Bernard Gallacher
Three-time European Ryder Cup captain on BBC Radio 5 live

"The golf writer Bernard Darwin once said 'Hoylake is a breeder of mighty champions' and I expect one of the great champions to come through because this is a mighty field."

He's not wrong, here's a list of some of the past Hoylake winners:

1907: Arnaud Massy - first overseas winner of the Open.

1924: Walter Hagen - his fifth of 11 major titles, a haul that ranks him third in the all-time list behind Jack Nicklaus (18) and Tiger Woods (14).

1930: Bobby Jones - the American great won all four majors in 1930 for the famous 'Grand Slam', the Open being the second leg.

1956: Australia great Peter Thomson completed a hat-trick of Open victories, the only player to achieve the feat in the 20th century.

1967: Roberto De Vicenzo, the only Argentine to win the Open.

2006: Hitting his driver only once, Tiger Woods defended his 2005 title in stunning fashion.

A long putt by Sergio Garcia sets up a straight-forward birdie chance on 10. Six under beckons. Louis Oosthuizen capitalises on the par-five fifth and moves to four under. Silent assassin. He fooled us all when he won in 2010.

Action everywhere, challengers everywhere, one leader and in high-vis colours, all eyes are attracted to Rory McIlroy.

Which of these is the best Open venue?

You can choose from: St Andrews, Hoylake, Carnoustie, Turnberry, Troon, Muirfield, Birkdale, or other.

The vote closes at 19:00 and we'll give you the result shortly after.

If you want to do your research, check out the R&A's guide to the venues on the official Open website.

Send us your reasoning via #bbcgolf on Twitter, 81111 on text or via the BBC Sport pages on Facebook, external and Google +, external

Incidentally, Darren Clarke converts for par on 10 after earlier needing an army of spectators to find his ball. No doubt he would have bitten your hand of for par at that stage.

Edoardo Molinari's run of birdies ends on 15, it's par. Canada's David Hearn is sneaking up on us all. A sublime iron shot on the fourth leaves him around six inches for birdie and that will take him to three under.

Jim Furyk is unable to make the par-five 10th hole pay. It is playing the easiest hole on the course, averaging just 4.6 strokes.

The American's putt from all of 30 feet is beautifully weighted but just wide. What I like most about him is he always looks like he is playing in astro-turf trainers.

He looks like he'd be a handy five-a-side player. Two shots off the lead.

Selected others: -3: Adam Scott (Aus), Stephen Gallagher (Sco), Charl Schwartzel (SA); -2: Justin Rose (Eng), Darren Clarke (NI);

-1: Shane Lowry (Ire); Par: Phil Mickelson (US), Jason Dufner (US), Tiger Woods (US), Ian Poulter (Eng); +1: Henrik Stenson (Swe), Luke Donald (Eng)

Official Open leaderboard, external; Clubhouse scores; Tee times

Mark James
Former Ryder Cup captain on BBC TV

"Rory McIlroy has suddenly got that look of being in control, relaxed and only seeing good numbers."

Image source, Getty Images

Breathing space for McIlroy. He rolls home for back-to-back-birdies on the sixth green after a smart tee shot.

Could this be his moment? He is walking with swagger, a chance to kick on with a two-shot lead on seven under.

Mark James
Former Ryder Cup captain on BBC TV

"What about that from Edoardo - lacklustre for 10 holes and now right back in there."

Edoardo Molinari draws whoops and cheers from the galleries. He looks like he has a tough up and down for par but what we didn't know was he was planning on holing out from off the green. Straight in, that's four under - the same mark as his brother Francesco.

Rob Hodgetts
BBC Sport at Hoylake

"Giant galleries, squads of snappers and reams of writers following McIlroy on this hazy summer afternoon. 'Wee Mac' unleashes merry hell with his driver down the fifth and the man with the clever technology measures it at 375 yards. Could have done 400 if it hadn't caught the rough."

With Hugo's text in mind, we want to know what you would change about the sport of golf and why?

Tweet us your thoughts on #bbcgolf or text on 81111.

As Tom Watson (currently +2 through nine holes of round two) continues to defy his age, the debate about older golfers in elite fields has reared its head again.

Hugo in Northumberland: I'm becoming increasingly frustrated at Sandy Lyle's regular inclusion in both The Open and The Masters (as of course he's not eligible to play in the remaining two majors). He's finished at +22 this week and I think it's a farce that he insists on playing at this level.

Surely the Open would be better off if a younger, more skilled and hungrier golfer with greater potential was given a chance instead. Just look at how everyone loves John Singleton.

Do you agree with Hugo? You can also join in the debate via Twitter using #bbcgolf, Google +, external or on our Facebook page., external

McIlroy moves from the power needed on the long fifth to the accuracy of the par three sixth.

His lofted iron drops like a missile and makes that lovely hard sound as it pitches and sticks around 10 feet from the pin.

Jordan Spieth and Hideki Matsuyama cannot replicate the finesse McIlroy shows, but they bump their tee shots onto the putting surface. Three birdie chances.

Royal Liverpool's four par five holes have given up just under 370 birdies so far this week. That is nearly 50% of all the birdies made.

Image source, Reuters

Rory McIlroy takes full advantage of the generous fifth hole. His eagle attempt on the par five is close, but it's a tap in on the return and again, McIlroy is six under par.

The par fives are where the booty is hiding.

10th (Far)

A par five and 532 yards awaits Furyk next. Can he keep the momentum going?

Image source, Getty Images

The second-easiest hole in 2006 and birdie chances are being easy to come by again this year. One hundred and seven birdies have been made in the championship so far and just 19 bogeys.

2006 difficulty rating: 17 2014 difficulty rating: 18

Jim Furyk sinks a snaking putt on nine for a score of one under on the way out and a share of the lead with Coetzee, Koepka, Garcia and McIlroy. The American steady all week so far.

Co-leader George Coetzee has had the most one putts in the championship so far, with 20 at a rate of 55.6%, on his way to five under. England's Paul Casey has had the least, making just four at a rate of 11.1%, and is currently three over through six.