There are low numbers everywhere around St Andrews now, especially around the loop and at the start of the back nine.

South African Dean Burmester is ripping it up today, as he cards his fourth birdie of the day at 13 to go along with his eagle at five to put him on six under so far and 11 under for the tournament.

If only he hadn't thrown in that second round 73 he'd be right up there challenging.

A couple of birdies for Smith and Young at the fifth and they get to within two!

This is going to go right down to the wire, isn't it? Not sure any of us on the good ship BBC golf live text can handle it.

Have we just seen the first sign of nerves from Viktor Hovland?

Thought the Norwegian had ice intravenously pumped in.

The conservative approach on the fourth proved costly.

Hovland had gone through the past 26 holes without a bogey - the last previous one was on the 13th in his second round.

Everybody and anybody can play golf. Just check out BBC Radio 5 Live's Andy Stevenson, with his specially crafted five-foot driver...

Image source, BBC Sport

Andy will be conducting the post-round interviews that you'll hear on the coverage this afternoon that you can access via this webpage.

Professional Zane Scotland, who will be out on the course this afternoon as a summariser, had a swing earlier and Andy is hopeful a certain Mr DeChambeau might stop by in a couple of hours...

Image source, BBC Sport

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

We can feel the tension that is starting to build in this group and they don't want to miss now.

It was a really great effort from McIlroy for a safe par.

Pressure is back on Hovland - That's a big mistake to then three putt to hand the initiative to Rory. and with the big par five coming up.

Alex Bysouth
BBC Sport at St Andrews

Better put that jacket order on hold.

The flag on the fifth is 85 - yes, 85 - yards on from the front today.

Cam Smith can't get his second anywhere near it, while Young goes left.

Looooong putts coming for both of them.

Chances of holing this are slim for McIlroy, but an excellent weight leaves him tapping in a par.

Pressure back on to Hovland... he's missed it. That's the first shot he's dropped since about Friday lunchtime.

Rory McIlroy has the outright lead of the 150th Open!

Remember when he said he planned to play 'boring' golf this week? Boring is roaring at the moment.

Alex Bysouth
BBC Sport at St Andrews

There will be a bumper order coming in for one of these jackets if Viktor Hovland lands the Claret Jug today…

Image source, BBC Sport

He's missed four birdie putts already and after his first real mistake of the day, Scottie Scheffler now misses a par putt and records a rare bogey on one of the easiest holes on the course today.

Scheffler's played well tee-to-green before that but can't buy a putt. This start could already have ended his slim chances today.

Hovland has about 75 feet left to the hole. More lumps and bumps ahead than a bowl of school rice pudding.

Someone of his talent will be thinking he should have got his approach much closer. Very little wind down there.

A tricky tiddler left...

John Murray
Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live

The bearded American is in the groove now after his bounce-back birdie, and the two Camerons are now both a little closer to the leaders than when they both started.

What would winning the 150th Open at St Andrews mean to Rory McIlroy?

Simple. Everything.

It has been a long wait for another major title, but the Northern Irishman says he is convinced this can be the time to end the drought.

"I'm a better player than I was [eight years ago] and I'm a better player now than I was 12 months ago," he said.

"I've got a lot of belief in myself, I've done it before and I know I can do it again. I need to stay in my own little world, shoot a good score and hopefully that will be enough.

"It would mean everything because of everything I've been through in the last few years and trying to get that fifth major."

Cameron Young is statistically one of the finest drivers on the PGA Tour and he's just absolutely annihilated one down the fifth. He'll be thinking eagle now!

Cam Smith's isn't bad either, but he's not quite as long as the American. Driving tends to be one of his weaknesses, but he's been shifting it well around the links this week.

These two are flushing drives with the ease of a computer-generated golfer.

McIlroy uses his nous around the Old Course to good effect with the approach, flighting it over the bunker and giving him another chance of a birdie.

Hovland, perhaps his inexperience here showing, goes more conservative.

He's on the dancefloor, but watching from the periphery as McIlroy gets his groove on.

Hello...It's four birdies in seven holes for Jordan Spieth who just creeps up again into fifth on the leaderboard on 12 under and just four shots off the leaders.

It's a wonderful short iron in from 125 yards that sets up the birdie - and if we know anything about Spieth it's that when he gets on a roll he can do incredible things.

Cam Smith's fortunate to avoid the bunker that guards the fourth green, but he judges his lengthy birdie try well. Par.

But Young has a great look for a second consecutive birdie after a lovely approach - and he drains it!

The New Yorker moves into a tie for third with his playing partner.

Alex Bysouth
BBC Sport at St Andrews

It took a while for the birdie putts to start dropping for Rory McIlroy yesterday. Today it feels like there’s a tension in the air - not generated from the players, they’re trying to remain calm and collected, more the invested onlookers who are still none the wiser about who’s going to make their move first…

Iain Carter
BBC golf correspondent on Radio 5 Live

From around about eight feet - and oh my word how did that not drop? Hovland can't believe that.

After that delicious approach for the lead - McIlroy missed - the ball just dived to the left.

Frustration for both of them, they had big, big chances there.

And if they can't take their chances, will anyone else take advantage?

-16 Rory McIlroy (3), Viktor Hovland (3)

-13 Cameron Smith (3)

-12 Dustin Johnson (5), Cameron Young (3)

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