Schwartzel gives one backpublished at 14:06 British Summer Time 19 July 2014
A groan on the 13th green as Charl Schwartzel pushes a par putt. Seven shots behind now looks too much of a mountain to climb for him.
Summary
McIlroy leads by six shots on -16 after a round of 68
Fowler -10; Garcia -9; D Johnson, Dubuisson -8; E Molinari -7
Manassero, Scott, Karlsson, Furyk, Schwartzel -6
Selected: Clarke, McDowell, Warren, Rose -5; Mickelson -1; Woods +3
A two-tee start for first time in Open history because of the weather
Schwartzel gives one backpublished at 14:06 British Summer Time 19 July 2014
Fowler moves to -12published at 14:04 British Summer Time 19 July 2014
McIlroy does that uneasy movement where he twists his body after a dicey shot on the 12th tee box. He watches his ball all the way as it bounces into the rough. "It's fine," says his caddy reassuringly.
His main rival, Rickie Fowler, marks his ball twice up on the green as he lines it up diligently...never in doubt, crisply into the cup and the lead is one stroke again. Over to you Rory. Blow for blow at the moment.
McIlroy moves to -13published at 14:00 British Summer Time 19 July 2014
"Boom", says Ken Brown on BBC One as Rory McIlroy rolls home for birdie. His putt is assured and timely. It moves him two ahead of the red-hot Rickie Fowler who himself has the chance to claim another stroke in the group ahead of McIlroy on the 12th.
Leaders: -13 McIlroy; -11 Fowler; -9 Garcia; -8 Furyk; -7 Dubuisson, Schwartzel; -6 D Johnson, Karlsson, E Molinari; -5 Clarke, McDowell, Warren, Walker, Oosthuizen.
Postpublished at 13:58 British Summer Time 19 July 2014
Ken Brown
BBC Sport commentator"That's a terrific round from Darren Clarke. He was clipping the ball nicely on the range when I saw him earlier this week and he always enjoys links golf."
Clarke's round completepublished at 13:57 British Summer Time 19 July 2014
Image source, Getty ImagesBirdie for Molinaripublished at 13:56 British Summer Time 19 July 2014
What about Edoardo Molinari? Is six back too far off the lead? A long putt earns him a fifth birdie of the day on 15. He joins Robert Karlsson and Dustin Johnson on six under.
Postpublished at 13:54 British Summer Time 19 July 2014
Maureen Madill
BBC Sport on-the-course reporter"I'm pinching myself after that shot from Rory. The tucked pin is so hard to get to."
McIlroy respondspublished at 13:54 British Summer Time 19 July 2014
That is six birdies in 11 holes for Rickie Fowler. What must Rory McIlroy be thinking as he sees the American's name creep closer on the giant scoreboards. Fowler tonks his tee shot down the 12th fairway.
McIlroy responds and looks thrilled with himself as he takes his glove off ready to putt on 11. His shot into the green is carrying some serious back spin and leaves around 10 feet for birdie.
McIlroy's lead down to a strokepublished at 13:51 British Summer Time 19 July 2014
And Rory's lead is one. Rickie Fowler's fluid putting stroke gets his ball rolling on the 11th green and it only stops when it drops into the cup. A huge put - 30 feet at least.
Brilliant from Fowler. Is this finally major time for him?
Postpublished at 13:49 British Summer Time 19 July 2014
Clubhouse leader Keegan Bradley talking on BBC One after finishing round three on three under following a 69:
"Today is the day to shoot a low number. I am proud of the way I played. The two tee start was a bit strange. I didn't get to bed at a normal time, thinking I would start at noon then I found out I was first off at 5.30am. It was a bit of a shocker late last night. I think a low score is out there. It is a challenging course though."
Postpublished at 13:48 British Summer Time 19 July 2014
Image source, Getty ImagesMcIlroy saves parpublished at 13:45 British Summer Time 19 July 2014
McIlroy is reminding me of Martin Kaymer at Pinehurst a month ago. On his way to winning the US Open Kaymer consistently got himself out of troublesome spots with good putts, solid bunker play and generally top scrambling. McIlroy lifts out of the bunker on 10 and two putts seal par. On to the next. Still in control.
Leaders: -12 McIlroy; -10 Fowler; -9 Garcia; -8 Furyk; -7 Dubuisson, Schwartzel; -6 D Johnson, Karlsson; -5 E Molinari, Clarke, Warren, Walker, Oosthuizen.
Postpublished at 13:44 British Summer Time 19 July 2014
Final hole for Darren Clarke is the par three ninth. His tee shot is right of the green but safe. Dustin Johnson on 10 - needs to end a run of three bogeys and will - a roll with the putter from off the green leaves him eight feet for birdie. Here's McIlroy in that bunker...
Image source, PAPostpublished at 13:42 British Summer Time 19 July 2014
Bernard Gallacher
Three-time European Ryder Cup captain on BBC Radio 5 liveI think Rickie and Sergio are driving each other on here. They like each other and they're almost in competition together out there. It's great to watch.
Rickie Fowler has just gone -10 after a superb birdie putt at the par-five 10th, two behind McIlroy who is bunkered on the same hole.
McIlroy troublepublished at 13:41 British Summer Time 19 July 2014
Now then, is this a turning point? Rickie Fowler rolls in for birdie and 10 under. Simple stuff. Now for McIlroy from the middle of the 10th fairway. He crushes it, a rapid swing, but it is bunker bound. The ball teases the masses by circling the bunker, like water going down a plug hole, but the contours will not let McIlroy off and perhaps that takes birdie away on this very welcoming par five.
Postpublished at 13:38 British Summer Time 19 July 2014
Can Jim Furyk sink a long one for birdie on 12. A simple no. It is a miss-read from the typically consistent American and that leaves a few feet for par.
Garcia for birdiepublished at 13:36 British Summer Time 19 July 2014
Image source, PASergio Garcia leaves himself an outside chance of a birdie on 10. His effort is from around 50 feet, the line looks good, the length looks good, this is in...not quite. A slight break did him but a great touch and par. He stays nine under.
Victor Dubuisson cannot stay on the mark. He zips one out of the rough to within 15 feet on 13 but his par save is off line.
Stat attackpublished at 13:35 British Summer Time 19 July 2014
Rory McIlroy may be leading the Open but he is only tied 62nd when it comes to hitting fairways from the tee this week, having found just 20. It obviously doesn't mean to much though as the player who has found the most fairways, 32, England's Chris Rodgers, is tied 48th at one over.
Postpublished at 13:33 British Summer Time 19 July 2014
John Murray
BBC Radio 5 live commentatorYou can take it from us here that Garcia and Fowler are in contention. There's enough about them.
John Murray is with Bernard Gallacher following the Spaniard and the American, both at -9 and three behind Rory McIlroy.
Birdies for Dubuisson and Furykpublished at 13:29 British Summer Time 19 July 2014
I have heard a lot about Victor Dubuisson without really taking much notice. He seems to provide filler at the water cooler lately. "Have you seen this Victor Dubuisson" I've heard many say. Well now I have and I can see he firstly looks like a Disney character and secondly, is very good.
The Frenchman sinks a 10-foot birdie putt on 12 and it is eight under for him. Jim Furyk moves to the same mark with a three on 11.
Leaders: -12 McIlroy; -9 Garcia, Fowler; -8 Dubuisson, Furyk; -7 Schwartzel; -6 D Johnson, Walker, Karlsson; -6 E Molinari, Clarke, Warren, Oosthuizen.