Follow our live blog from Royal Birkdale as the Open Championship continues

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Leaders: -12 Spieth, -9 Kuchar (18), -6 Li (18), -5 McIlroy (18), Cabrera Bello (18) -4 Southgate (18), Leishman (18), Noren (18), Grace (18), Koepka (18)

1840: I've got to write a report on that. No clue, but I'd better start.

So it's farewell from Royal Birkdale at the end of a stunning Open Championship.

The first shot back on Thursday went out of bounds. From then, Spieth assumed control. Meanwhile, Grace shot the first 62 in men's major history.

Onto Sunday, and the lead was soon gone. At 13, the Claret Jug looked to be slipping from his grip.

And then Jordan Spieth did something incredible. What a champion.

Thanks for reading.

1839: Jordan Spieth is the 146th Open champion. What a stunning performance, the greatest achievement of a career packed with them already.

That was golf of the gods, the like of which comes along once a decade, if that. Special moments from a special young man who, at 23, is one step from a career slam.

1838: Bogey Kuchar.

1837: Spieth lags to a foot. Drink it in, Jordan.

1836: Cruel for Kuchar - he's plugged. Third is wrapped up anyway so this is just a case of establishing the margin of Spieth's victory. It won't go any distance to telling the full story.

He splashes out to 40 feet or so.

1835: What a special walk and one Spieth could surely not have envisaged enjoying when, 90 minutes ago, he started looking at where to drop his ball on 13.

This has been one of the greatest fightbacks ever seen in golf.

1833: Kuchar may never come closer to winning a major, but boy this was some effort. He finds the bunker. Spieth is about to win his third major. One more for the career grand slam.

1832: Sounds like he's trying to put this in the mouth of the green. Here goes. Not wasting any time...

Perfect. That's 40 feet away and, unless Kuchar holes his second here, should be enough.

1831: Spieth is way back of Kuchar. He has 220 yards to Kuchar's 179. Kuchar needs a two-shot swing.

1829: I find it hard to fathom that Spieth is under-par today. If he pars 18, he breaks par all four days, two bogey-free rounds, one Claret Jug.

1828: He's momentarily worried as it heads towards the bunker, but correct course management means it's well short. A long second awaits but at least he's in play.

Kuchar goes right, flies the trap, but doesn't clear the rough. Good angle, but not on the fairway.

1826: Iron this time. Sensible call. Backs off it.

1826: One more par needed for Spieth. It's been some battle, this.

Do not miss right. OOB is lurking there.

Yesterday he ripped his best drive of the round over the right-hand trap...

1825: All the pressure on Spieth now. 18 is a tough driving hole. Part of him must surely have thought he'd got this after the drives on 17. Or did it? He's good at staying in the moment.

Here we go for birdie...

Rams it in the back. Wow.

1824: Kuchar. Makes it. Sensational effort.

1822: Almost holes it. Six feet. It's pretty simple now: this is must-make for Kuchar.

1821: Spieth now, from the fairway. How aggressive dare he be? The pin is tucked just over a ridge, so it's easy to leave this 20 feet short.

He says to Greller that they definitely need to get onto the top tier. He wants to hit this 52 yards...

More drama. He pauses mid-downswing as a camera clicks. He laughs about it. Nervous laughter?

1819: It's a good shot from Kuchar, from the semi, to around 15 feet.

1818: Koepka pars the last for a round of 71, while Connelly's is a 73 after a 6-5 finish. Koepka finishes tied for sixth, Connelly T14.

Just one group left on the course.

1817: Kuchar puts his weight behind it and gets up within wedge range.

Spieth now, 239 to the front, and he plays a clever shot to around 50 yards. It's now a wedge contest and all the swings from one to Kuchar to one to Spieth are possible.

This is not over just yet.

1815: Spieth can just about get to the green if he wants to risk trying. It's not an easy shot by any means and sensible would be to lay up.

Kuchar has the same yardage but a bad lie and will be pitching forwards around 120 yards or so I imagine.

Or will he? The crowd are being asked to stand back, but that does look like a wedge to me.

1812: Kuchar also misses the fairway. I'm still shaking my head here.

1810: It's a push off the 17th tee which opens the door for Kuchar.

