Image source, Getty Images

They say at Augusta that it all happens on the back nine on Sunday, and that'll be the case today at Royal Troon - namely because the back nine on this stunning Ayrshire links is an absolute brute.

Looking at the course stats, six of the seven hardest holes today are on the back nine, and they hit you like a smack in the face from the start.

Starting at the 10th, the difficulty ranks for the holes are 1, 2, 3, 5, 11, 4 - so the three hardest holes in a row and the top five hardest in the space of six.

They came stumbling over the line exhausted last night and it'll be the same again - whoever wins this Claret Jug will have earned it!

It's almost as if Scottie Scheffler has taken out his 2023 putter these past two holes.

That was never on line and was also too hard - seven feet coming back to save par for the world number one.

He composes himself and cleans up. Maybe that's the dusting down he needs for the final eight holes...

Oof, that's either a dash of brilliance or some incredible fortune for Billy Horschel as his bunker escape kisses the lip of the trap and continues rather than fall back to his feet.

Safely out and six feet for par - this has been his wheelhouse this week. Not this time though and an intake of breath as he bogeys.

Thriston Lawrence has a chance for a two-shot swing but drifts his birdie putt wide.

After that early birdie blitz, Jon Rahm lost a bit of momentum with his bogey on 11.

He's parred his way round to the 16th tee, and a couple more birdies on the closing holes wouldn't have make things interesting.

Peter Scrivener
BBC Sport at Royal Troon

The R&A has just announced the official attendance for the week. A whopping 258,174 people have braved the wind and rain to wander round the links and cheer on their favourites.

We’ve not stopped watching Scottie Scheffler just because of that double bogey at nine but it’s daunting weighing up the second half of Royal Troon playing catch-up.

Not that the world number one will melt down and the fightback starts here as he wands his approach on 10 into the heart of the green.

Dan Brown’s challenge may have melted away but he’s gutsy and has given himself a birdie look of his own.

That is a really high quality front nine from this group, who navigate it without a bogey between them and with five birdies.

Justin Rose has been more on the front foot with three of those birdies and a couple of other birdie chances that went begging.

Xander Schauffele has been his usual self, he's low key and never really looks in trouble, but then pops up with a birdie run - you cannot rule him out one bit.

Richard Winton
BBC Scotland at Royal Troon

I’m not saying the bunker Billy Horschel is in is deep, but I think he’s just gone underground…

Image source, Getty Images

Will this hand be holding the Claret Jug in a few hours' time?

Justin Rose is on fire at the moment.

Thumbs up if you think he can get this done.

For the final time this Open, we get to see the beauty and brawn of The Postage Stamp.

Firstly, wonderfully done from Thriston Lawrence as he spins his ball away from the Coffin bunker and inside 13 feet.

However, it's an unfortunate break for Billy Horschel as he skins his tee shot right, it takes a kick off a sprinkler head and rolls round into the sand.

Lovely hands from Justin Rose on a bit of an awkward downslope next to the ninth green as he sends a low pitch rolling towards the hole and a few fans in the crowd get excited about it dropping before it runs out of steam.

It's a tap-in par though to keep him in a tie for the lead as he hits the turn, with Xander Schauffele just a shot behind as he also makes his four.

Andrew Murray
Former European Tour winner on Radio 5 Live

Great ball control from Billy Horschel.

His game plan was to take the bunkers out of play, beautiful distance control.

Listen to commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live via the link at the top of this page.

Justin Rose misses the ninth green to the left from 188 yards, as does Xander Schauffele as both men get blown a little bit off course by the wind.

A wind which will make life so much tougher for them on the back nine...

Richard Winton
BBC Scotland at Royal Troon

I’ve managed to clamber up the mound just above the Coffin Bunker on eight. This is where Shane Lowry’s third round derailed. Can the remaining pairs today survive intact?

Image source, Getty Images

Another fine wedge into the seventh green from Billy Horschel as he continues to plot his way carefully around this front nine.

He can't sink the putt this time but there's a wide smile as he picks his par out of the hole.

Chance then for Thriston Lawrence who has got his approach closer.

He tiddles it down the slope and into the cup. Three lead the way once again.

We have a cardigan winner! Unofficially of course as it's not a stat that's kept, well, by anyone really. Right, now back to the golf...

Anon.

David Howell

Image source, Getty Images

Here's how the top of the leaderboard looks:

-6 Justin Rose (8), Billy Horschel (6)

-5 Xander Schauffele (8), Thriston Lawrence (6)

-4 Shane Lowry (9), Russell Henley (6)

Click here for the full list

Image source, Reuters

Well, there's something you don't see every day.

Scottie Scheffler has possibly just played himself out of the tournament.

First of all a miss from six feet for par. Then a miss from three feet for bogey.

After being one shot back only five minutes ago, he's now four off the lead.

Richard Winton
BBC Scotland at Royal Troon

A couple of palm slaps and fist bumps with fans for Justin Rose as he strides to the ninth tee. He fancies this…

Sam Burns has endured a bit of an up-and-down round so far.

The American began the day three under but he made back-to-back bogeys on the third and fourth holes before a much-needed birdie on the fifth.

He needs to string a few holes together to really get himself in the mix.