Ian Poulter looks to have his round back on track. A sumptuous iron on 10 puts him with the length of an average family car from the cup. He takes the putter head through and back in a nerve-free way and she's home for birdie. Arm raised to the crowd. He did say he was going to "feed off them" today.

Can he get there? Can he get there? Yes he can...

Image source, Getty Images

But all the stretching in the world will not make up for missed putts. Rory McIlroy has eight holes to find a lot of shots if he is to contend tomorrow. Here's a long birdie attempt on 11, good putt, not good enough.

Stephen: It is raining and dark in Crosby, headed your way to Southport.

Crosby is about 12 miles away from Royal Birkdale.

-9 J Spieth (9)

-7 Matt Kuchar (9)

-5 Brooks Koepka (9)

-4 Branden Grace (F)

Selected others:-3 , I Poulter (9), R Fisher (16); -1 R McIlroy (10), B Watson (13)

Full leaderboard

Uh oh. Where's the pac-a-mac? Sunshine still sparkles off the orange shaft of Jordan Spieth's driver, but not far behind to the south are some angry-looking clouds....

England's Ross Fisher has crept up the leaderboard with successive birdies on the 15th and 16th holes.

He is five under for the day, three under for the Championship, with the par-five birdie chance coming up the 17th...

Iain Carter
BBC Sport golf correspondent at Royal Birkdale

I have heard word that there is an amber warning from officials that there is thunder in the area.

Bubba Watson's arms are aloft on the 13th because he's just putted from Newcastle and watch his ball drop into the hole on Merseyside. That was long, that is birdie.

Kooch doesn't give his second shot enough welly, meaning he has to knock on close for a chance of a par.

Spieth controls his chip back well, leaving him with a short putt that has a vicious left-to-right swing. He reads it perfectly.

As you were.

Des Smyth
Former Ryder Cup vice captain on BBC Radio 5 live

"Poulter looks like he is playing with the handbrake on. If something good can happen, if he could hole a chip or a 30ft putt, just to release the talent we know is there and let him get on a roll."

A short birdie putt on nine is made and may give a touch of momentum. Listen to Des and the 5 live team by clicking 'BBC Coverage'.

When Jordan Spieth was packing his bag to fly over to Birkdale, he made sure his 'A game' was safely and securely in there. Off the tee? Solid. Approach shots? Spectacular. Putting? Sink-sational.

Another good drive - while Matt Kuchar goes off on an adventure left - puts him in another strong position on the ninth.

Ah... his second shot bounds off the green and goes off the back.

"It's a jumper again. Two days in a row in the exact same location," he moans.

Jay Townsend
BBC Radio 5 live golf expert

This is the greatest championship in the world. I don't care what side of the Atlantic you are on, this is the deal right here.

Henrik Stenson speaking to BBC Radio 5 live after a five-under 65 today: "It was great, reminiscent of last year's Open for me. I played my best round of the week and I am grateful for the support.

"I am still there, it is a long way to go for the later groups, if they keep getting birdies they will be too far ahead."

On Branden Grace's record 62: "We saw he was eight under playing the last. I was hoping he would get a par or better. We saw how close Phil [Mickelson] came last year [at The Open]."

On his rental home being burgled on Thursday: "The good news is I haven't lost anything more since two days ago."

World number two Hideki Matsuyama is not a man who we have talked too much about this week. A 72 yesterday did him no good, but he has fought back to three under, helping him climb up to tied fifth.

And the big-hitting Japanese players has a couple of eagle-able par fives coming up...

David Leadbetter
Leading golf coach on BBC Radio 5 live

He started off like a train everything going his way. After the fifth hole he has been very suspect.

Iain Carter
BBC Sport golf correspondent at Royal Birkdale

Image source, Getty Images

There is the slump of the McIlroy shoulders, he is eight shots off the leaders now.

And just like that, Rory McIlroy is eight shots off the pace. All it takes is one bad hole. He will look back at the 10th tonight and ask all sorts of questions. Did the adrenaline rush of nine prove too much? His bogey putt breaks away, it's a six.

Spieth is like that kid at primary school who was the best 800m runner. Luring in his nearest rivals for a second or two, making them think they have a chance, then bursting clear again.

The Texan hits the jackpot again, his putter landing more gold than a metal detector. Straight into the centre of the cup for his second birdie on the bounce.

Iain Carter
BBC Sport golf correspondent at Royal Birkdale

"It goes from the sublime to the ridiculous this round. Things are looking a bit stressful for Rory McIlroy at the moment."

Rory has gone from the tee to bunker, to bunker, to greenside rough, to the green. He has 10ft left for a bogey five. Listen to Iain and his team by clicking 'BBC Coverage' in this page.

Matt Kuchar has another chance to put some pressure on Jordan Spieth. He rolls his ball up the slope, it peers down the trapdoor and then decides to drop in. Back within one. For a few seconds at least...