Ahead on the par-three 16th, leader JB Holmes hits a sturdy tee shot to the top left of the green.

It's a safe spot on this hole, and the American two-putts for par. One step closer to home.

That dream start may not last long...

Hard to sustain that level of golf on this course. Shane Lowry screams 'left' after he hits his tee shot and the ball heads for some nasty looking rough by the side of the par-four fourth.

Alex Bysouth
BBC Sport at Royal Portrush

Image source, BBC Sport

What a lovely touch from Tom Lehman’s son Thomas, who was caddying for his dad, after the 1996 Open champion finished his round earlier.

He was dishing out goodies from the 60-year-old’s bag to lucky kids who were waiting by the mixed zone.

Lehman’s entry exemption runs out this year so, after finishing Friday’s round at five over par, he may well have played for the last time at The Open!

Tiger Woods found himself in the rough to the left of the green on the 12th. He chipped on to set up a 20ft birdie putt, but the ball stays right of the hole.

The 15-time major winner gave fans a bit of hope with back-to-back birdies. The projected cut of +1 is a long way off, though.

What is Shane Lowry doing?!

Another birdie tapped in on the par-three third makes it three in a row. The Irishman is just one off leader JB Holmes now.

Image source, Getty Images

Jordan Spieth speaks to Sky Sports: "I love the imagination needed on links golf and the speed control needed.

"It's very scoreable today so from eight on I was a little disappointed as I only hit one fairway. I'll need to do more tomorrow and I image I'll be five back if conditions stay the same.

"I love this tournament. It was awesome to have the Claret Jug for a year and I hope to have it again come Sunday."

Sergio Garcia and Webb Simpson - briefly a co-leader in the first round - are under way.

Garcia plucks a birdie out the hat after a poor tee-shot on the first. Simpson is a whisker away from following suit as his putt skims just past.

Is Phil Mickelson's Open Championship stumbling to a premature end?

The American is king of the flop shot around the greens and everyone was waiting with expectation and anticipation around the second green as he pulled his 64 degree wedge from the bag.

But just like Jon Rahm who went the low route and failed twice, Lefty failed to get on the green with his first two parachuting attempts. Third time lucky for Phil but it leads to a double bogey.

Shane Lowry has come out firing! The Irishman taps in his birdie putt and is just two off the leader now.

Image source, PA Media

After a bogey on the 14th, JB Holmes' second shot lands a long way from the flag on the far right of the 15th green.

Getting it down in four for par is not going to be easy.

Jordan Spieth is ordering a lime and lemonade and a packet of dry roasted at the bar by now.

He finished with a four on 18 for a four-under round for the day.

Solid as a doctor's desk.

Shane Lowry's second shot landed short of the green on the second but his third is tip top.

He chips on, the ball lands dead and it might be two birdies from two holes for the Irishman.

Tiger Woods curls a second birdie in a row in on the 11th. He's three shots off the projected cut now, with a par five coming up.

Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer

Not exactly a sell-out crowd at Brooks Koepka’s post-round press call. Not far off one reporter per major won. Koepka says he hasn’t holed a thing all week. He mentions the word “frustrated” about a dozen times. He’s gone 68-69 and is only three behind on five under. The man has very, very high standards.

Image source, BBC Sport

JB Holmes is way off to the right of the 14th green, but gets his birdie putt to within a few feet of the hole.

The leader’s par attempt goes astray, though, and that’s a dropped shot. The American was on a bit of a run after two birdies in a row, will be interesting to see what this does to his progress.

There are birdies to be had everywhere at Royal Portrush right now.

Lee Westwood, who opened with 11 straight pars, has holed birdies on the 12th and 13th to get up to five under.

And the more players that take advantage of these benign conditions, the harder it becomes for those heading out later, with the weather forecast suggesting rain and wind coming in.

Top 70 and ties will play the weekend. That takes us down to include those at one over par...

Alex Bysouth
BBC Sport at Royal Portrush

Lots of questions about Tommy Fleetwood’s shirt...

“I like it,” he laughs.

“I thought it was normal but I’ve had more comments than I thought I would out on the course, so maybe I am more colourful than I thought!”

Image source, Getty Images

Justin Rose kicks down the door to announce himself as the newest member of the five-strong six-under party.

A eagle on the par-five 12th has given him a nitro boost up the scoreboard.

He, along with Cameron Smith, Justin Harding. Tony Finau and Lucas Bjerregaard, are three off leader JB Holmes.

Image source, Getty Images

A great start to the day for Shane Lowry! He slaps a 10ft putt straight at the hole and is in for three on the first. Four off the lead.

It’s just a par for Phil Mickelson and Branden Grace.

Justin Harding is the latest to make a move on the back nine. The South African has had five birdies in seven holes - the latest of them a rare two at Calamity Corner - and is just three back.

He started the day level par and, with two to play, is right in the mix.