1808: This is for-the-ages stuff from Spieth. People accuse me of saying this stuff 'because I'm on him' but that's just tosh. This is just pure sporting greatness, who cares who you've backed or who you haven't backed.

There have been few comebacks like this, in this space of time, in this sport's history. This will be referenced, should he finish it off, for years.

It's one of the best runs of golf ever played in the circumstances. 

1806: In it goes.

1805: Spieth, then. This for a two-shot lead. It's an outside chance, no more, even in his hands.

1805: Kuchar then, can he produce some magic? No, but from where he was that's solid, to three feet. They're not easy in this situation but that should be a par.

1804: It's a par and 72 for Matsuyama. Not his day to day, but rest assured his time will come.

1803: All numbers from Wood to Kuchar, but Greller is telling Spieth he wants to 'see that posture' again.

From around 10 yards closer, he hits it pin high to 30 or so feet. Sensible, mature shot. Others - and I include Rory in this - would, for better or worse, keep attacking after 14 and 15.

Spieth plays the right shot so often. 

1801: Kuchar first, and it's fun to hear his caddie go through things. Wood is one of the most respected in the game and his instructions here are clear, firm, reassuring, everything his man needs.

From 162 yards, Kuchar holds the finish... but it's short and the ball trundles off the front. Not a disaster as the wet fringe has held it up, but the door is ajar for Spieth.

1800: Stenson signs for a round of 70, that's enough for 11th at the moment, a fine title defence especially considering he was burgled on Thursday.

Alongside him, DJ shoots 77. Ouch.

1758: What an Open Championship.

1757: Another fine drive from Kuchar. If - and it's a big 'if' - he doesn't win this, make no mistake: some might call him a nearly-man, but he's been superb here. He has not backed off a shot.

1756: Needs to calm down. I said that on the 15th tee and he went and made eagle. If Spieth makes 4-4-4 that should, in theory, win him the Open.

If he makes 5-5-5 he'll likely lose it, and all this majesty will be of limited significance.

Off the tee on 16, he loses his footing and it's left, but that looks alright.

1755: Grace (-4) and Hideki (-2) both birdie 17. Does it matter? Well, yes. if Grace can birdie 18 je'll sneak a full place for us. We've got one in the bag with Leishman it seems. And, somehow, Spieth is leading. I've no clue.

1753: Not swearing here is hard. This is sensational. How is it possible? How can a human being do this? It's beyond the realms of my comprehension.

1752: MY WORD. EAGLE SPIETH.

1751: What a shot from Kuchar. That's all the way to the flag and he'll have at most three feet for birdie. 

1749: Cabrera Bello can only par the last. It's a 68 and he will end in a share of fourth with Rory. Nobody from behind can get past them now.

That means, at worst, Haotong Li will finish third in the Open. That's the best finish by a Chinese golfer in the history of the men's game. Brilliant.

1748: Spieth. Gets the 'great club' nod from Greller. 257.

It's just inside the bunker and he'll have 50-something feet for eagle.

1747: To 15. It seems clear now that it's a head-to-head. Li might have sniffed a chance as they took to the 13th tee, but surely not now.

Kuchar first. 260. Wind off the right. Likes to cut it. Perfect for him... but that's greenside sand. No disaster but a lengthy bunker shot.

1744: RCB is not OB. That make sense? Yes. Great shot, Rafa. He'll have 15 feet to tie the clubhouse lead.

Kuchar alongside Spieth in the fairway. He's been so good today.

1742: While all this was happening, Cabrera Bello looks to have gone out of bounds at 18.

To 15, Spieth, who needs to calm himself now... and it's one of, if not the best drive he's produced all day.

1741: Makes it. Wow.

1740: Kuchar now for birdie... good try, just short. That's par. Spieth has five feet, maybe six, to tie the lead. He hasn't putted at all well today, remember.

1739: As in that's one of the greatest shots I have ever seen. No recency bias, it just was. The 14th is playing 200-odd yards. It is tough. 

1737: I'm an emotional person, I have to confess. I want to cry with pride for how Spieth has dealt with what just happened. I don't know the bloke. It's stupid. But that was spine-tingling. Just a sensational shot, the type most players can't dream of hitting ever in their lives in the circumstances.

Still work to do, maybe six feet for birdie. That was stunning. 

1736: Spieth is over it quickly. Very quickly. I think he likes it. Oh my god. Nearly holes it.

