Image source, Getty Images

Justin Rose says he is too far adrift of runaway leader Rory McIlroy to challenge for his first Open title at Royal Liverpool on Sunday.

The world number three, who won his previous two tournaments, is five under par after a third-round 69, 11 shots behind McIlroy.

"I've put in a good performance," said the 33-year-old.

"It hasn't really added up to giving myself a chance tomorrow but I've been happy with the way I've played."

David Howell rolls home a smart putt from around 20 feet for birdie on four. He is five under and with a generous par five to come. Justin Rose and Graeme McDowell through the first with pars.

Dave Green:, external Darren Clarke has lost a bit of timber, hasn't he?

He has indeed Dave. Around four stone if you believe him. I read yesterday that he swaps Guinness for Gin these days as it is better for the waistline.

Darren Clarke tees off on the first and finds a mound of rough, Charl Schwartzel - who never seems to change his facial expression - lumps his ball left with an iron. It nearly finds a spectator who dances around the mini white object in a panic.

Selected scores: -6: Adam Scott (Aus); -5: Darren Clarke (NI), Graeme McDowell (NI), Justin Rose (Eng); -4: David Howell (Eng). Stephen Gallacher (Sco), Chris Wood; -3; -2: Thomas Bjorn (Den), Phil Mickelson (USA); +1: Paul Casey (Eng); +4: Luke Donald (Eng); +6: Tiger Woods (USA), Martin Kaymer (Ger)

Selected tee times: 13:50: Darren Clarke (NI), Charl Schwartzel (SA); 14:00 Jim Furyk (USA), Robert Karlsson (Swe); 14:10: Adam Scott (Aus), Matteo Manassero (Ita), 14:20 Edoardo Molinari (Ita), Victor Dubuisson (Fra), 14:30 Dustin Johnson (USA), Sergio Garcia (Spa), 14:40 Rickie Fowler (USA), Rory McIlroy (NI)

McDowell - pretty in pink today - is in a green-side bunker on the first after a pulled fairway shot. Justin Rose hits the dancefloor with a lofted iron. Around 15 feet for birdie.

Angel Cabrera and Phil Mickelson - five under and three under respectively - will have birdie putt on 11 after rock-solid approach shots.

Cabrera carded 76 on day one. One wonders what position he would be in had he not thrown away four shots in the opening four holes.

Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell (-5) on BBC One: "The weather has played a huge part in the tournament. Beautiful skies today, a bit of a breeze, pins look accessible. It looks like low numbers are available.

"Rory is controlling his own destiny. That finish last night was a statement of intent. He is a class player and no one would be surprised to see him with the Claret Jug. A big day ahead for him though, some class players with a possibility of making a move."

Not sure about Justin Rose's sunglasses. They are very square. He rips a tee-shot down the first fairway and at five under, will harbour hopes of a great finish here. Graeme McDowell is his playing partner and also finds the slice of fairway visible from the tee box. Two US Open champions on the march.

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A three-foot putt for the Open. Your one and only shot at a major win in a whole career. It was that simple for American Doug Sanders in 1970.

His miss on the 18th at St Andrews has become part of golfing legend and allowed Jack Nicklaus to win the eighth of his 18 majors after an 18-hole play-off the next day.

"If I had made that putt, all the endorsements, the clothing lines, the golf-course designs…" Sanders lamented., external "It's like buying a lottery ticket worth $200m and then dropping it in the can and watching the numbers wash away."

For more great Open moments, check out our feature.

Roger Mullin:, external So Tiger Woods finishes 6 over par. Amazing to think Rory McIlroy could have a last round of 92 and still beat him! Changed days.

John McMenemy:, external Got a feeling Rory might collapse today; though hope for his dad and pal's sake he doesn't or no Xmas pressie for him.

You're in a great position in a major championship, you go to bed the night before with a smile on your face and then a double bogey on the first slaps you in the face. Scotland's Marc Warren knows the feeling. A bad start.

George Coetzee certainly cannot be accused of not shouting fore. Bellows it. The horrible seventh hole is going to take some of his five under par booty away.

At least Bristol's Chris Wood is thriving. Three birdies in a row, it's four under for the championship. Nice.

And while we are going all Gok Wan and highlighting wardrobe choices, Rickie Fowler is grey pants and orange shirt.

He keeps up his tradition of wearing Oklahoma State University colours for the final day of a major.

Rory is on the range. White cap, grey shirt, pink sleeves. He has been very high-vis this week.

A reminder that a 66 today would see him beat the lowest ever fourth-round score in the Open Championship - currently held by Greg Norman who carded 267 in 1993.

BBC Sport's Tom Fordyce on Twitter:, external No ticket for the final round of the Open? Want a gander at the action on the 4th green? Get on your bike instead.

Cabrera clumps an iron on the par three ninth. Lofted, his ball returns with a bit of cloud on it and sticks to earth. Around 12 feet from another birdie. Francesco Molinari doesn't hit a birdie attempt on the sixth green. Five under. David Howell does the same on two. Four under. Hit them lads, what have you got to lose at this stage?

Thomas Bjorn makes another birdie on 14, he is three under, four under for the day and a shot off levelling the best round of Sunday so far. Nice stuff from the big Dane. Speaking of big, Angel Cabrera rolls in from six feet and gives the camera a little wave. Three birdies in eight holes and minus four overall. Loveable look about him, walks with a bounce.

Frank Nobilo
Former European Tour golfer on BBC TV

"A story of Tiger's week, sixes and fives, but he did make the cut, which many didn't. He might not have enjoyed the week but it is good having him back in the picture."

Par for Tiger on the last via the thick rough. Dufner makes birdie, using the grandstand to hold his approach shot to the green. I guess how wayward they were shows how giving the final drag could be today.

Tiger looked like being the story after a 69 on round one didn't he? Sluggish rounds of 77, 73 and 75 returned us to reality as the 14-time major winner ends plus six in his first major since back surgery earlier this year.

Dufner, who will defend his USPGA title next month, ends one over for the tournament.

Image source, Reuters

What for Tiger Woods? The most talented player ever according the the legendary Gary Player, Woods is plodding up the 18th alongside Jason Dufner. It feels odd seeing him blend in to a list of also rans.

The pair have both pumped iron shots left of the final green with Dufner's wallop almost flattening a marshal. The ball crashed into the grandstand. Golf meets ten pin bowling.

Dufner is two over, Woods four worse off.

Cheers Ben. You were as consistent as Tom Watson there.

So where are we? Scores are out there it seems, with five under for the day the lowest marks at present. Brendon Todd and Koumei Oda the hot men.

If Rickie Fowler could follow suit we may have some drama.