Ian Poulter flew through the first couple of days at The Open on a high having reached Birkdale as a qualifier.

It's not quite happened for the Englishman today, as he begins to make his way down the back nine at one over for the round.

Poults said he had "nothing to lose" when he was right in the mix heading into the weekend, he could do with rediscovering that carefree attitude with seven holes to play.

Jordan Spieth might need to buy a bunch of flowers for one spectator lined up on the left side of the sixth fairway. That's because the fan looks to have been clocked by Spieth's wayward drive, stopping the American's ball skipping into the Birkdale jungle.

Matt Kuchar's short irons were more effective than a orchestral conductor's baton yesterday. Today he's out of sync. Another short approach on the fifth leaves him with plenty to do, but he runs it short and converts for a par.

Jordan Spieth's putter has been letting him down today, but not this time. He's back on the birdie trail. Is that the catalyst for the leader to take control again?

We've not seen Brooks Koepka smile yet today. That's probably because the US Open winner is struggling to find greens.

It takes him three strokes to make the short stuff at six, and again Koepka is forced to scramble par with a mid-range putt to stay at four under.

Rafa Cabrera-Bello has his reflective shades on, the ones that give that oily effect when you're looking at them.

The Spaniard has a clear sight of the green at the eighth, though. He guides an approach just beyond the flag and watches it fizz back towards its target.

Birdie chance then for Cabrera-Bello from five feet. Straight as you like, right in the middle of the cup. He's on it.

Second-placed Matt Kuchar was talking to Sky Sports before he teed off.

The American said: "There's no sense in me worrying about what Jordan does. If he goes out and plays well there's nothing I can do.

"(If I'm still three behind) With three holes to go I may have to change strategy. I'm not here for second."

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Finally Rory McIlroy nails a birdie on nine. Hats off to him, he's knocked on the door for one all day and a 12 footer or so finally gives in to him. Five behind. surely not?

Jay Townsend
BBC Radio 5 live golf expert

I didn't expect this. I thought the worse case scenario would be Spieth shooting a 71 and he still might, but right now he is three over through four holes and 71 would be a heck of a score.

He is hitting the ball well but his putting is letting him down and he is arguably one of the best putters in the game.

What's going through Jordan Spieth's mind right now? He's started bogey, par, bogey, bogey. One more bogey and he's equalled his tally for the rest of the week.

He's pulled his drive left, with Kuchar just ahead in the middle.

What response can he muster? A brilliant one. The Texan flies a short iron through the still Merseyside air, pitching his ball about pin high and five foot or so to the left of the flag.

The chamomile tea of golf shots.

Just the four birdies to finish. Timely charge.

Image source, Getty Images

Is that world number one Dustin Johnson or Hollywood actor Bradley Cooper?

Image source, Getty Images

Alex Noren will be interested in the leaderboard now will he not? He wedges into around six feet on 10, that will be for his par. This is a guy with nine European Tour wins, five of which have come in the last 18 months. He knows how to win and he drains the par save.

Rory McIlroy is yet to make a birdie today but he will again have a putt for one on nine after a lovely strike.

Brooks Koepka won't be needing that post-Open trip to a north west beach, he's seen enough sand to last him all week already on Sunday.

It's a bunker behind the green again at five, but the American deftly helps that on to the good stuff and holds par with his next shot.

Austin Connelly also finds himself in the sand, and then leaves himself short with a long putt for par.

It looks like the nerves are getting to the young Canadian.

Jay Townsend
BBC Radio 5 live golf expert at Birkdale

This is amazing. You can hear the murmuring of the crowd. No one expected this. People expected fireworks.

Over to Jordan Spieth... going down in two is not going to be easy from here. He lags it a little short and it will another testing six footer. Like the one he missed on the previous hole.

A little left to right, needs a firm shove... he's undercooked it!

Up comes Kuchar, confidently converting his par putt.

Jordan Spieth and Matt Kuchar are now co-leaders! Hands up if you saw this coming after four holes...

Matt Kuchar winces as a wedge full of sand comes flying back into his face. It will taste sweeter than a tin of pineapple though when he sees where his ball is. About the length of an electric can opener from the hole on four.

Rafa Cabrera-Bello has the chance to put some pressure on the faltering leaders.

It's a birdie opportunity at six. There's a collective hold of breath as he sends he it sprawling towards the pin, but that's not hitting the target - another par, the Spaniard's sixth of the day.

Matthew Southgate has been on the move today.

He likes the seaside, but the 28-year-old is more used to balmy Southend than blustery Southport.

Birdies at 14 and 15 have added the Englishman to the mix, he's up to three under with three to go.

As Jordan Spieth and Matt Kuchar falter briefly, Branden Grace wedges in close on five. He has a really nervous action, fidgeting around over the ball before impact. Even when his ball is in flight he's eyeing up and down frantically. The South African has eight feet left for birdie. Misses the putt, a waste.

One man not wasting a blow is Li Haotong who takes a massive divot on 18 to stick his ball into six feet. Converted. Clubhouse leader. He has come in under the radar and fired a 63.

Superb stuff.

Image source, Getty Images

Jingle jangle. The nerves are going in the final group as they attack the first of four par threes on Royal Birkdale.

Matt Kuchar, looking to atone for that error on the previous hole, goes for another play in the sand.

That leaves the door ajar for Jordan Spieth, who has an empty dancefloor to go for. He creeps on, but has a monster putt for a two.