1735: John Wood, Kuchar's caddie, says "I really like this one, Kooch."

Just what you want to hear on this tough, 201-yard hole when it comes to club selection.

Kuchar now. The best chance he's had to win a major. "Gosh, darn it," he says, as ever. It clings to the green, 50 feet away.

No time to be a hero here, Jordan. Find the green. Get the shots back on the par-fives.

1734: McIlroy pars 18. 71-68-69-67. Quail Hollow, watch out. He could win that doing handsprings. If he isn't favourite, back him until he is.

1733: Bogey. What a bogey. It took half an hour, that hole, and at basically every point from tee-shot to green he looked set to take six. It's a five, damage is limited, and there are five holes left to repair it.

1732: Spieth has a putt for bogey. I can't stress how big it is. Should it go in he has a massive chance to produce one of the most famous Open wins there has ever been. Miss and Kuchar knows he's a handful of pars from the Claret Jug.

1731: This is a real chance for Kuchar. Take away what Spieth is up to, he has 20 feet max, maybe 15, for birdie on this brutal hole.

Here goes... and it hangs out to the left. Par.

1730: Kuchar waiting patiently for his birdie try. So many permutations here but surely Kuchar leads by one, two or three walking off.

Spieth then. Fourth shot. That's so good, all things considered. The eight-foot putt coming is massive. Obviously. Tournament-defining, perhaps.

Cabrera Bello birdies 17. Grace bogeys 16.

1727: Here we go. Spieth. He hates it, and he comes up short of the greenside bunker. To be honest I assumed when he hated it, that meant bushes.

So the situation is this: if he gets it up and down, that's bogey. It would be a miracle bogey. If he takes three, double. He can't hole it. Can he? No. Surely not.

By the way it's an awful spot he's in. Very close to the green but short-sided, just the worst place to be if you're going to be that close.

1726: Game over for Rory you'd think, after an awful drive on 18 finds thick, wet rough.

1725: This is among the most incredible things I've ever seen on a golf course, probably the most incredible since van de Velde in fact.

1725: Spieth has asked Greller to get him 125 yards in, or thereabouts. His caddie has gone to the top of the hill.

Spence thinks he's going for the green. I do not. Near certain he's laying up. We'll see.

1723: While all this is going on, Connelly goes birdie-birdie for three-under. A nice fightback following a double at this 13th hole which Spieth is playing. If 'playing' is the right word.

1722: Li is on the range. Don't blame him. He's likely to be short, but after this hole he might well have just one player in front of him.

Spieth now racing up hills looking for a line. He has 260 yards to the green having finally dropped it. Most of the 260 are over bushes if he were to go directly. Must aim left, see if he can leave it 50 yards short of the green in the fairway.

1721: After that eagle, Rory will be left to rue a bogey at 15. He'd have been expecting an eagle putt there, too.

1720: Approaching 20 minutes since he hit and Spieth is about to drop the ball between two trucks. Staggering.

1719: Grace doesn't birdie 15 and with that his hopes may have gone. Needs something like a birdie, an eagle and a prayer.

On and on this saga goes at the 13th. Working out where he can drop it.

1718: Noren makes a great par at 18, brilliant save to post four-under.

1717: This feels like the sort of thing players don't recover from (on the day, I mean). I just can't conjure an image of Spieth winning this thing and smiling about that incident on 13. It doesn't compute. 

1716: Spieth is down onto the practice ground. Miles and miles and miles away from the green. This is bizarre, images which may one day haunt Spieth more than Augusta 2016.

1715: McIlroy eagles 17. It's surely too late - he needs birdie at the last else he'll finish behind Li.

1714: Spieth is taking an unplayable. The slope is so steep that he can't take a stance. Double-bogey now favourite. He's got limited options with his drop, too.

1713: Grace now, playing his second to 15. I was about to say he's not out of this but a massive hook left surely takes eagle off the table.

He may need to birdie home.

1712: It's better than that, running to around 20 or so feet for birdie. Could be as big as a three, four-shot swing, depending what Spieth can do next.

And there are rules officials present. Not sure why, maybe to do with crowd control.

1711: Kuchar first. Middle of the green must be the aim - he knows that would likely mean the lead. He has 205 yards downwind. Iron in hand.

