Matt Kuchar is firing approach shots at the pin like Phil 'The Power' Taylor fires darts at treble 20. Confidently, regularly and efficiently. Another birdie chance...

What can Jordan Spieth do in response... wow. He's only gone and outdone him. The leader pitches his second shot on three about five foot short of the pin, a gentle hop and a tap-in that a 15-handicapper could knock in with his eyes closed.

Richie Ramsay is back level with Austin Connelly, his partner in crime for the day. The Scot, playing the Open weekend for only the third time, rattles in a putt for a two on the par-three fourth.

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Dustin Johnson's dream of carding a 62 is gone. His sand escape on 17 leaves a long way for birdie and he can't produced a big putt. He would need to eagle the last to get it done. Still, as things stand he's got himself in contention.

Back on five, Rory McIlroy putts for eagle after his Incredible Hulk drive... he forgot his muscle for this one, leaving it short. Birdie it is.

Brooks Koepka sends a putt on three, this is moving and has to slow, it has to slow... or go in. Rattled around the cup and dropped, that's his dropped shot on one hauled back.

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Jordan Spieth digs himself out of hole on the second with a brilliant approach from the rough and a couple of putts.

But Matt Kuchar goes one better. The majorless American drops in a birdie to move one behind his playing partner.

David Leadbetter
Leading golf coach on BBC Radio 5 live

That is tremendous, it nearly hit the marshal who was observing the hole.

Rory McIlroy is taking drive out on the fifth. I repeat, he's taking driver out. If you're in your front room then duck as this is a par four and he's going for the green. Merseyside's bird population flee to their nests as the ball is sent into the sky. Some 346 yards are taken on with aplomb as the ball lands 15ft from the pin. That is for eagle. Birdies, it's safe to come out now.

Greg Salter‏: Amazing Grace, how sweet the round!

Andrew Priestley: Rory McIlroy is in the mood folks! In this sort of form, with this attitude; he is a joy to watch. Surging up the leaderboard.

Get in touch with all your views on the third round. Will Dustin Johnson equal or break Branden Grace's new record?

Tweet us #bbcgolf or text 81111.

Is there anyone on the course who hasn't dinked in with a wedge? Rafa Cabrera-Bello is the latest to join the pitching party, chipping in on the sixth for a birdie.

The second man chasing 62 today wallops his iron from the fairway on the par-five 17th... a touch left, a touch left... bunker time for Dustin Johnson. He can still make birdie, which would mean he'd need another on the last to hit that 62.

Branden Grace is secretly watching somewhere with a Dustin Johnson voodoo doll in hand.

Sorry Austin. We jinxed him. He slips back down to fourth after lagging his par putt from the fringe. But the Canadian will be more than happy to be two under after three.

A long birdie putt for playing partner Richie Ramsay just dribbles wide right. He stays a shot further back.

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This lad doesn't hold back. Austin Connelly attacks the third pin from the back of the green, racing it past.

David Leadbetter
Leading golf coach on BBC Radio 5 live

Rory Mcllroy must have hit that tee shot two clubs short, but nevertheless what an extraordinary chip shot.

Scatter! Spectators are ducking for cover on the right side of the second fairway. That's because Jordan Spieth has just sprayed one into the crowd. That came moments after a loud roar was heard from the fourth...

Tom Fordyce
Chief sports writer at Royal Birkdale

Bedlam around the fourth green as McIlroy's chip chased and rolled and fell in. The sort of shot to ignite a charge, the sort of reaction to be heard across the course.

Image source, Get

Oh hello. Rory McIlroy bouncing along like a ball down cart path. Having missed the green on four he dusts a wedge off and clips straight in for birdie. What a wonderful touch, the ball ran around 20ft straight in and he raises his right hand. Business like.

Up ahead, Austin Connelly grimaces on the third. "Carry!" he shouts. His ball doesn't listen. Playing partner Richie Ramsay, after opening with a bogey, levelled up with Birkdale on the second, by the way.

Rory McIlroy's heart just jumped. His short par putt on three wiped its feet alright but eventually succumbed to gravity. Dustin Johnson still has a 62 in his sight of course. A birdie on 16 would help matters but he dribbles a downhill putt and his shoulder sag in defeat as it misses. He is six under for the day and needs two shots over the next two holes to equal what Branden Grace did. Par five next.

Spieth has been knocking in from the side of the green all week... not this time. More importantly, he's left himself a tiddler of a par putt.

Birdie attempt for playing partner Kuch, his ball drift right to left at the death.

Two tap ins, two pars, two men happy with a steady start.

Spieth's second on the first, his club face sounding like it had to hack through plenty of grass before meeting ball. It's hard to control your approach from here, but Spieth manages to do it reasonably well. He's up on the back, a decent chance of an up and down.

Kuchar, from the opposite side, knocks a gentle short iron into the heart of the green.