scheffler. A bit like the police officer who arrested Scheffler at the US PGA in May, he had zero idea that he'd been serving the world number one and a few of his entourage. He said Scottie had been back a couple of times.

But he wasn't that excited by having golfing royalty in his establishment, adding with a bit of a shrug, "someone called Tony Finau has been in too".

Delightful creativity from Patrick Cantlay, who nine-ironed his way out of the fairway bunker before using the curve of the green beautifully with his third shot.

He sinks from seven feet to seal an important par.

Playing partner Xander Schauffele is also in with four.

Image source, Reuters

Justin Rose grimaces after his tee shot at the fifth is wayward, but he gives himself a chance at par with a cautious chip up the hill out of the rough.

However, going back down the slope the ball drifts just wide of the hole and he two putts in for a bogey.

Image source, Getty Images

Thriston Lawrence signs off with a par on the last to complete a six-under round of 65, matching Dan Brown's effort on Thursday.

All the damage was done (in a positive way) on the front nine, which he navigated in just 30 shots.

He has the clubhouse lead at three under.

Andrew Murray
Former European Tour winner on Radio 5 Live

Great speed control from Shane Lowry. Absolutely sensational, just toppled in top edge..

Beautiful putt.

Lift-off for Shane Lowry!

There's a resounding fist pump too as he tucks home for birdie from 16 feet on the par-five fourth.

That just increases the pressure on the chasers.

Collin Morikawa has reached the turn in a two-under 34, with birdies on seven and nine and pars for the rest.

England's Matthew Jordan, a top-10 finisher at his home course of Royal Liverpool last year, is two under for his round after seven holes.

Two more players sneaking under the radar and ready to pounce if the leaders falter.

James Gregg
Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live

Russell Henley has played beautifully and he has really taken advantage of the early conditions.

He was one of the early players who teed off before this miserable drizzle started to come.

Image source, Getty Images

Justin Rose recovers from that early tee shot at the par-five fourth to pick up a birdie.

He backs up a quite brilliant chip shot from the rough with a calm putt drawing a hearty applause of the fans at Royal Troon.

Rose raises the ball to acknowledge them. He's back to five under.

The driver has been under-used around the links at Royal Troon so far but both Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay whip theirs out to attack the par-four seventh.

Schauffele's works a treat, flung down the middle and leaving a mere nudge into the green. Cantlay's however bumps and runs straight into a fairway bunker.

That's how it goes sometimes.

Here's how the top of the leaderboard looks:

• -7 Lowry (3)
• -5 Rose (4), Brown (3)
• -4 Henley (13)
• -3 Lawrence (17), Schauffele (6), Scheffler (5), Horschel (4)

Click here for the full leaderboard

A grimacing Shane Lowry yells at his second shot as he fires it down the fourth fairway. It's a really long way to that green though.

Dan Brown has to take his medicine after finding the fairway bunker but he's still got another shot to spare to get himself in contention to save par.

Patrick Cantlay is two under for par fives so this week but he’s not added to that total yet.

A bit conservative at six from the Californian and an unlikely 41 footer for birdie goes unconverted.

A much more inviting opportunity for Xander Schauffele from 11 and a half feet but he’s laughing with confusion as he looks for some explanation for why his ball slips off to the left.

Justin Rose disperses a group of soggy waterproof-clad fans, huddling under umbrellas, at the fourth after his tee shot goes way wide into the rough.

Andrew Murray
Former European Tour winner on Radio 5 Live

That was terrific from Dan Brown.

The second shot was key there. He didn’t look like he was happy with it, but he pitched it short enough of the green to allow for the skid and the bounce and got it flag high, and if you get if flag high you are never far away from the flag.

That was a brilliant putt as well.