Image source, Getty Images

Phil Mickelson's official Twitter account writes: "#OnThisDay, external in 2013, Lefty secured his first Claret Jug by overcoming a 5-shot deficit in the final round of #TheOpen, external"

One can't help feeling today isn't the day for such nostalgia. He shot seven over to end 10 over for the tournament this morning. He will be chilling out this weekend.

Tommy Fleetwood is playing like a man relieved of any pressure today.

He was almost carrying the weight of Birkdale on his shoulders in the first round, his chances at a home Open were hyped up that much.

The result? Six over par for the day.

Today, in tougher conditions, he's a different player. One under through 12, and sneaking inside that cut line...

John Inverdale
Radio 5 live presenter

This rain has an unrelenting look about it.

Image source, PA

Richard Bland has found himself in the rough on several occasions today.

What can he do from the long stuff on the 11th? The Englishman lofts an approach to the fringes of the green and then sends a well-weighted putt to within a couple of feet of the flag.

He'll be happy to keep ticking off the par putts on the road home.

Image source, Getty Images

Henrik Stenson runs into a problem, as does Jordan Spieth. The 14th, a par three, has too much bite for them. Stenson fired right, pitched from the rough and left a long putt short. Spieth hit the sand, fluffed one short of the pin and was off line with his save.

The lead is cut. Spieth is human.

A photo of the spectators' village, taken by our BBC Radio 5 live reporter Diane Knox, paints a sorry picture.

Image source, BBC Sport

It's all a bit soggy. Those opting to watch the action on the big screens are huddled under brollies, while those cushions don't look like they'll dry out all weekend. I wouldn't fancy lugging them indoors later tonight.

Colin Montgomerie
Former Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie on BBC Radio 5 live

Ideal four ball?

I lost my mum Elizabeth many years ago now, she played off nine.

My father always played golf, he is 87 now, he was off five and my brother was the weakest man of the family. He was off six, I was off two and I would like to try and bring back that four ball back.

From the golfing world, I would like to play Ernie [Els], Tiger and Phil Mickelson, I would love to beat them just once.

Russell Henley has enjoyed one of today's better rounds. He's one under par for the day, but will have to contend with a bunker on the 17th.

A nasty roll for the American, but you'd fancy him to chip comfortably out of there.

Four birdies for Henley today, but he did double bogey the 11th.

Now here's a stat for you. The number of birdies on the par-four 13th hole today is.... zero. The 499 yards are just too much to handle in these conditions.

Brooks Koepka and Hideki Matsuyama tee it up.

Image source, .

BBC Radio 5 live

Ian Poulter is back in the clubhouse at three under par after his second round. He battled through the worst of the weather out there to stay in contention.

"It was a stern test," Poulter told BBC Radio 5 live.

"I have nothing to lose. It is an Open Championship and I qualified to get in and I am going to try and go out there and grab it with two hands."

Some great audio on the 14th - a par three averaging 3.23 shots.

"Where'd that go?" asks Jordan Spieth. It went in the bunker young man.

"FORE RIGHT," yells Henrik Stenson. His ball starts straight but bends off like a kite in a gust. Work to do chaps.

Image source, .

Think of the dough though, hey Tim?

Watch this from Richard Bland as he gets off to a flying start with this birdie on the second to take him to -4.

The boy Spieth is playing his own sport out there at the moment. In needing to get up and down for par on 13 he flicks a pitch to within a foot. Hideki Matsuyama produces a miraculous up and down on 12 to save his par. His ball was in the thick stuff but a 12 footer gets him out of jail. Brooks Koepka played a super tee shot into this green and has eight feet or so for birdie... come on Brooks, you have to nail them. Misses it on the high side.

John Inverdale
Radio 5 live presenter

Our commentary box has started leaking.

I've seen a picture. It didn't look too bad, certainly nothing to show everyone. If it gets ankle deep though...

Now then, Richard Bland keeps giving himself the opportunities to make birdies.

Remember, the 44-year-old was tied for the lead not too long ago. He's got a birdie chance at 10, but that never really looks like dropping and he'll have to make do with a par.

Justin Rose has finally found a bit of form with the putter, can he follow up a birdie at the 11th with another at 12?

He has a chance, putting from 12 feet or so. It breaks right, but that's away from the cup and it trickles on to leave the Englishman with what should be a simple, if not certain, putt to make par.

It doesn't drop. Oh dear. A bogey for Rose.

Image source, EPA

Amateur Alfie Plant struggled down the front nine today, dropping five shots.

He's not dropped another since the turn, and now he's eagled the par-five 15th!

There are plenty of Plant followers braving the rain at Birkdale, they'll love that!

Hideki Matsuyama was going along more efficiently than the Japanese train service. I'm told you get your far for free if a train is a minute late there. If this is false, do let me know as I'll scrub a trip there from my bucket list. Anyway, Hideki has gone bogey-bogey and is back to one under. The bunker on 11 claims him and he can't make a long par save. Brooks Koepka misses a birdie look. Not a single tweet tweet all day for the big guy.

Image source, Getty Images

Colin Montgomerie
Former Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie on BBC Radio 5 live

The R&A and the Masters used to have this rule of 10 shots and thought anyone within 10 shots at halfway had a chance.

The R&A stopped that in 1991. But really, if the weather is inclement tomorrow as they say it will be, I think everyone within 10 shots has a chance.

Everybody has a chance to score two 64s and win this thing.