American Daniel Berger does what you have to do on a par-five as he nails a short putt for birdie. Berger you may recall was the man edged out by Jordan Spieth in a play-off recently. I like his style and he seems in good touch.

Adam Chamberlain: Really hoping that Alfie Plant and Toby Tree play together at the weekend.

Fantastic recovery from Kevin Na.

Double bogey at the 13th, but he fires straight back with a long-range birdie at 14.

He's at two under.

Jon Rahm is doing the hokey-cokey in a bunker at the 16th - one leg in, one leg out...

Unfavourable would be something of an understatement for the tricky lie facing the Spaniard. He's out again, strolling round it, shaking his head.

But that's a good effort from the 22-year-old. He won't be disappointed with his position on the green. Not a million miles away from the flag. And that comes on the back of successive birdies.

We want your images of good/bad golf gear. Here, Philip brings a smile from Glenn Hoddle. Hoddle will of course know all about controversial clobber. No, I'm not referencing the many Tottenham jackets he's worn over the years, I'm talking about his clothing when singing in Diamond Lights on Top of the Pops.

I'll dig out an image.

There's a lovely mix to this leaderboard now. The class of Jordan Spieth, the promise of Justin Thomas, the hope of Paul Casey. Rory McIlroy will still have some small hope of getting in the mix as he walks on to this par-five 17th having made par on 16.

Phil Mickelson has had a bit of a torrid day and he flicks one from the long grass on 15. It's his third on a par five and it looks unlikely he'll make birdie as he leaves a long putt.

Image source, AFP

It was all going swimmingly for Kevin Na. Three under par, yet to drop a shot.

Then he teed off at the 13th. A double bogey later and the American is back to one over, tied for 22nd and the lead is suddenly a faint glimmer in the distance.

Rory McIlroy made his good approach on 15 count, missing his eagle attempt but making birdie. That's back to three over and do you know what? Hat's off to him. He's battled well.

On the 16th, both he's got eight feet left for par.

Charl Schwartzel hit the green with his second shots but has a long way to go for birdie. If they can make par here, 17 is a birdie hole, so perhaps Rory is not done yet.

Image source, Reuters

Charley Hoffman started with an eagle - the first two to ever be recorded at Birkdale in The Open on the opening hole.

The American then moved into a share of the lead three holes from home, and looked like he might go solo up top.

But after back-to-back bogeys saw him slide, Hoffman will be relieved to get out of there with a par at the 18th.

Back to the hotel, stick your feet up and think about all that was going right until the 16th...

Image source, Reuters

Phil Mickelson feels the full left hook Lady Luck can deliver as he sends a sublime birdie putt from around 40ft, judging the break cutely, only for his ball to just rest right on the lip. He can't believe it. Cruel.

-5 Spieth (after 18), Koepka (after 18), Kuchar (18)

-4 Casey (after 18)

-3 Hoffman (after 17), Poulter (after 18), Thomas (after 18), Bland (after 18), Connelly (after 18), Na (11)

Selected others:

-2 Matsuyama (after 18), Els (after 18), Ramsay (after 18), Manley (after 18), Noren (after 18), Hahn (after 18)

-1 Fitzpatrick (after 18), Johnston (after 18), Jason Day (after 18), Bubba Watson (after 18)

Image source, Getty Images

I do love this bunker on the 7th. For all its nastiness, you have to admire the fact it's a bit inventive.

Up on 15, Rory McIlroy sets up a long eagle look. Dustin Johnson went for the jugular too on this par five and pulled his ball so far left that it runs off into an area littered with golf carts, maybe even a tractor and combine harvester in there. He's pretty much fired into a farm somewhere in an adjacent county.

Charl Schwartzel is in deep rough, third shot, a bit of a sly bounce and he will have 15ft for birdie. It would have been closer but for that cruel kick.

Charley Hoffman must have International Rescue on speed dial.

Somehow he's escaped that disastrous looking 17th with a only bogey. The American looked in serious trouble. Not sure what club he took to that approach, but it may have been shaped like Thunderbird 2...

FAB.

Matt Kuchar is home. And he takes with him a share of the lead.

It was five birdies in an opening nine of 29 for the American that did it, not dropping a single shot despite running into a few more tricky situations following the turn.

He joins compatriots Jordan Spieth and Brooks Koepka in the clubhouse on five under par.

Image source, EPA

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Matt Kuchar is in danger of disturbing one of those bee holes that lurk beneath the surface at certain spots around Birkdale.

It's another trip to the threadbare rough for the joint-leader, but he's got used to playing out of the wirey, ankle-high grass in the past few holes.

Surely it's going to cost him sooner or later?

Oh, Charley Hoffman.

The American hit the top of the leaderboard and then went into absolute freefall.

He's gearing up for his fourth shot on the 17th somewhere out near the Blackpool Tower. I jest, but Hoffman's last few holes have been rockier than a ride at the pleasure beach.

He's in no man's land out with some spectators who probably thought they'd picked a poor spot with restricted viewing.

It's a long way home.