Mark Simpson of Holywood Golf Club speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live's John Inverdale: "We're more nervous than him, I think he's looking cool. Some people here are overcoming their nerves with a little tipple from the bar.

"Many of the members here bet on Rory to win like his father Gerry, so people here stand to win thousands of pounds."

Simpson said McIlroy's been on the radar since the rules were changed at Holywood to allow the then eight-year-old to play on his own.

"The rule used to be that anyone under 10 couldn't play unsupervised but Rory was always here practising and shooting 73, 74 as a teenager."

No tightness from McIlroy on tee at 12, he's marmalised that down the middle. Leishman taps in for birdie on 16 to move to 11 under and outright fourth. Garcia with a cute third, he's got five feet for par. Schwartzel makes birdie at the short 15th, moves to nine under.

Peter Alliss
BBC Sport commentator

"Lucky, lucky, chap and I don't think it hit anyone. Without the grandstand that could have been in Timbtuktoo."

Marc Leishman is hot at the moment, just missing from off the green at 16. Garcia playing across the dog leg with a six iron - the longer this round goes on, the longer he's taking over his shots, the nerves are settling in. What a stroke of luck that is - his approach goes head-high into the grandstand and after a late fore call and plenty of hands on heads, his ball ends up on the edge of the green. Needs to make the most of that...

Peter Alliss
BBC Sport commentator

"What a lovely, confident, smooth stroke that was from Rory. No hesitation."

Fowler's long-range birdie attempt comes up just short on 11, he taps in to stay -12. Justin Rose of England, who came into this week off the back of two wins, is one over today through 15, hasn't been able to get much going. McIlroy makes that par, stays three clear...

McIlroy putting from just off the 11th green... there's a bit of chicken left on that bone, he's got a knee-knocker from seven feet. McDowell picks up birdies at 14 and 15, moves to seven under...

Image source, AP

Dubuisson is fast earning a reputation as one of the greatest scramblers since Seve - type 'Dubuisson' and 'cactus' into Youtube - and here he is with a sweet sweep from the rough on 12, right into the heart of the green. Garcia on tee at 12, into a brisk cross wind. He's got 447 yards and he's going with five wood... finds the first cut, that's OK though.

Marc Leishman of Australia made birdie at 15 to get to -10, super tee shot. Garcia for birdie on 11... starts miles wide, suddenly ducks back in... and shaves the edge of the hole. Stays 14 under, the facial expression says he knows he's in with a shot, however remote. Dustin Johnson rams home his par putt to stay nine under.

BBC Radio 5 live

Gary Player, who won three Opens, on BBC Radio 5 live:

"The biggest disappointment is the ball is going 50 yards further than my day and the golf courses are becoming obsolete. Players are going off the tee with irons and it is a tragedy. They have to put the ball back 50 yards for professionals, no question.

"The Open championship always meant so much to me. Around the world it has always been the most important tournament. I felt gratitude when I won it. It is a gift from God because millions of people want to do it. Tonight we will see a man destined to be the next grand slam winner - Rory McIlroy."

Garcia walks away from his ball as he hears a camera click, before stepping back and throttling one onto the front of the 11th. The next four holes are into the wind, from 11 to 14, and here's Rory sending his tee shot straight down the middle, but below the plateau. Swindon's David Howell is in with a 68 for eight under, good to see him back in the swing of things.

Rory for eagle on 10, right on target until the very last. But that's two birdies on the spin and he gets to three ahead again and back under par for his round. Birdie, too, for Fowler, he stays -11 and third.

Image source, Reuters

Johnson makes birdie on 10, moves to nine under. McIlroy's second into 10, five iron, safely on, has got about 15 feet for eagle. Fowler with 228 yards left, even better. Sergio taking iron off the tee at 11... into the first cut, not real drama...

Furyk with a cosmic approach at 12, that could be three straight birdies after that eagle at five. Karlsson has made a mess of the 12th, leaves with a double and falls to -9. SERGIO! Eagle at 10! The Spaniard moves to -14 and two behind McIlroy. McIlroy, remember, should pick up a shot - or two - directly behind him...

Leaders: -16 McIlroy (NI); -14 Garcia (Spa); -11 Fowler (US); -10 Lowry (Ire), Dubuisson (Fra), Furyk (US), E Molinari (Ita).

Nick Dougherty
European Tour player on BBC Radio 5 live

"The mentality, golfing cliché though it is, is take one shot at a time, even if you were playing another 100 holes. That's how Rory got such a big lead in the first place."

Garcia in the semi-rough on 10, 228 yards to the pin. Four iron, we think, and that's a peach of an approach, leaving himself 12 feet for eagle. Make that and the lead is cut to two. McIlroy on 10... boom-bang-a-bangs his drive straight down there. Fowler follows him down there, both should pick up shots from here on this par five.

Image source, AP

Tim Bunting:, external Great to see Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler playing well and chatting so much. True role models and fantastic golf ambassadors.

Might be a bit less chat though in the coming two hours as the tension mounts...

Ireland's Shane Lowry, who is tied fourth on 10 under after a final round 65, on BBC One: "I played pretty much flawless golf. I warmed up very poorly this morning and left the range in anger. Being close to the top of the leaderboard gives me great satisfaction."

Philip Parkin
BBC Sport on-the-course reporter

"He needed that. Just at the right time for McIlroy. Huge applause from everyone."