Martin Watt
BBC Sport Scotland at the Renaissance Club

Chris Gotterup takes plenty of time sizing up his birdie look on the par-three 17th.

I'm standing directly behind him and it looks a right to left breaker all the way.

He sets it out on that path but the ball stubbornly stays right of the hole.

On to the last for Gotterup where a birdie would give him a new course record of 60.

Image source, Getty Images

Pars for Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele at the seventh, but a bogey for Viktor Hovland.

Can either McIlroy or Schauffele get further under par in their two remaining holes today?

And another shot back for Connor Syme. Back-to-back birdies follow successive bogeys, as you were for him now with three to play.

A decent par for Tommy Fleetwood, he'll probably feel that he has left a few out here today.

JJ Spaun find a greenside bunker and can't scramble for a par. He's in danger of missing the cut.

Image source, Getty Images

Victor Perez's dream round failed to materialise after a blistering start.

The Frenchman, who lives locally, birdied the first three and was leading the pack on nine under.

Three bogeys curtailed his progress, though, and he finished his second round on level par, plonking himself back down to six under.

A real missed opportunity, with plenty stealing a march on him.

Image source, Getty Images

Connor Syme gets a shot back with a neat birdie on the fifth thanks to a terrific tee shot.

Tommy Fleetwood and JJ Spaun make do with a par.

Harry Hall has had a quite the day. After a decent three-under 67 yesterday, he's posted a fantastic 64 today to take him to nine under for the tournament.

In doing so, the Englishman sets the clubhouse lead - although that will probably be usurped very quickly as Chris Gotterup will finish shortly.

Still, he's up 12 places on the leaderboard right now and sits second.

Image source, Getty Images

Martin Watt
BBC Sport Scotland at the Renaissance Club

An opportunity missed for the leader.

Chris Gotterup's chip uphill from over the back of the green runs out of steam about a dozen feet shy and his birdie putt drifts past.

Pars all round for the featured group at the par-three sixth.

Tidy stuff all round.

Martin Watt
BBC Sport Scotland at the Renaissance Club

Having posted par on the 15th, Chris Gotterup lands in thick rough with his drive on the 16th.

Still, it is downwind, a par five and playing as the easiest hole on the course.

His second goes long but he has plenty of green to work with as he targets yet another birdie.

He's nine under for the day, remember, with a course record in his sights.

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland at The Renaissance Club

With a crowd of bodies this thick, once you see the ball go below a certain point, you just have to rely on the reaction of the baying mob.

Xander Schauffele gets some applause after a lovely tee shot at the sixth. Rory McIlroy gets "oohs" and "ahs" after his tee shot comes up short. Viktor Hovland gets a very muted response.

McIlroy pinches the front of his shirt and fans himself. Perhaps he is feeling the heat.

Back-to-back bogies for Connor Syme on the third and fourth as he drops back to even par for the day, two under overall.

Tommy Fleetwood carded two pars, as did JJ Spain

Image source, Getty Images

Here's a couple more pictures of this fine summer's day, because why not?

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland at The Renaissance Club

My last sup from the McIlroy cup as I seek refuge from the heat. It would be good to end with a birdie...

Tell you what, McIlroy has caught the sun during this round. Very tanned forearms.

He’s taking a long time over this. There’s a hum from the nearby grandstand. It doesn’t perturb him and he makes his sixth birdie of the day.

Xander Schauffele does indeed tap in for birdie and Rory McIlroy rolls in a confident putt to get to eight under.

Those two are pushing each other on, but it's only a par for Viktor Hovland on what has been a frustrating day for the Norwegian.

Martin Watt
BBC Sport Scotland at the Renaissance Club

A tournament official jumps off his buggy and has a word with this group after they tee off on 16.

Can you please hurry up a bit is the gist of it.

Asked by a passing punter what it's like to be so popular, the official responds with a beaming smile.

Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland are just off the green at the driveable par-four fifth.

Xander Schauffele is further back, but plays a delicious low runner that finishes next to the hole - that will be a birdie for the Open champion.

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland at The Renaissance Club

We’ve just seen a very angry reaction from Justin Rose at the fifth.

He drove the green with a stunning drive, but his first putt is judged poorly, reaching the crest of an undulation but unable to get over it, almost coming back down.

He’s an inch or two wide with his next, and he slaps the putter head and curses. Eyebrows raise, some even chuckle.

A three-putt par.

England's Matt Fitzpatrick has made three birdies on the spin to move into third place on the leaderboard.

He's made seven birdies today and no bogeys - flawless.

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland at The Renaissance Club

An American fan stops me in my tracks. “Where is Rory McIlroy?” she asks.

“See that crowd? A few thousand people? The guy walking on water in front of them?” I think about saying.

“He’s just teeing off on the fifth now,” I reply instead. “Follow me!”

We’re now at the fifth green, with her young grandson snaking his way to the thin blue rope separating the golfing gods from the mere mortals.

Martin Watt
BBC Sport Scotland at the Renaissance Club

After back-to-back pars, leader Chris Gotterup hops back on the birdie train in stunning style.

A birdie at the 13th is followed by another at the par-three 14th as he pours in a 20-footer that has just enough gas to find the cup.

The American is now up to 11 under and nine under for the day.

If he goes par from here on in he equals the course record of 61. And a 59 must now surely be in his sights.