Plonked in the middle of three bunkers, Scottie Scheffler needs to go high and come down dead to save par.

Judged to perfection as it plops at three feet from the pin.

Tough for Dan Brown after overshooting the green. He's dropped back to two under par as a result.

Dan Rapaport
American golf journalist on BBC Radio 5

Shane is going to have a talk with himself because of how much negative emotion there has been over the last 24 hours.

He is still in the mix - he still has a chance.

Image source, Getty Images

Shane Lowry was desperately searching for a bit of inspiration from somewhere to ignite his round - and he finds it with back-to-back birdies.

The Irishman chips out of the sand at the fourth to leave himself with a simple putt. Then on the fifth hole he nails an absolute stonking putt - some 50 feet - for another.

"Come on!" roars Lowry with a clenched fist.

However - Jon Rahm is in trouble on 11.

He's not quite on the train tracks from the tee, but he has gone too far right and he's at the mercy of a decent lie and/or having avoided the gorse bushes.

This is how Jon Rahm has built his challenge so far today.

First dropped shot for our leader as Billy Horschel's attempt stays high.

He's joined at four under par by his playing partner Thriston Lawrence. Fine 12-footer converted and there's a three-way share of the lead.

Image source, Getty Images

Since we're on the cardigan subject..

Billy Horschel leads the Open sporting a rather nice cardigan, but he wouldn't be the first major champion crowned while wearing such attire.

First of all, golfing cardigans, thumbs up or thumbs down?

And secondly, can you name the last player to win a major playing in a cardigan?

Aly: Billy Horschel is sporting the Val Doonican golf cardigan but still resembles Adam Levine from Maroon 5. Confusing

A bit of medicine taken for Billy Horschel after finding a bunker off the third tee.

Onto the green but facing 16 and a half feet to rescue par.

Somehow, Thriston Lawrence has found a line of short grass within the heavy stuff.

Clever shot out and he's got a birdie chance incoming.

Image source, Reuters

Thunk.

Dan Brown's third at the par-five fourth is an attempt to get out of the bunker only for him to thunder it straight into the face.

Next door to him is Scottie Scheffler and he's out successfully - and on to the green.

The world number one doesn't get it in from 30 feet but is safely away with par.

Sadly for Brown, those bunker troubles cost him a shot.

Matthew Jordan is having an eventful day, as he birdies the par-three fifth to get back one of the two shots he dropped at the last with that double bogey.

He's making hard work of it but he's still not quite out of it yet.

Richard Winton
BBC Scotland at Royal Troon

It’s going to be the thick end of four hours before the leaders finish their rounds but this lot are already trying to claim a prime spot overlooking the 18th green.

Ross

Here comes Billy Horschel's 37-footer for birdie.

It curves left at the end but he'll take the par.

Thriston Lawrence has given himself a look at a share of second. Can he convert from 14 feet?

No. As you were.

Huge chance missed for Justin Rose as he allows too much break on his left-to-righter down the hill for a birdie.

The front nine is offering up a few chances today and with this tough back nine you really need to take chances like that - you don't get too many.

Catriona Matthew
Captain of Team Europe at the 2019 & 2021 Solheim Cup

I think you can just tell the way they’re going about their business, they’ve been in this position before. There’s no looking like a deer in headlights.

They’re composed and I think if Rose can get another couple of birdies the crowd here will be rooting behind him.

A line of sight drop for Billy Horschel with the TV cranes in the way.

Now he's got an incredible angle into the second green and takes dead aim.

On to the putting surface. Golfing disaster comfortably averted for the leader.

Richard Winton
BBC Scotland at Royal Troon

Brian Harman has just strolled past and clambered into a waiting car with barely anyone noticing.

How different from 12 months ago for last year’s Champion Golfer.

Peter Scrivener
BBC Sport at Royal Troon

It feels like we've had no two days the same in South Ayrshire, with the wind blowing from the south and the north. Today it's coming more in off the west.

And it's blowing at around 18mph with gusts 10mph stronger.

That's going to make the front six holes play longer than their advertised yardage, and the back six a little shorter - in contrast to yesterday.

It'll be more of a mix through the middle six holes which snake around in a bit of a loop at the far end of the course.

The short eighth 'Postage Stamp' will be playing straight into the wind though if it continues to blow in off the Firth of Clyde.

Hopefully no rain though. There is a chance of showers around 6-7pm, which could make a play-off interesting!

Russell Henley hoists his putter in the air in frustration. The American sees a 10-foot putt on the second hole, for a birdie, end up a couple of inches short. He taps in for par to stay at three under.