1710: They've found it. Spieth is miles and miles away from the fairway here. As in, 80 yards. His head was in his hands when he hit that drive.

The next shot is key. He can't possibly hit the green, surely. He must avoid bunkers. Bogey here and he's still bang in it. Double and it's a mountain to climb.

1706: Kuchar has gone favourite for the first time.

1705: This could be the tournament. He hasn't hit a provisional but the crowd were searching extremely thick grass for that. Not many options if he wanted to take an unplayable, so even if they do find it, he may have to take a swipe at it.

1703: Wild, wild drive by Spieth at 13. I'll let Ben deal with the fallout.....

1702: Only a par for Noren at 17 after a timid birdie putt from 12 feet. He stays at 4-under and T4.

1700: Kuchar and, more surprisingly, Spieth both leave their birdie putts short at 12. A little bit of tidying up to do but it's the third straight pair or pars on the back nine for the two leaders.

1655: Noren's second to 17 drifts right and he's short-sided himself with a bunker in between. Birdie tough from there. A little bit of rain in the air now.

1653: On to the par-3 12th. Kuchar pulls 6-iron and finds the green but, like a lot of balls today, it's long. Better than most though and he'll have 25 feet for birdie. Spieth takes a more aggressive line and has about 20 feet left.

1650: Excellent birdie attempt from Kuchar at 11. It's always never doing enough to curl in but it was mighty close at the finish. Solid par putt from Spieth and they walk to the 12th locked at 8-under.

1648: McIlroy makes a birdie with his second ball at 15 but the loss of the first means that's a bogey six. Back to -3 and T10.

1647: Spieth has a clear path to the green but he's short-sided himself. Can he stop his third in time? Chipping back into the wind will help. Excellent effort and he's about four feet away. Crisis over.

1645: Mr Steady, Matt Kuchar, finds the 11th green but Spieth tugs his approach into the spectators. Trouble there and a big test of those short-game skills.

1642: Rory's ball on 15 is actually declared lost. He's played a provisional and still isn't on the green in four shots.

By contrast, Austin Connelly, who was spotted in a Chinese restaurant last night, makes back-to-back birdies at 11 and 12 to get back to 3-under. 

1640: Spieth and Kuchar chat away as they head down the 11th fairway... which makes sense given their balls are side by side on the short grass.

1638: Ben has downgraded his 'Spieth will win' levels to 'probably'. I sort of agree.

1636: Spieth and Kuchar trade two-putt pars at 10 and, with eight to play, they remain locked together at 8-under, two clear of Li.

1634: Search party out for Rory at 15. They've found his ball but there's an awful lot of spectators to clear before he can plan his second.

Kuchar and Spieth have been given a 'polite' warning about their pace of play. They're not on the clock but need to step on it a bit.

1631: Kuchar just off the 10th green with his second, Spieth finds the edge of it. Birdies unlikely for both players but both should make par.

At 15, Rory's tee shot goes as far left as any shot I've seen this week I think. It is a par five though.

1629: Noren finds sand off the 15th tee and puts his third in a bunker too. A bogey looks likely but a super up and down keeps him at 4-under with three holes to play. Now seven players tied for fourth.

1627: Casey finishes with a 67  and that's him in at -3 and in solo 11th. A shame he had that poor second-round 77 on his birthday. His other three laps of Royal Birkdale were 66, 67 and 67.

1626: Kuchar fans his tee shot miles right but it clears all the trouble and lands in a path trampled dry by spectators. Spieth goes way left but, again, he gets a break and has a decent lie.

1624: I've just Chinese TV filming by the 18th fairway. Their man Haotong Li is sat in the clubhouse at 6-under and, it's not impossible that he's on a score that could make a playoff.

1621: Wow. Two-shot swing and it's in favour of Kuchar. Spieth three-putts, missing a three-footer for par, while Kuchar nails his birdie try. An outward half of 3-over 37 from Spieth and it's allowed Kuchar back into the game. With nine holes of the 146th Open to play, it's all square and all to play for. 

1619: Cabrera-Bello taps in and he's back to 4-under. Up at 18, his Spanish compatriot Sergio Garcia ends with a bogey. It kind of sums up Sergio's week. Heavily fancied to challenge, he's never got in a blow and is currently down in T35.

