As well as others are playing, you just can't see Scottie Scheffler buckling at all. He's absolutely rock solid.

A slightly breaking putt from 10 feet finds the middle of the cup for par.

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI at Royal Portrush

'Go hunt 'em down tomorrow, Rory!' was the rallying cry from the crowd as McIlroy walked off the green.

The slightly problem is 'em' is Scottie Scheffler. But he's given himself hope and this home support will dare to dream for tomorrow.

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

His first four holes were electric but it just slowed right down.

To be fair, he kept on attacking and giving it his best shot and if it wasn't for Scheffler he'd probably think he's well in with a chance.

He's just got to wait and find out how Scheffler will finish.

Image source, Getty Images

Again it was another wonderful effort from long range from Rory McIlroy as the ball just rolls up to a foot away, cheered on all the way by the crowd, but just won't drop.

There's just been a few too many of those today, and not enough approaches stuck close enough because otherwise he's played beautifully for his 66 today.

At eight under though he's five shots behind Scottie Scheffler, and even if it stays five shots that's a huge swing against the world number one in this form.

If this crowd has anything to do with it though...

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI senior journalist at Royal Portrush

Humans. Thousands and thousands of them, all hushed in anticipation on the 18th.

We don't know when Portrush will host The Open again and, when it does, if McIlroy will still be one of the world's best. The fans today have been keen to savour every moment.

Now, can he finish moving day in style?

Things are a lot calmer at the 14th. You could hear a pin drop in comparison to the 18th!

Scottie Scheffler hacks his way out of the rough and he's about 10 yards short of the green.

A chance to save par from there.

Blinded by the sun a bit, Rory McIlroy punches in his approach to the right side of the green, a long way from the flag but he's on the dancefloor.

And the noise as he walks up to the putting surface is what you'd expect - immense. I shudder to think what will happen if he manages to drain this one from 45 feet...

Golf's version of Where's Wally?

Rory McIlroy in a sea of his fans at Royal Portrush...

Image source, Getty Images

Problems for Scottie Scheffler off the tee on 14.

The left arm immediately juts out after striking the ball, and he looks as though he's landed in some thick rough.

Matt Fitzpatrick is safely on the short grass.

Another inch up the leaderboard from Harris English who continues to cling on here.

It was a brilliant second shot at the 15th to within four feet and he's up to eight under par.

Rory McIlroy gets a stroke of luck off the 18th tee as his drive bounds forward towards the bunker but just manages to avoid the sand.

Chance of hitting it close with his second.

Lee Westwood's card had four bogeys on his front nine - and he was out in 40.

Then, remarkably, he came home in 29.

A birdie putt at the last would have broken The Open record for nine holes but his effort from distance just grazed the cup.

Breathtaking finish from the 52-year-old.

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

I think that was a slight push. Scottie came out of that putt looking as if he didn’t quite start it on the line that he wanted, which is unusual today anyway.

A lovely chip from Matt Fitzpatrick to within five feet gives the former US Open champion a good chance to save par.

Scottie Scheffler for birdie? Just by the right edge. Nearly.

Now the attention is back on Fitzpatrick. He hits it - stays up off the left edge.

Fitz back to nine under.

Image source, Getty Images

Rory McIlroy is an emotional guy so a penny for his thoughts after that little interaction with his fans on 17. If they could've sucked that ball into the hole it would have flown in, but his nice effort from 33 feet just missed the target.

I'm struggling to think of anything similar to that though, on a Saturday, even for a player at a home Open - it's more like a Ryder Cup atmosphere with the guttural, desperate cheers following his every swing of the club.

Jonathan Bradley
BBC Sport NI senior journalist at Royal Portrush

There's a lot of support out here for Matt Fitzpatrick today, including a couple of giant masks of the Englishman peering out of the big crowd.

Those cheering him on were imploring that ball to hold on the green but to no avail.

To the 13th, where Englishman John Parry made a hole-in-one earlier today.

Scottie Scheffler hits his tee shot first and leaves himself 15 feet for birdie.

Matt Fitzpatrick is just over the back of the green with a lot more distance to cover.

Image source, Getty Images

Oh this is like the good old days at The Open here as Rory McIlroy is engulfed by the crowd after digging out a wedge from just 87 yards which lands on the green - to a huge cheer from his people.

It's not close, probably 30 feet away, but who cares? It's not about the shot here, it's about the Royal Portrush fans having a moment with their hero, their Grand Slam champion and one of their favourite sons.

Incredible noise from incredible scenes after he plays the shot as he strides through an ocean of well-wishers that conjures up memories of Opens from a bygone era as fans chased the final groups down the 18th.

Wonderful.

Image source, Getty Images

The frustration is starting to show for Tyrrell Hatton, who is playing some unbelievably consistent golf but can't get a putt to drop for love nor money.

One birdie, one eagle, the rest pars for the Englishman.

Image source, Getty Images

Well, the jinx strikes again as just after mentioning that Li Haotong had only made one bogey all week he makes one on the very next hole!

And it comes with him missing his par saver from just four feet - the commentator's curse is a strong one....