"Get in the hole!" shout the feverish fans.

That's pushing it, but Rory McIlroy's drive on the last is satisfying for both player and crowd.

McIlroy is up in the Valley of Sin just shy of the 18th green. The Valley of Death would be worse.

If making birdies is sinful then sign me up. Because he's got a chance here, too.

Alex Bysouth
BBC Sport at St Andrews

That birdie took this crowd from an 8.5 to a 9 and from “very excitable” to “dangerously giddy”. Imagine if he grabs another on the last…

My word! The fans celebrate like they have just been told Happy Hour is extending.

Beers will be on McIlroy if he wins the thing on Sunday.

Heck of a birdie putt from the Northern Irishman, moving him back to 10 under and outright third place.

While those behind him raise they hands into the air like they're going down a log flume, McIlroy gives a steely clench of the fist.

Oh, he means business. And business means finishing with another birdie.

Hovland splashes out of the bunker and it was very nearly another birdie for the affable Norwegian but he safely drains his putt for par.

Thomas has a slow putt up the hill. The gentle groans tell you all you need to know as he misses his birdie putt chance, but is safely down for par.

Lowry is in need of a steady finish but he skirts around the cup and finally coaxes the ball down for a double bogey - ouch. That hurt.

You have to feel for Collin Morikawa. We've seen his beaming smile so often over the past year, but he's been made to feel really unhappy by the dastardly Old Course.

Although sympathy may dwindle when you remember he told BBC Sport back in May he knew little about the Old Course, despite it being one of the most famous on the planet.

Anyway back to McIlroy, who is hovering over his birdie putt..

Here's some McIlroy magic from earlier...

Alex Bysouth
BBC Sport at St Andrews

A group of well-oiled fans are trying to squeeze “there’s only one Rory Mc-Il-royyy” into that iconic chant, and I’m not convinced it’ll catch on…

On the roar-ometer, that throaty celebration in response to his splendid approach into the 17th green was a solid 8.5, file under “very excitable”.

Digging about in the sand is exactly where Xander Schauffele is. But on the evidence of his bunker play so far, even the most fearsome trap in golf might not pose him too many problems.

Alex Bysouth
BBC Sport at St Andrews

We’ve seen a few drop into Road Hole bunker today. That would be a horrible way to spoil a leisurely evening round…

The shadows of the stands are covering the 17th fairway, with the golden rough beyond glistening in the setting sun. Beautiful.

After Schauffele tries to punch his way up onto the green and Morikawa's troubles continue, it is McIlroy's turn to show them the way from the first cut of rough.

"Woah, sit. Sit. Sit," pleads McIlroy

It listens. His ball hits a downslope, taking the sting out and leaving with a tough but makeable birdie putt.

Andrew Priestley: The cream always rises to the top at St Andrews, and one glance at the halfway leaderboard proves that fact. We’ll have fireworks on the weekend.

The light might be dimming at St Andrews, but the enthusiasm of the crowd certainly isn't.

Huge roars greet each of the tee-shots from the 17th as all three players nail their lines.

McIlroy's ball scurries through the fairway and into the light rough, however.

Graeme Storm
Two-time European Tour winner on BBC Radio 5 live

It has been a little bit disappointing for Collin Morikawa. He has struggled with pace into the greens and his driving has been a little bit erratic.

What a sandy save by Schauffele, by the way. Incredible.

Alex Bysouth
BBC Sport at St Andrews

There a different levels of roar when a golf balls drops into the hole, and that was a relieved one from the Rory fans around the 16th green.

Cue the chants of “Rory, Rory, Rory!”.

“Come on mate, eagle required…” one helpful punter advises him en route to the next tee.

For the likes of us (presuming you're also an average club golfer), this is a testy par putt.

For Rory McIlroy it is meat and drink.

The Northern Irishman converts his par putt and has two more holes to move even closer to the two Camerons.

Ohhh, that is a golden touch. Schauffele gives us a masterclass from the sand. No let up in swing speed, clean clump of sand and enough check to leave him with a short par putt. Superb.

McIlroy has the putter out, but it is a long birdie chance. Perhaps he was annoyed with himself that he wasn't closer.

A steady knock up is the sensible approach.

From a similar position, Morikawa also comes up short and it is a sign of his troubles that it is met by near silence.

McIlroy definitely carried the bunker, not sure if the concern was over the lie.

Seems to be OK, though.

He knocks over the bunker where Schauffele has landed and, even though he grunts his displeasure, he is up on the green.

HOLD THE PHONE!!!

Viktor Hovland has just holed out from the fescue rough down the left of the 15th and jumps to nine-under!

Unbelievable scenes.

What a way to enter the conversation: birdie-eagle. Takes him into a tie for third alongside Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson.

Alex Bysouth
BBC Sport at St Andrews

Rory McIlroy spent a long time crouched down on the tee box after his drive, trying to see whether he carried the bunker, I imagine. His caddie gave him a nod, whether of approval or disapproval we’ll find out in a few moments…