1617: Superb approach by Kuchar to about 10 feet. Somehow got his ball below the hole to the front flag. Spieth's response is pretty good too. He'll have about 15 feet so it's one of those if one makes and the other doesn't moments when it could go either way.

1616: Cracking tee-shot by Rafa at 12, not far from the week's first hole-in-one. That should be a bounceback birdie. Talking of those, Paul Casey has just made three straight to leap to 3-under and T10.

1615: Yes, it's surprising I haven't come to blows with Ben over our respective tips. I guess I've felt all along that Spieth would win so Kuchar's play seems like a bonus. We shall see.

1614: Right folks, last time I put you in Dave's hands, Spieth made birdie. Dave has put up Kuchar this week so he might not want to pull off the same trick twice, but I'm secretly hoping he might...

1613: Kuchar right, Spieth left from the ninth tee. Spieth has put that in the same spot he's put it every day so far.

At 10, Grace finally gets something going with a lengthy birdie putt. He joins the throng at four-under.

1610: Good save, Rafa. Bogey and he needs to fly to win this but that would've been chances completely gone had he missed.

1609: Kuchar now as Spieth misses... that's a chance gone from 10 feet or so. Spieth should tidy up to keep his two-shot lead.

Cabrera Bello in trouble at 11, looks like at least one and maybe two shots are about to go as his fourth goes eight feet long.

1606: McIlroy pars 12 as Spieth fails to take advantage of a monster drive at eight, going 40 feet long with a 67-yard wedge.

1602: Leishman pars the last for a 65 and he's tied fourth, a big group now with five others.

All these guys on four-under and out on the course will have one clear goal in my estimation: beat Li's six-under clubhouse lead.

1559: Shaky start and hardly perfect since, but Spieth has just nailed a drive a long way down the eighth as the wind really starts to blow.

There's a little grin on his face and he knows the tournament is still in his hands for now. 

Kuchar also finds the fairway, likely a good 30 yards behind.

1557: Not the end result Fleetwood had been dreaming of for months, but he's walking up the last to a standing ovation and, at +1, has done really well after a nightmare start on Thursday.

1556: Spieth saves par and leads by two. Birdie Noren at 13, a fine putt from distance and that's a shot stolen on a brutal hole.

Rory's came at 11 and from 20 feet and change.

1555: Kuchar's birdie try just - and I stress just - holds up at seven. Spieth faces another one of those short-but-testing ones.

1555: Birdie Rory. 

1554: Southgate celebrates like Poulter in '08. Sensational. Hugs all round after a 67-65 weekend for a current share of fourth. Take a bow.

1553: Southgate for birdie at 18... gosh, he's rattled that six-feet long. Could be costly.

1552: Don't know who the PA's Phil Casey has backed, but he's waving his fists around like a madman, in celebratory fashion. Waiting to see some sort of eagle.

Maybe it's Koepka, actually, as the US Open champ matches Hideki's birdie at eight after a monster drive.

1550: Spieth asks the wind to leave his ball alone at seven, a wasted quest, but the end result is fine: he'll have 40 feet perhaps, on the correct level.

Kuchar now and that's an aggressive line. What a shot! Fifteen feet on this really demanding par-three.

1548: Matsuyama cans a birdie at the eighth. It's been all good but for that hideous start.

Ahead to 18 and Southgate's second. It's pretty good and 40 feet short.

1545: Kuchar now for par and that's short. Spieth's lead will be back to two if he can hole a three-foot putt, which can't be considered a given right now.

Birdie Leishman at 17. He's tied fourth and I reckon that's a place in the bag if he can par the last (10 places). Let's hope for a birdie so everyone wins.

1544: For the second time today, Kuchar plays a very good long-range bunker shot, but this one was extremely difficult to get back to the pin and he's only just inside 20 feet.

Connelly bogeys seven. Stenson and DJ bogey eight. For all that we've seen Spieth drop shots, the final three groups have only produced two birdies: one Spieth, one Kuchar.

1542: Bogey Koepka and a good one in the circumstances.

Wow, how pumped up is Southgate?! It's Reed-at-the-Ryder stuff. Be great to see him birdie the last for a 64.

1542: Spieth now from around 35-40 yards, a fluffly lie to a back pin...

That is so good under the circumstances. Three feet.

