Russell Henley is another player who went birdie crazy on the front nine today, before the rain began to fall.

A solid par putt from six feet keeps him bogey-free for the day and he's five under for his round.

Andrew Murray
Former European Tour winner on 5 Live

I think Dan Brown would be disappointed with the way that came out.

I’m really surprised he tried to take such a big swing. But his heart would have been pumping out of his chest when he got up there and saw the situation he was in.

Trouble for Xander Schauffele at the fourth after finding the fairway bunker off the tee.

He’s screwed his third shot into the rough and needs to get up and down from there for par.

A lot of the players are just hanging on for now hoping to get through the worst of the rain, including Jon Rahm who is playing it pretty perfectly at the moment even if he's not got anything to drop.

He's found the last few greens in regulation and despite not making any of these big putts he's not left anything over 18 inches for par over the last four holes now so is taking all the stress off.

Image source, PA

Surrounded by umbrellas, Dan Brown is chipping out of trouble and he does well to nudge it inside 12 feet.

It's a nervy opening par putt and he's followed Justin Rose with an opening bogey.

Meanwhile, Shane Lowry takes aim from range and his effort grazes the left and skids on. Par.

Jason Day, dressed more like a skateboarder than a golfer in his baggy waterproofs, narrowly misses a putt of 15 feet on the third hole. He taps in for par.

A couple of pars to start for Scottie Scheffler, but on the third he's got a green light from 150 yards to attack the pin and he's got one to stand to attention and settle five feet from the hole.

Birdie chance coming up.

Peter Scrivener
BBC Sport at Royal Troon

Radio 5 Live's Andy Stevenson has been out and bought an Open teddy bear for his young son.

While it doesn't make a great interviewee, he is going to name it after the Champion Golfer of the Year.

That'll be Justin then, Andy? Or maybe Shane? Or Dan... or maybe one of the Americans will come through and it'll be Billy or Scottie...

Now everyone is out on the course, who are you backing?

Thumbs up for a European winner, thumbs down for anybody else.

Beautifully done by Shane Lowry as he clips out of the bunker and spins it through the rain safely to 35 feet.

Daniel Brown is standing in the bunker with his ball outside it on the edge and it comes out thin, scooting across the green and into the second cut of rough behind it.

Richard Winton
BBC Scotland at Royal Troon

Much more of this and these lads will need squeegees on the green, rather than putters.

Five-time major winner Brooks Koepka has had a bit of a golfing nightmare on the fourth.

Needing to retake his tee shot and playing catch-up from there, he's left the par five hole with a double-bogey seven.

Andy in N Ireland

Looks a lot nicer where you are Andy.

Can you guarantee that brightness for this time next year??

Peter Scrivener
BBC Sport at Royal Troon

I’m out watching good friends Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay and it’s the Olympic champion who is making the first move.

Schauffele’s caddie actually marked Cantlay’s ball on the third green in case his player hit it with his second from much closer in.

Image source, Getty Images

Justin Thomas started his third round brilliantly, taking advantage of the more benign conditions to be six under after 12 holes today.

A couple of dropped shots on the way home have taken the gloss off slightly, but he's more than in the mix at even par for the tournament.

A couple of gnarly tee shots as the 40th and final group of round three gets under way at the first.

Daniel Brown's attempt clings onto the edge of the fairway bunker but he'll have a bizarre stance for his second.

It may turn out to be easier for Shane Lowry although he's fully in the sand with his.

Not the best start for Jason Day. The Aussie misses a par putt at the second hole to card back-to-back bogeys.

Playing partner Corey Conners also bogeys the first but is able to hold his nerve on the green for the four-par second.

Image source, Getty Images

Patrick Cantlay seems to be aiming towards the Firth of Clyde with his putt at the par-four third.

He's got the break right but the moisture slows his effort up and it drifts wide.

Xander Schauffele goes next with a 13-footer and bosh, he's drained it once again.

Significant early moves from the US PGA champion.

Image source, PA Media

Didn't Dan Brown break sales records with his book the Da Vinci Code 20 years ago?

It's not that one.

This one is a 29-year-old golf professional, on his maiden appearance at a major and making it look easy.

Given the sudden attention, his one-over 72 on Friday was arguably more impressive than his opening round of 65 where he took a shock lead.

He did win on the European Tour last August. It'll be fascinating to see how he copes in the final group today.

Image source, Getty Images

More from Alistair Bruce-Ball's chat with three time Open winner Sir Nick Faldo:

On his winner for the weekend: "When everything gets rough, I always pick Shane. If you really want to win a major, go and park yourself there a week or two before privately, quietly and he’s done that.

"He came in, waterproofs on, playing in the rain, he felt the wind changes and that’s what threw everybody. He’s put the preparation in and along with Scottie Scheffler he’s got great scrambling ability. Put all that together - definitely the man to beat."

The longest gap between winning two major championships is approximately 11 years.

Among those to achieve the feat is Tiger Woods, who won the US Open in June 2008 and famously endured an arduous wait until April 2019 for Masters. That's 10 years and 10 months give or take.

Victory this weekend for Justin Rose would surpass Woods' achievement - after all, it's over 11 years since he won the US Open.