Alistair Bruce-Ball
Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live

I remember Jon Rahm putting in a really good challenge a couple of years ago when Collin Morikawa won at Royal St Georges, and he’s got the bit between his teeth this afternoon.

He’s playing some good golf in tough conditions.

This is like the old Jon Rahm in the majors! After that monster drive he flicks in a wedge and then drains the 12 footer for birdie to get to level par for the tournament.

And the way he's playing now that may not be the last birdie today...

"You've got to be kidding me, man," shouts Brian Harman as he plonks his tee shot on the par-three 14th into a greenside bunker.

That's another big birdie putt holed by Brian Harman, reminiscent of the many he made from 15-20 feet in winning The Open last year, and it takes him to four over.

Bryson DeChambeau hits the bunker on the par-three 14th, and his escape settles seven feet away leaving "one of those" to save his par.

He's not a two-time US Open champion without knowing how to knock in crucial putts though and he holes it to stay in it.

An angry swish of the long grass by Tyrrell Hatton as his third in a tricky spot flies through the green to the other side of the putting surface.

He almost does likewise on the return journey, and he's left with a lengthy putt for bogey, which he doesn't make. Suddenly his participation this weekend is in a bit of jeopardy.

Max Homa's punishment for a bad tee shot is a triple-bogey seven. No hiding place.

Rory McIlroy makes par.

Oh Jon Rahm is feeling it now, as he unloads a missile off the 15th tee that bounds on and on and on, across the spectator walkway and eventually settles at 402 yards!

Andrew Murray
Former European Tour winner on Radio 5 Live

Rahm is without question absolutely in it. This guy has got pedigree around links courses.

He’s won on Royal Aberdeen at least twice and won the Scottish Open on links courses in windy conditions.

Robert MacIntyre can't quite convert his 12-foot putt for birdie on 14 and he's now running out of holes to try to make this cut.

Jon Rahm has no such worries, and after a brilliant tee shot which he hit to just three feet, he picks up his second birdie of the day and all of a sudden he looks like a serious threat again.

Maybe the Rahm of the last couple of years coming back?

Max Homa might need a sat nav to find where his fourth shot landed on the 12th.

He played a provisional off the tee after a wayward drive, then has engaged in a bit of criss-cross as his latest blow from left of the fairway has ended up somewhere near a hospitality tent by the 12th green.

Brian Harman judges his long birdie putt, up and over a ridge, very well and knocks in a short one for par.

Viktor Hovland, who is eight over, is not out of the mix for making the cut yet - a couple of late birdies and anything is possible.

You can read what Justin Rose said about his three-under 68 in our post at 18:30 BST - here's how he finished his round in style...

Alistair Bruce-Ball
Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live

Credit to Bob MacIntyre.

He dropped eight shots in his first four holes and in the next eight, he’s two under.

He's seven over for the championship and really scrapping to be here for the weekend.

That missed green does in fact cost Tommy Fleetwood another shot and the bogey on 13 could well signal the end of his Open as he now needs to find four shots from somewhere as things currently stand.

Max Homa, you do not want to be going in there. The American's drive on 12 veers right and into a mass of gorse bushes. Good luck finding that one. He'll be having another dart off the tee.

Rory McIlroy is up next and sprays his drive left.

Joaquin Niemann, that is how you respond to a setback.

The Chilean was going well until a 'snowman' eight on the infamous Postage Stamp par three.

But did he sulk and further capitulate? Not a chance. Seven holes and four birdies later, he's almost made back those shots and, on level par overall, will make it to the weekend.

You're never overly pleased with a bogey, but when you roll in a 24-foot putt for one then you'll take it.

Bryson DeChambeau does just that as he scraps away to try and make this cut.

More trouble for Tommy Fleetwood as he misses the 13th green long and needs to get up and down.

Robert MacIntyre's second comes up 40 yards short but his pitch up onto the dancefloor is superb.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Justin Rose is alongside fellow Englishman Dan Brown in second spot, two behind leader Shane Lowry, and has been speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live's Andy Stevenson:

"That was a hard round of golf. A great round of golf, one I’m delighted with but I think to be able to enjoy it with a 40-footer on the last, you realise your job’s done for the day, and to be able to let your guard down was massive.

"It was the type of day where the course was relentless. There are no easy shots out there. The easier holes were the ones you felt you really had to take advantage of to put any type of good score together. There was no let-up and it was nice to finish with a smile on my face."

On the afternoon conditions: "I was very aware that people were struggling. I could see Justin Thomas behind, not having a good day, I was keeping an eye out for Matt Southgate’s score - a great links player - and they were all struggling so I realised the golf was tough.

"I was really working hard for every little thing I could get, every little inch I could get out of it I was really understanding how precious every shot was out there.

"Today was a good mix of playing well and grinding well."

On being in the mix for a first Claret Jug: "That’s the dream and I’m still living the dream. It still means working hard but it’s why I’m still in the game and make the sacrifices I do - to give myself these opportunities."

Tyrrell Hatton escapes with a bogey five on 11 after his tee shot squeaked right and almost went out of bounds.

It was a good recovery from there for the Englishman.