Both Scottie Scheffler and Matt Fitzpatrick have had fine weeks so far.

But just look how bad Scheffler has been, relative to the rest of the field, off the tee and around the greens. I originally did this last night just after they'd finished playing and the whole 156-strong field was included. Scheffler was ranked in the 100s!

Now, with just 70 players, he's ranked in the 50s for those two metrics - a stark contrast to the rest of his stats.

It's frightening that he still has a one-shot lead.

A shoutout to Fitz too though, who has been so brilliantly consistent throughout his bag. It will be fascinating to see them both in action shortly.

Matt Fitzpatrick has had his struggles since winning the US Open in 2022, but has shown something near his best this week to be in the final group on Saturday at The Open.

He followed his 67 on Thursday with a five-under 66 yesterday to position himself for a tilt at the Claret Jug at Royal Portrush.

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

That's one of the toughest holes on the course, but he's made it look super easy.

Image source, Getty Images

Scottie Scheffler shot his career-lowest round at a major on Friday, his seven-under-par 64 catapulting him to the top of the leaderboard.

If he gets anywhere near that today, this field isn't catching him.

He's about to step onto the first tee.

Tyrrell Hatton leaves himself the "Rory McIlroy putt" on the first, in a similar place to where his Ryder Cup team-mate holed from about 45 minutes ago.

Hatton overcooks it just a touch though, and has to make do with an opening par.

Former Open champion Brian Harman gets his bid for a second Claret Jug under way alongside China's Li Haotong.

Links golf really suits the American left-hander, although I think he'd prefer tougher conditions given his game is more about accuracy and precision than power and flair.

Both find the fairway off the first.

And in it goes! "Rory, Rory, Rory" scream the fans as McIlroy strokes home that birdie putt on the fourth - and you never really doubted that he'd sink it did you?

This is right in McIlroy's wheelhouse now - he's settled in over two rounds, made the cut, and he has to chase Scottie Scheffler, which will free up the arms a bit and he can just go and play.

If there's one play in world golf who can freewheel to a major victory and ride the crowd like this... it's Rory McIlroy.

Fine second shot into the first from Harris English and a very tidy putt.

He's moved to six under par and a share of fifth alongside Russell Henley.

Bob MacIntyre is putting from distance and he settles for par.

Image source, Getty Images

Meanwhile, make it four birdies in the first six holes for Justin Rose!

The Englishman holes out from the fringe at the back of the par-three sixth - it's a putt of about 20 feet but it shows that Rose is right on it today.

Image source, Getty Images

Oooo - this is getting really good now!

Rory McIlroy stepped on another drive and smacked it 320 down the fourth, before striping a short iron from 168 that stops and settles just eight feet from the flag.

And McIlroy knew as soon as he hit that when that he'd nutted it, with the club twirl and stride straight after it being trademark stuff from when he was at his absolute best.

Image source, Getty Images

The R&A have released a statement about the two-shot penalty Shane Lowry was handed yesterday when his ball moved in the rough as he took a practice swing.

Safe to say Lowry was not best pleased but he accepted the penalty, and now the R&A have revealed why it was handed down.

"In Shane Lowry’s situation, the movement of the ball to another spot, including the movement of the logo, was discernible to the naked eye. The naked eye test is satisfied whether or not the player was looking at the ball when it moved.

"It was clear that the ball moved immediately after the player’s club touched foliage close to the ball during a practice swing and that the player’s actions caused the ball to move."

Read: Lowry won't be called 'cheat' after Open penalty

Has last year's Open champion Xander Schauffele just kickstarted an effort to defend his crown?

He's just landed a 23-foot putt at the par-five seventh to take him to four under, joining last year's runner-up Justin Rose in a share of 12th.

Image source, PA Media

For the second major in succession, Tyrrell Hatton finds himself well in contention.

The Englishman was in the mix late into the final round of last month's US Open at Oakmont before eventually finishing in a tie for fourth.

This is Hatton's 13th Open appearance and it's only the sixth time he's made the cut. When he does, he generally produces a fine finish.

His sixth place at Portrush in 2019 is one of four top-20s that the Englishman has recorded in this tournament.

Hatton's playing partner Rasmus Hojgaard has won five times on the DP World Tour but hasn't seriously contested at the back end of a major before - and there's a slightly less important family battle going on too, with twin brother Nicolai also near the top of the leaderboard.

Image source, Getty Images

Tommy Fleetwood brings an excellent front nine to an end with a well-taken birdie putt.

He's three under for the first half of his round and up to four under for the tournament.

Rory McIlroy's putting has always been streaky in my opinion, but he's become a lot more consistent since working with Brad Faxon.

There's still peaks and troughs and you can usually tell how good his entire game is by how he's putting - today he looks spot on.

Not that he made what's near a 60 footer on the third, but just as important in links golf is lag putting and he reduced that to just under two feet to take all the stress out of his par putt.

We told you Russell Henley was chipping away at the leaders... well he's just taken another chunk out of that difference.

An eagle at the par-five 12th means he's six under for the championship and just four strokes off the lead.

Back at the first tee, Bob MacIntyre has just thundered his drive down the fairway to kick off his third round.

A Scotsman, playing alongside Harris English, in Northern Ireland?

Send us your punchlines please.

Three of those red numbers belong to Justin Rose, who has three birdies in the first five holes.

He's one of a number of players showing that there's a low score to be had out there today.

Richard Winton
BBC Sport Scotland at Royal Portrush

There's a lot of red up on the big media centre scoreboard right now. That means Royal Portrush is yielding birdies. Who will take advantage on moving day?

Rory McIlroy hits the green on the third but he's a mile away from the hole, at least 50 feet and likely more. This will be a tough two putt coming up rather than a birdie chance.