Tom Fordyce
Chief sports writer at Royal Birkdale

Sun-kissed scenes around the sixth green, a long line of spectators silhouetted against the sky on the right hand side, patrons slowly baking in the silver and green grandstand at the back, hundreds more craning and tip-toeing in the grassy corridor between the green and the seventh fairway.

Ian Poulter in the sand on the sixth

But his chip shot grazes the hole and he knocks in his fourth to save par. Wonderful by the Englishman.

Watch as young Canadian Austin Connelly holes an eagle on the par-four second.

Matt Kuchar for the eagle on the fifth then.... he fires it off left, the ball arcing round as the American skips to his right in the hope that the ball will follow. It kisses the lip but does not like it will drop. A little birdie will have to do.

Jordan Spieth has a bit more work to do for his birdie. Will playing short pay dividends? No. The two-time major winner can't convert. No real damage done, but still a mystery why he didn't want to take it on.

BBC Radio 5 live

What will the leading score be by the end of today?

On Radio 5 live, John Murray goes for nine under and Jay Townsend agrees.

Remember you can listen to live coverage of The Open from Royal Birkdale on BBC Radio 5 live.

Just click the tab at the top of this page.

Some users may need to click on the link to view the content.

It looked like Branden Grace's 62 was about to be equalled or bettered by Dustin Johnson.

But the world number one was pegged back by pars on the 16, 17 and 18th to finish with a six-under 64.

That puts the American right in the mix on three under.

Scotland's Richie Ramsay falls back down the field with his second bogey of the afternoon on five. Playing partner Austin Connelly misses another green in regulation, but saves par with a neat up and down.

Here is that record breaking scorecard from Branden Grace.

Image source, The Open

South Africa's Branden Grace shoots a record-breaking eight-under-par 62 on day three of the Open at Royal Birkdale to become the first man to shoot 62 in a major.

Interesting decision from Jordan Spieth on the driveable fifth. He's not gone for the green on the 346-yard par four.

Matt Kuchar does, however, clearing the bunkers and bounding onto the putting surface for a makeable eagle putt.

These are not the setbacks he needs as Jordan Spieth goes about his business nicely.

Rory McIlroy pays for turning his club over off the tee on seven, prompting a hook on the par three. A duffed chip from a nasty position in thick grass leaves 15ft for the save and it's beyond him.

Diane Knox
BBC Radio 5 live reporter

Remember the picture I took yesterday? The one with a few fans huddled under umbrellas, unloved soggy giant bean bags scattered around.

Image source, BBC Sport

Well, what a difference a day makes.

The atmosphere today is electric. It's hot, sunny, people are lying on the bean bags, sipping drinks and enthusiastically cheering when putts drop.

Image source, BBC Sport

Bubba Watson needs to find the after burners if he's to enter the mix up here and a bogey on eight cancels out birdie on seven for the big-hitting American. Jamie Lovemark, also from the US, makes his first birdie of the day on seven to enter red numbers. His putt from 15ft is confident and poised. He looks part golfer part catwalk model as he walks to collect his ball.

Jordan Spieth on four, that par-three with an elevated tee-box, down to a saucer-cupped green.

The Texan hits the dancefloor, but can't quite find his rhythm with the birdie putt. It veers off right, leaving with a tester back. He lines up, doesn't feel comfortable so steps back. Take two... no sweat.

No such luck for Matt Kuchar, who makes complete hash of his chip on after missing the green. Back down the ladder to five under.

I do love this fifth hole, bombs away. All of these players feel they can drive the green and both Brooks Koepka and Ian Poulter do just that. They will have lengthy looks at eagle.

Dustin Johnson's par-par-par finish thwarted him from that 62 push then but his round of 64 is terrific and as he taps in on the last, he's right in the mix. Much will now depend what the leaders do as to whether DJ has a chance of winning a second major.

Brooks Koepka nods as he picks his ball from the cup on four, another birdie downed from six feet or so. Ian Poulter alongside him has yet to find his magic dust, it's par only.

Image source, Getty Images

Much has been written about Spaniard Jon Rahm's fiery temper this week. If you missed it, Rahm is working with a man who was once a bomb disposal expert, now charged with managing his psychological state.

But Koepka has form for being a wild child too. His former University coach Trey Jones said of his former pupil's temper: “On a scale of one to 10, it was close to the top. It was way up there."

Koepka's caddie has since described the 27-year-old as "really chill." Ricky Elliot said: “Brooks could sometimes do with a little kick, like are you awake yet?"

So which Brooks will we see today? The fire or the ice?

Jordan Spieth does knock in his first birdie of the day, not with his eyes closed, extending his lead to two shots.

That breathing space might disappear in a matter of seconds. Matt Kuchar lines up a birdie putt of his own, canning it to move into outright second and shot behind his playing partner.