When it's going well, it's going well...

As playing partner Ernie Els is handed a difficult escape from the rough stuff, Phil Mickelson narrowly avoids the danger and is able to then make the green.

Els edges the cup and has to settle for a double bogey, while Mickelson makes par to reach the turn in 33 and remain at 11 under.

Now it's The Open as I know it at least. Brollies everywhere, players covered up as best they can, the smiles turn to grimaces.

Image source, PA

Soren Kjeldsen is playing a dangerous game. That said, many of these guys will do so on the back nine too. 

We have another major winner on the course, the 2011 PGA Championship victor Keegan Bradley.

The 30-year-old is having a tough old season but a win here would turn things from negative to positive for sure. Bradley drains a long putt on one, five under.

Conor McNamara
Commentator on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

The caddies have to have as many arms as an octopus when it rains to hold the brolly, the clubs, the towel and all the other things the players need.

Soren Kjeldsen could be six behind Phil Mickelson here as he stands over a long par putt, slim hopes, but he nails it. That was a 20ft save I'd say.

Henrik Stenson joins Kjeldsen on six under with birdie on five. He rolls home a three footer and gets a big shout from some fans as it drops. It seems he has the Stenson fan club walking the links with him.

Charl Schwartzel has been on fire but at last this course tames him as he can't make an eight footer for par on 10.

First dropped shot of the day for defending champion Zach Johnson, but only his third bogey of the week.

The American watches a putt go begging at the fifth, leaving him four under.

Ian Poulter's weather informants are on the money if we look at the BBC Weather pages. The rain is indeed sweeping in towards Ayr.

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Postage Stamp problems? No such trouble for big Phil.

He pitches his tee shot just past the hole at the eighth and watches it trickle almost all the way home - instead it's a comfortable birdie for the American five-time major champion.

That's -11 for the weekend so far...

Zach Johnson is also climbing, that's par-birdie-par-birdie for the defending champion so far on Friday.

He's on six under through four, alongside Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen as the nearest challengers to Phil Mickelson.

Ben Dirs
BBC Sport at Royal Troon

Nice touch from Mickelson after his par at six, seeking out a little girl in the gallery and handing over his ball with a 'there you go, sweetie'. And the the rain began to come...

Image source, Getty Images

Charl Schwartzel completes a fantastic front nine with a par to keep the South African on four under.

He's one of those hoping to chase down Phil Mickelson, but the experienced American has just extended his advantage with a birdie to go 10 under through seven.

Mickelson now leads by four.

Well, Phil Mickelson's form shows no signs of disappearing - the American shows off a superb back spin approach to land his ball within touching distance of the flag.

For all you Ken fans out there, here's the maestro's latest guide to playing Royal Troon.

Matty: Charl Schwartzel's had his Weetabix this morning hasn't he?

It certainly looks that way, Matty - of course other breakfast cereals are also available to Open golfers...

Image source, PA

The round of the day so far is definitely coming from Charl Schwartzel, who is five under on Friday.

A couple of bogeys, and a double at the 11th yesterday, looked to have cost the South African a shot at the Claret Jug this weekend, but he's soared back into contention through eight holes this morning.

Five birdies already for the 31-year-old.

Thanks Luke, enjoy your porridge.

As I join you, Phil Mickelson has just missed a putt for birdie, but the American still holds a healthy three-shot lead and is ticking along nicely towards the turn with no dropped shots so far on Friday.

He's one under for the day, and nine under in total following that fantastic opening-round 63.

I'm off for some porridge so will hand you over to Alex Bysouth for a while. He looks game. Thanks for reading so far.