Gerald Scott
BBC Sport at Royal Troon

The chances of an Englishman winning the Open for the first time since Nick Faldo in 1992 rest this afternoon in the hands of 'Beef', Andrew Johnston, and probably look rather slim.

But, if Henrik Stenson wins, at least it should cause a ripple of pride somewhere in England, in Coventry, the home town of the Swede's caddie Gareth Lord.

Lord, a decent enough player himself, who once studied at the University of Tennessee on a golf scholarship,  plays at Coventry Hearsall, where he has a flat overlooking the course.

Lord has been caddying for 16 years, now into his fourth year on Stenson's bag, and has made a pretty decent living out of it.

He has turned out at two Ryder Cups (the first time with another Swede, Robert Karlsson, in 2006), owns another apartment in Monaco and drives a Ferrari.

Image source, Getty Images

Down it goes for Beef. He bounces straight back from a bogey at the third by clawing a shot back at the fourth. It was a straightforward three-foot putt for the Londoner following a fantastic approach.

Bill Haas has a birdie chance of his own, but the American doesn't quite catch it from eight or nine feet out and it drifts left at the last minute. He'll stay at level par.

The ebb and flow, the ebb and flow.

Henrik Stenson gets a shot off solidly from the second fairway and has I'd say 15ft for birdie. Again, as on fairway one, Phil Mickelson follows him in but this ball is floating away right. It lands short of a bunker and he will be short sided, hardly any green on the other side of the sand trap. Get the magic wand out Phil the thrill.

He's thinking about it, walking the line, now he sets up and with a flick sends this ball over the bunker, onto the green and around the lip of the cup. So close, so good. He saves par.

Stenson squints as he lines this putt up, I'll be honest and say I think Lefty will hold his nerve better today. Can the Ice Man prove me wrong? Of course. That ball is in. Birdie.

Bill Haas just avoids the second of the bunkers to the left of the fairway with his tee shot. Andrew Johnston middles his.

Beef then pitches a superb approach to within three feet of the pin. And then nods to the approving crowd. Fantastic shot, birdie opportunity.

Fergus O' Connell: If McIlroy hadn't missed about 6 putts from inside 5 feet he would be right up there.

Steven Gordon: Late charge from Rory? Full of hope. He's effectively defending this since he missed last year with that football injury.

Rory McIlroy is now tied for fifth, four-under for the day so far.

Image source, Getty Images

As we have two men out clear of this field, we are on meltdown watch.

So we want to know of your worst golfing meltdowns? Have you ever been on for a record round and bottled it? Have you maybe handed the club championship to someone like a Christmas hamper?

Pictures, stories, all welcome at #bbcgolf.

Image source, Getty Images

Rory McIlroy has quietly gone about his business today and made a significant move up the leaderboard. He goes within an inch of clawing another shot back, but leaves an eight foot putt teetering on the edge of the cup.

Friday's winds would have probably blown it in for Rory, but instead he has to settle for par.

Peter Cowen, coach of Henrik Stenson has been speaking to Radio 5 live.

He said: "Henrik is playing well, I  am looking forward to this afternoon. 

"He has had nine top threes finishes in majors and I think he is probably due a win. If he continues his form from the last six holes of yesterday then he can get the job done.

"I will not do anything this afternoon with him, just talk sense to him and keep him calm, It is always the case with Henrik to keep his head in right place. He can win anything and he knows that.

"If your going to play a major tournament on a links course, the luck of the draw plays a big part. They have taken their opportunities and put themselves out in front. You have to take your chance when it comes and hopefully Henrik can take his chance.

"It is very difficult to win a major, when the door opens hopefully you take the chance. Henrik has never been on the lead at 54 holes."

Image source, Getty Images

Beef isn't too impressed with his tee shot on the second. Groaning as he sends it into the rough. His next shot finds the rough, too.

A 10-foot putt drifts wide, and it's bogey for Johnston at the second.

Bill Haas adds another par, a consistent start from the 34-year-old American.

Image source, Getty Images

Mickelson in for birdie on one, Henrik Stenson cannot nail his 10ft parr putt. A first wobble. A two-shot swing.

-12 Phil Mickelson (1)

-11 Henrik Stenson (1)  

-6 Bill Haas (2)

-5 Andrew Johnston (2)

-4 JB Holmes (3), Rory McIlroy (10)

Full leaderboard here., external

Now this is what I'm talking about. Let's have a slug fest gents. Phil Mickelson lands the first solid punch and it's a clean contact to the jaw.

What an iron into this first green, he stiff it to within a foot and this will be a tweet, tweet, birdie. A stunning shot, his face was a picture of determination as he ripped his glove off.

Henrik Stenson has a question to answer after his lag putt from range lands six foot short.

A great opening.

Image source, Getty Images

Well Rory McIlroy is through the front nine at four under, matching the 32 he shot on the opening day.

He birdies the ninth, and will be hoping a few more to follow after the turn. McIlroy has only landed two birdies so far on the back nine this week - plenty of bogeys, though.

Ben Dirs
BBC Sport at Royal Troon

The sun literally shining for the first time in two days as Mickelson and Stenson hit the first tee. The golfing gods sending a message: 'If there is to be a meltdown today, don't blame me...'

The Claret Jug has been sat on the side of tee one all morning. It's just been sitting there tempting and teasing these players. Everyone is now off and running, so they best get that famous sculpture back to the engraver and get Henrik Mickelson carved into it. Something like that anyway.

Birdie for Johnston! He salutes his following with a raise of the putter. A fantastic start for the Spanish Open winner, sinking that from just inside 20 feet.

He starts it slightly right, catching a the break left at the last minute to drop in to cheers of 'Beeeef' - I think we'll be hearing that a lot today.

Playing partner Bill Haas makes par. That means they are tied for third.

Jackie is back with pictures of her nine-hole course in her garden.

This is extreme backyard golf with a tricky water hazard..

Are we set for another classic Open Championship showdown on Sunday afternoon? With leader Henrik Stenson heading out alongside Phil Mickelson with only a one-shot advantage over the American, the final round is certainly full of promise.

Mickelson is five shots clear of the leading duo's next nearest challenger, American Bill Haas, and the head-to-head finale has an aura of that 1977 Duel in the Sun about it.

Then, as Turnberry staged its first Open under glorious sunshine, two of the game's greats in Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus battled through the final two rounds to pull clear of the field.

It went to the wire, and ultimately to Watson, who birdied the 18th to win by one stroke and collect his second Open title. 

Image source, Getty Images

"This is game number 41, on the tee from the USA, Phil Mickelson".

That sounds almost routine. This is no routine opening tee shot. What a chance Phil Mickelson has to win major number six. That's the stuff he needs, more tee shots like that fairway splitter. It erupted off the club face and he picked the tee up pronto, business like.

"On the tee from Sweden, Henrik Stenson".

Again it's sublime from the tee, right side of the fairway. Off they walk, no chat just yet, they've just strolled off with their caddies.