Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI senior journalist at Royal Portrush

The 15th is a beautiful hole and McIlroy played that beautifully.

Another moment to savour for this sun-beaten crowd.

Whatever happens over the next three holes, this is an afternoon Portrush won't soon forget.

Image source, Getty Images

Tyrrell Hatton keeps himself in touch with leader Scottie Scheffler thanks to a birdie on the par-five 12th, which is playing as the easiest hole at Royal Portrush.

A nice chip from the front of the green leaves a tap-in for a four.

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

I think he needs to pick up two more shots in his last three holes here, because Scheffler is on the march.

It's just a short putt but Rory McIlroy takes plenty of care measuring it up and then pops it in to get to eight under and give this crowd more to shout about.

A bit of fortune there but he took advantage and will now try and use that as a boost for one final push down the stretch.

The 16th is a tough par three but the 17th is definitely a birdie hole for McIlroy and is playing under par today.

Li Haotong sinks his second birdie of the day and it's a great one as it's on the tough 11th, which today is playing as the third hardest hole on the course.

But after two lusty blows Li is 20 feet away and sweeps home the putt to get to 10 under.

And here's a stat for you - Li has only made ONE bogey all week! Incredible.

The 11th has played pretty tough this week and we've seen plenty of players in trouble off the tee.

Here's a flyover of what the leading pair are facing.

Jonathan Bradley
BBC Sport NI senior journalist at Royal Portrush

After Scheffler tidied up for par on the 10th hole, and while he waited for Matthew Fitzpatrick to finish reading his putt, a huge cheer went up from elsewhere on the course.

The world number one didn't even glance up from the yardage book, he looks utterly unflappable out here at the minute.

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

Incredible shot from Rory.

He was totally blind, he couldn't see anything - he was asking people around him where it had gone.

It could've easily gone in.

"Oh sit!" says Rory McIlroy as his approach to the 15th comes flying out of the first cut and he's worried it's going to bounce and whizz past the pin - but instead the ball cannons into the flagstick!

That not only stops the ball flying by but also sees it drop to the ground and sit just four feet away from the hole.

That's one way for him to stick his approaches closer...

Scottie Scheffler doesn't allow for enough break in his birdie putt and it drifts right of the cup. A par for the recent US PGA winner.

Can Matt Fitzpatrick close the gap to one? Not this time.

All right then Harris English, I'll stick you back in my key points. A bounceback birdie at the 12th vaults the American to seven under par once again.

Partner Bob MacIntyre took forever over a distance eagle putt but left it 10 feet short and then can't convert.

He's fuming that he's missed out on a birdie here.

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

Image source, Getty Images

Scottie and Fitzy just go at every single flag. They back themselves. If it doesn’t come off they back themselves to get it up and down and if it results in a bogey they say ‘let’s move on’ and they make another birdie.

The way they’re playing they’re not thinking about bogeys, it’s about moving forward and putting the pedal down.

Scottie Scheffler is dialled in right now. The three-time major champion is bang on line with his approach and about 15 feet short of the flag for another birdie chance.

Matt Fitzpatrick isn't going away, though. After a fine par save at the previous hole, he's gone about 15 feet over the flag and will have a chance of a three himself.

Image source, Getty Images

What a back nine Lee Westwood is putting together.

He's just sunk his fifth birdie in six holes over at the 15th. It's been the perfect response to going out in 40 and has delighted the masses surrounding that green.

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

Scheffler absolutely has worked on (being in a bubble). He’s exactly a model pro.

Every aspect of his game is what you would aspire to and how you would execute it, and it’s very hard to do.

But he’s focused so hard on that, he’s mastered it.

Eagles are flowing at Portrush today and Scottish Open champion Chris Gotterup is the latest to get in on the act.

He drains a 29-foot putt on the par-five 12th to catapult himself to eight under.

A couple of uneventful pars for Tyrrell Hatton at the start of his back nine. He's three under for his round today but still five shots off the lead, where he started the day's play.

This is the moment that got his third round kick-started.

Image source, Getty Images

Last year's champion Xander Schauffele should be pleased with his Saturday.

Two eagles on a card with only one bogey, and he reaches the clubhouse at seven under par.

An outside chance at retaining the Claret Jug tomorrow?

Again Rory McIlroy is on the green in regulation but again he's miles away - 44 feet this time - and it's just so hard to make birdies from that type of range time after time.

Yes, he nailed that eagle try from 56 feet but you don't get many of those in an average round - and he's hit his approach inside 10 feet just three times today.

Catriona Matthew
Captain of Team Europe at the 2019 & 2021 Solheim Cup on BBC Radio 5 Live

Very unusual for Brian Harman - his game is hitting fairways and hitting greens and he's just not managed to do that yet.

He’s just looking out of sorts and it's very odd for him.