Image source, Getty Images

Scottie Scheffler only just passes the right edge of the hole so he settles for par. A bogey-free front nine of 33.

Matt Fitzpatrick nails his par putt and he's out in 34.

As you were.

Nicolai Hojgaard picks up another shot on the 12th to improve to six under and into a tie for eighth place at the Open Championship.

He's now two shots ahead of his brother Rasmus in their personal battle for family honours.

Might Scottie Scheffler be about to extend his two-shot lead even further?

The world number one has 15-20 feet left for birdie on the ninth, while Matt Fitzpatrick has left his chip from the left side of the green about seven feet short of the hole.

Not quite at Rory McIlroy decibels but there are some serious roars of appreciation for Bob MacIntyre as he drills in that birdie at 11.

Kudos to Harris English too as he has managed to keep it to just one shot dropped.

A one-under front nine 35 for Li Haotong but he's had birdie chances that he'll be kicking himself about missing, as he could be closer than he is right now.

An unexpected round from Brian Harman so far, as he's three over after two bogeys and that double at the first, which maybe knocked the stuffing out of him right out of the gate and he's still struggling to recover.

Might be about to remove Harris English's name from my key points as he's having a nightmare down the 11th.

He has to take a drop after blundering his drive into the jungle down the right hand side and he's calling "Fore" again with his next shot

We'll check back shortly for the damage, especially as playing partner Bob MacIntyre is eyeing up 15 feet for birdie.

That eagle couldn't have come at a better time, as Rory McIlroy's shoulders were just starting to slump a bit after his second shot to 12 as he was disappointed not to stick his approach closer.

He's played some great stuff today, make no mistake, but he's not been hitting the ball close enough on those approaches, with just two birdie chances inside 10 feet today.

And after that start he knew something special could happen. It hasn't as yet, but he's made a par on 13 and a couple more coming home will do nicely.

Peter Scrivener
BBC Sport senior journalist at Royal Portrush

Seems an apt time to bring you this again...

As let's not forget that 20 years and one week (exactly) ago, a 16-year-old Rory McIlroy was ripping up Royal Portrush, posting a course-record 61.

Back then, word got out that the teenager was on one of those rounds and people flocked to the links to watch him.

His playing partner that day, Aaron O'Callaghan, told BBC NI about how the round unfolded.

A new seventh and eighth holes were added to replace the 17th and 18th before the 2019 Open held here so his record will remain in place for eternity.

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI at Royal Portrush

Eagles have been flying in left, right and centre today - and Pilgrim approves.

He's an American Bald Eagle, has a wing span of six feet and he's so impressive that players were even stopping on the walkway to the first tee to get a glimpse of him.

He's here at Royal Portrush with David and Joanna to help keep those pesky chip-eating seagulls at bay in the spectator villages and around the 18th.

And yes, he does have his own accreditation (it's everything you hope it will be and more).

Rory McIlroy is the local favourite, but does Pilgrim want an American to win?

"We're looking at Scheffler and he's looking pretty good. He'll maybe tip his wing to him on the 18th green," said David.

Rory McIlroy somehow finds the 13th green despite what must be a surge of adrenaline coursing through his veins after that eagle at the last - and the wall of noise that greeted him on the tee box.

This area here has grandstands surrounding the hole, with the 17th green also just off the back of the 13th - and he's also getting a wildly noisy reception as he strides off down to attempt his birdie putt.

While Rory McIlroy was sinking that massive eagle putt on the 12th, Scottie Scheffler was hitting another super approach to the eighth. He's got 15 feet left for birdie.

Matt Fitzpatrick cosies his birdie attempt to the cup from 50 feet and it's a safe par.

Now to Scottie... holes it! Unflappable. Now two shots clear.

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

Probably the greatest moment of the championship so far - sensational from McIlroy.

As he hit the putt, I thought it was never going to reach but he's judged it to absolute perfection.

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI senior journalist at Royal Portrush

Hairs. Arm. Standing up.

That was an unreal sensory experience

Image source, Getty Images

Rory McIlroy are you kidding me? He's landed a monster from miles away on the 12th green to make an eagle, and Royal Portrush has just erupted.

He was 56 feet away to be precise, and the ball looked to have stopped a couple of times, but it just kept rolling, and rolling, cheered on by this feverish home crowd, and then dived into the hole.

What a response to that bogey on the last, by grabbing that shot back and then some added interest as well to get to seven under.

Image source, Getty Images

A nice round from Lucas Glover has just come to a close.

A three-under-par 68 with four birdies for the 45-year-old and the American reaches the clubhouse on a tidy four under.

Tyrrell Hatton is oh so close to another birdie on the ninth but his 25-foot putt is just short of the cup.

A bogey-free 33 on the front nine for Tyrrell.

At the final hole, England's Tommy Fleetwood is closing his round.

Two bogeys on the back nine derailed his progress as at one stage he'd reached five under par.

Instead, he signs off at three under.

He'll have to go some tomorrow if he's to get anywhere near matching his second place from last time at Portrush.

Image source, Getty Images

Scottie Scheffler started with six pars, but he can add an eagle three to his card on the seventh. No mistake from 10 feet.

Matt Fitzpatrick follows the world number one in for birdie, but the Englishman loses his share of the lead.

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI senior journalist at Royal Portrush

Suddenly the energy changes

As soon as McIlroy stuck his right arm out, the murmurs started.

It's a different story elsewhere. The cheers from other parts of the course are getting louder and louder.

In other news, there's a spectator restaurant off the left of the 11th. The chips smell sensational.

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

He hasn't hit a wrong ball in any way, he couldn't see the ball but it's just unfortunate because it took away the strike from the shot he was hitting.