Viktor Hovland may not be the crowd favourite today, but it's hard not to like the young Norwegian, who always seems to be enjoying himself out on the golf course.

Despite never being in this position before, Hovland is determined to enjoy himself today as much as possible.

On how excited he was to have a chance to win The Open at St Andrews, he said: "It's pretty outrageous, to be fair.

"I've never been here before so at the start of the week I was just trying to soak everything in.

"I had some lousy performances coming in so I'm glad I've turned it around and hopefully I'll make the most of it."

McIlroy retains the honour on the second. Wallop! A beauty of a drive which leaves him with a wedge into the green.

Hovland is already in the groove, too. Unfazed by seeing what his playing partner/rival has just done, he follows suit.

Blows already being traded by our heavyweights.

Cameron Smith's already looking more purposeful than yesterday. The Australian clips a short iron from 143 yards to around eight feet at the second.

An early chance to move to within three shots of the leaders. He takes it!

It's a par for Cameron Young, though, after missing a chance to reclaim the shot he dropped at the first.

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

Quite incredible there was only three yards on the fairway between them and Hovland has knocked his just inside Rory's on the green.

Anything you can do, I can do.

Image source, Getty Images

Just the one birdie in this group for Adam Scott and the rest pars - four of them for Matt Fitzpatrick so no real movement yet from this pair.

Right then... McIlroy to putt first. About 15 feet, slightly downhill. Goes down the left channel expecting a bit of turn but it doesn't arrive.

A par will do.

Can Hovland get an early bounce? His putt is going uphill and sneaks past the same side.

Take your time, Vik. Not a moment for haste. No mistake with the par putt.

Starts filed under 'solid'.

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

The weather is perfect, McIlroy will know he needs to play really well to play Viktor and hopefully he is calm inside and will settle when he sends the first tee shot down.

I think McIlroy has the advantage given that the course is a little softer. We should have a great show.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Danny Willett is in the clubhouse - but spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live:

"It is a little disappointing. Some good golf in there but a lot of chances went begging but still a great to be in a round at the 150th Open."

Conditions for later?

"The guys who hit it a long way - they are going to have a lot of chances. it will come down to the guy who will roll in that ball better than the other one.

"Between Rory and Hovland I would expect one of them to come up with a big score They have to both stay aggressive and being nervous it's possibly easier to grind back.

"They both know they will have to keep their foot down and feed off each other to that effect.

McIlroy has won majors, Hovland playing for his first - what can we expect?

"You have to let yourself dream and this is what you work hard for,

"Hovland has played great as has Rory. the confidence is high and this is a real coin toss. Rory has the experience but also a few bits of scar tissue of ones h has let slip. Hovland hasn't got that.

"The fans at the 150th Open are gong to have a good day of golf."

While a frenzy goes on all around him, Rory McIlroy is planning to block everything out this afternoon.

Easier said than done when the weight of expectation starts getting heavier by the hole.

But, speaking last night, this is how he planned to do it...

"I need to keep the same mindset that I had today and the past three days," said McIlroy.

"I need to stay in my own little world and I know if I play my game I can shoot scores like this on this golf course.

"Then, if I can do it one more day, I will give you all the superlatives if that does happen!"

The final pair's balls follow each other like a couple of excited dogs wanting to play.

McIlroy has 105 yards to go from the fairway, Hovland a little less.

Striking a pose is always a good sign that the confidence is already flowing.

Both men admire their approaches and with great justification.

Lovely knocks and both are eyeing up makeable birdie putts.

Oh dear, that's exactly the start Cameron Young was hoping to avoid.

He leaves his long birdie putt short and misses the tiddler down the hill for his par!

Cameron Smith's birdie attempt fails to threaten the hole, so the penultimate pairing fail to send a big roar back to the first tee.

Alex Bysouth
BBC Sport at St Andrews

In the great roar-off on the first tee, it’s unsurprisingly Rory McIlroy who takes first blood - a procession of encouragement following him down the fairway.

Warm greetings between the two rivals who need to be ice-cold on the course.

McIlroy and Hovland bump fists before the Northern Irishman pegs up first.

Not before the pair wish each other all the best.

Heck of a roar as McIlroy's name is announced. Any nerves in the opening tee-shot? Not really.

Down on the fairway will do very nicely.

Hovland bashfully waves after a warm reception but looks slightly concerned as he watches his ball fly off.

Don't worry! All good.

There's naturally a lot of talk about Rory's quest to end eight years of major championship hurt today, but it could be an enormous day for Viktor Hovland.

Were the cheery 24-year-old to triumph, he would join Suzann Pettersen as Norway's only major winners.

Pettersen, who retired after holing the winning putt for Europe at the 2019 Solheim Cup, won two majors during her glittering career: the 2007 Women's PGA Championship and the 2013 Evian Championship.

Hovland has failed to return a top-10 finish in his 11 major appearances, but he has a great opportunity to become the first Norwegian man to clinch one of the game's big four.

Image source, Getty Images

Ooooh, Tyrrell Hatton's just rolled in a lovely birdie putt at the sixth.

He's rolling his rock today, folks! Four under through six. Five back.

Nothing doing on the first hole for Scheffler or Kim as they both have to settle for pars.

Scottie rips his drive on the second that defies gravity by just skirting the front of the bunker despite it looking for all the world like it would roll into the trap.

Tour colleagues, Ryder Cup team-mates, Open playing partners. Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland know each very well.

Both are side-by-side on the putting green, looking to settle any lingering nerves there before stepping out onto the first tee.

McIlroy said the pair fed off each other yesterday, creating a special afternoon which captivated St Andrews.

Same again please.

Cameron Young goes long with his approach into the first. Two putts will do from there.

Cameron Smith, on the other hand, zips his effort back and he'll have a much more presentable chance for a three. He three-putted the opening green yesterday, so that will doubtless be fresh in his mind.

Watson-Nicklaus. Norman-Faldo. Mickelson-Stenson.

Will we be able to add Hovland-McIlroy to the great Open duels?

Eighty-one down. Two left to go.

Strap yourselves in, folks.

Alex Bysouth
BBC Sport at St Andrews

Rory McIlroy has arrived on the putting green, to the delight of those watching on - he drowns a long putt and an “ooh!” goes up. Viktor Hovland is just making the walk across the bridge to join him…