Name that Snail - continued (albeit slowly)

Several golfing veterans rolled back the years on Thursday and 2013 Open champion Phil Mickelson was among them.

This moment of magic was the highlight of his round, even though it was only to save par...

Mickelson heads out for his second round imminently.

Image source, Getty Images

Rasmus Hojgaard joins Brian Harman in a share of the lead at the Open Championship as he takes advantage of the par-five 12th hole to move to five under.

Image source, Getty Images

Another fine drive by Rory McIlroy on seven but he just comes up a bit short of the green with his approach, well it hits the green and lands but then doesn't have enough juice to climb up the slope so rolls back into a big dip in front of the green - joining the ball of Justin Thomas down there.

The 11th hole strikes for Christiaan Bezuidenhout as he drops a shot on the hardest hole on the course and that just drops him back a shot to three under.

Ludvig Aberg dribbles in his 15-foot birdie putt to make four on the seventh, following in playing partner Viktor Hovland.

Jordan Spieth can't quite make it three for three, but the American is on course to keep up his streak of always making the cut at Open Championships. This is his 12th appearance.

I can't recall Brian Harman being in any real trouble during his round so far today. He is rock solid.

A par on the ninth and Harman is out in 33, still leading by one shot.

The seventh is where Rory McIlroy and co currently are - the second easiest hole so far this week.

Here's a flyover of Curran Point.

Image source, Getty Images

Well Graeme, it may be slow but Harris English won't mind coming off the sixth green with another par pocketed.

He stays at four under before heading to the par-five seventh, a hole that was added for the Open in 2019.

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

This pin on the 6th is just over what we call the 'false front' of the green, anything short is running back a good 25 yards.

These pins here this week are treacherous.

That's why I think things have been slow - not many chips are being holed so there's loads of two or three putts.

Richard Winton
BBC Sport Scotland at Royal Portrush

Before we all get giddy about Bob MacIntyre creeping up the leaderboard, it's worth bearing in mind that he was three under at this stage of his first round.

The problem the Scot has is that nine and 10 don't suit the left-hander. He dropped shots at both on Thursday. Can he emerge from them unscathed this time?

As straightforward a hole as Tyrrell Hatton has played today. Drive into first cut, wedge onto green, two putts. Par. Head to the ninth.

Name that Snail... Goodness, you haven't disappointed have you (well... some of you might have!)

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI senior journalist at Royal Portrush

Journalists are required to stay tight to the ropes. Media liaison officers are directing us at all times, ushering over here and pointing over there.

It means you're never too far away from all the punter chat and the masses seem on great form today.

The three-day weekend is officially here.

Tommy Fleetwood missed the sixth green on the short side where Justin Rose made bogey from earlier, but he makes a much better fist of things as he sticks it close with his chip up that steep bank and knocks it in for par.

A par too for Rory McIlroy who hit the middle of the green and gave himself an outside chance for 20 feet. He two putted to make what for him is the most steady par of the day.

Justin Rose looks a little accusingly at his club head as a pitch from the front of the green whistles long and right of the hole. Obviously didn't catch that as he would have liked. He'll have 20 feet left for birdie on the par five - misses left and it's a par for Rose.

Bob MacIntyre is left of the green but pin-high in two and leaves it five feet away for birdie. The Scot makes no mistake. Two off Brian Harman's lead.

Bryson DeChambeau registers a birdie to move to two under for the day but, at five over for the tournament, he'll need a few more of those if he's going to be around for the weekend.

Image source, Getty Images

Giant putt from Harris English at the par-four fifth as he tries to retrieve the shot he coughed up at the last hole.

Fifty feet is always unlikely to offer that up but he's judged it very well indeed to ensure a tap-in par.

He'll stay one back.

Richard Winton
BBC Sport Scotland at Royal Portrush

Here's something you don't see too often on the Open rota. A tunnel in the middle of the links.

This is out at the far end of the course at the confluence of the sixth, eighth and 10th greens, and the ninth tee.

It was bedlam on Thursday afternoon as the marquee groups edged their way round and this little hollow created a haven away from the madness for the players.

Image source, Getty Images

Our leader Brian Harman makes a safe par on the eighth hole. A long birdie attempt was judged well by the American.

It was in the second round at Hoylake two years ago that Harman made his move with a six-under-par round of 65 and he eventually cantered to the finish line from there.

He's three under for his round today.

Oliver Wilson
Former Ryder Cup player on BBC Radio 5 Live at Portrush

He's perhaps not somebody who you'd say is a great role model when he loses his cool, but that's how he expresses himself and he admits he goes over the line and that's what you get.

If you want Tyrrell to be the player he is, you have to accept it.

Sometimes players can lose their identity or fire and it affects their game.