McIlroy will be happy enough with that. Safely on the green on two after a birdie at the first. A long birdie putt left but, with a seven-shot lead, pars will do. Playing partner Fowler (-10) puts one close to set up a birdie chance. Opportunity to get a shot back.

Image source, Getty Images

Age: McIlroy: 25 Fowler: 25

Major titles: McIlroy 2 Fowler: 0

Best Open finish: McIlroy: Tied third Fowler: Tied 5th

Professional wins: McIlroy: 12 Fowler: 2

Does this man have no nerves? McIlroy (-17) sends off a perfect tee shot on two. Playing partner Rickie Fowler (-10) also safely on the fairway. Sergio Garcia (-10) leaves himself a tester for par on two but makes it, while a shot further back, Dustin Johnson's birdie putt on two just slides past.

John Inverdale
BBC Radio 5 live presenter

After McIlroy birdies the opening hole to extend his lead to seven:

"That was a Carl Froch punch to a George Groves chin. McIlroy could win this by miles."

Rory McIlroy said he was taking nothing for granted despite carrying a six-shot lead into the final round of the Open at Royal Liverpool.

"I know leads can go quickly," he said. "That's why you can't let yourself think about winning."

I wonder how he feels now after stretching the lead to seven on the first?

What a statement of intent that is. McIlroy (-17) leads by seven after a birdie on one. Fowler is short with his birdie putt to stay at -10.

Leaders: -17 McIlroy (NI); -10 Fowler (US), Garcia (Spa); -9 D Johnson (US); -8 Leishman (Aus).

Image source, The Open

Selected others:-6: Justin Rose (Eng), Charl Schwartzel (SA); -5: Chris Wood (Eng), Graeme McDowell (NI); +1: Tom Watson (US), Jason Dufner (US)

Back-to-back birdies for Adam Scott on three and he moves to eight under. Not too late for the Australian if he keeps this form up. Garcia with his second on two and an outside chance to move to -11, leaving a birdie putt from about 30 feet.

Image source, PA

Birdie for Marc Leishman on six, his third in a row to move to eight under. Rickie Fowler (-10) lands a beauty onto the green on the first to leave 15 feet for birdie. McIlroy (-16), who drove 48 yards further than Fowler, responds with a solid iron into the middle of green. Advantage Fowler on hole on though.

In 2004, Rory McIlroy's dad Gerry and three friends gathered £100 each and placed a £400 bet on the Northern Irishman to win the Open before he was 25.

At the time, he was 15. They were given odds of 500-1.

I'll bet the bookmakers are regretting those odds now, while the McIlroys could be planning one big party.

£200,000 probably isn't a great deal for them these days mind.......

Read about the bet and why McIlroy is 18 holes from greatness here.

Image source, PA

Hello. Birdie for Sergio Garcia on the first to move to 10 under and just six shots behind McIlroy.

Leaders: -16 McIlroy (NI); -10 Fowler (US), Garcia (Spa); -9 D Johnson (US); -8 Leishman (Aus).

Ken Brown
BBC Sport commentator

"Look at that. That is a statement. That was a fairway splitter, absolutely cut it in half."

Image source, Reuters

Dustin Johnson (-9) chips well on the first to save par.

While on tee, Rickie Fowler doffs his cap before driving the ball beautifully down the fairway. Leader Rory McIlroy is also safely under way after taking the driver out and smoking it down the middle. That'll do for starters.

Here we go. Buckle up.

Philip Parkin
BBC Sport on-the-course reporter

"There's so much anticipation from the crowd at the chance of having a British winner. The reception was spectacular. There's a bit of breeze, a bit more so than this morning when there were some low scores."

Image source, Getty Images

American Rickie Fowler, playing with Rory McIlroy in the final group and his nearest challenger at -10, spoke with BBC Sport on the practice range: "It's a bit of a challenge being the underdog. I'll be drawing on just about anything I can, I've been playing well in the majors this year and I've got another final grouping again today after the US Open."

Fowler finished tied-second at last month's US Open and tied-fifth at the Masters in April. He's the new Jason Day.

Rob Hodgetts
BBC Sport at Hoylake

"Tiger Woods likened Rory McIlroy to Phil Mickelson as the Northern Irishman prepares to complete his Open coronation: 'When he gets it going, he gets it going real good. When he's off, he's way off,' said Woods. 'There's no right or wrong way of doing. That's just the way he does.'"

Rob Hodgetts
BBC Sport at Hoylake

"Watched Rory and Rickie on the putting green. They're friends but there was only time for a brief 'hi'. Rory has the gaze of the golfing world upon him. McIlroy said earlier this week he's been using two 'trigger' words to keep himself focused and playing well. He says he will reveal what they are if he wins in Sunday. Any ideas what they could be? #roryswords"

Sir Nick Faldo
Six-time major champion on BBC TV

"To find the extra gear like Rory did yesterday, that was the important thing. For him to do have made those two eagles on 16 and 18, that will carry him through today. I led by five going into the final day at St Andrews in 1990 and it got to me, there were second thoughts."

Image source, Getty Images

McIlroy strides onto the first tee to a huge ovation. The crowd don't see him losing this.

Birdie for Adam Scott on two to move to seven under. Still with a chance, just.

Leaders: -16 McIlroy (NI); -10 Fowler (US); -9 Garcia (Spa), D Johnson (US); -7 Dubuisson (Fra), E Molinari (Ita), Lowry (Ire), Walker (US), Karlsson (Swe), Scott (Aus), Leishman (Aus).