1540: Southgate birdies 17. Huge performance, this will seal his card for next year. He's four-under, tied fourth.

Koepka has six feet for bogey at the seventh.

1539: No backing down from Kuchar, who is standing on the bunker, ball below feet in thick rough, but with a three-wood or hybrid in hand.

It goes straight right, high as a kite, and probably into a pot bunker. It could be plugged if it landed straight in.

1538: Spieth can still get up to this green with three-wood if he hits a nice low one, the sort of shot he usually relishes. It's a good lie albeit on dead grass, just keep those feet steady.

Bunkers short, rough all over, this will be phenomenal if he can get it on the green...

In the end not a bad result, as he finds the light rough just short and right of the putting surface.

1537: Cabrera Bello is bidding to become the second player this decade to win the Scottish Open and follow-up in the Open, and has an outside birdie chance on nine.

Back to six, Spieth has 262 yards left. Repeat: 262 yards. Kuchar has 224.

1536: Tips-wise, all of my emotional focus is on Spieth. I don't care about the rest. But you might, so here's this:

Leishman is tied for sixth, two to play. If he can finish 4-4, that should secure a top-10 finish, and we were on 10 places with Sky Bet.

Grace is tied six, tipped six places. Matsuyama is tied 15th and not yet out of the running for a place if he can get going.

Four chances of a return. I'll take just one: Spieth winning.

1534: Kuchar has a break - his ball isn't quite in the bunker, it's on the bank. Whether he can get to the green from 200 yards, potentially standing in the sand, remains to be seen. But it's better than in the bunker for sure.

1533: Noren bogeys 11. Not sure how, but it's a five on the scorecard and he's back to three-under.

Spieth now on six and that's a pull-hook into the crowd, on dead, trampled grass and miles back. Kuchar hits driver and that looks to have found the fairway bunker. Problems for both the front two.

1532: Also, six is brutal, so birdie at five gives that little boost at the right time. Up at the green, Koepka makes a good par save after a heavy-handed first putt.

1531: Spieth... makes it! That was needed. As a backer it's not so much Kuchar to be honest. Not that I'm not worried about Kuchar, but in a head-to-head there's a long way to go.

But Spieth's mistakes have allowed some others to creep into it and that gap back to fourth, now five, feels important.

1530: Birdie McIlroy at nine. Five back.

1529: Cabrera Bello makes birdie at the eighth to get within four, replacing Grace after a sloppy three-putt bogey at six.

Kuchar's birdie try flies past the hole but soon hits the brakes and he'll have four feet back. It's about six, maybe seven for Spieth.

1527: I knew Dave taking over for one update while I popped to the loo would do the trick. Hopefully he makes the putt.

1525: Spieth gives his approach the eyes and his ball drops down about five feet from the pin. Great chance to get one back. Modest shot from Kuchar in response.

1523: A bit better from Spieth as he just barely misses the fifth fairway. Good angle to a back-right flag.

No idea what score wins this. I reckon nine-under must have a great chance and that brings in those guys at four-under, if they can do something like Li.

The Chinese kid made all seven birdies from the eighth, so there could be some fireworks on this back-nine today.

1521: Leishman and Southgate make birdies to get to three-under and just five back now as Kuchar finds the fifth fairway. This hole isn't driveable today.

1520: Cardinal sin from Thomas Bjorn as he calls Koepka's bunker shot 'literally impossible'. Koepka, of course, pops it out to 10 feet and makes the par.

1519: Spieth is still odds-on at 8/13, with Kuchar 15/8 - that's the latest from Sky Bet.

They make Li 25/1, for those who like to side with the clubhouse leader and watch others suffer.

1518: Misses. And again, he was up and out of it early. He's not scared the hole yet. +3 through four and the lead has gone as Kuchar saves his par.

1517: Okay, alarm bells are now ringing. Spieth's approach putt comes up 10 feet short. If that doesn't go, the lead does.

1516: Li, a very popular young man on the European Tour, is smiling from ear to ear and why wouldn't he? That special round, the best of his career to date, came alongside bona fide legend Ernie Els.

1515: Splendid shot from Kuchar, who flies it all the way to the pin. Well, all but five feet, and he'll have that for par.

Now the pressure is on Spieth to two-putt, this time from on the green.

1514: Li makes it for a 63 and the clubhouse lead. What a sensational effort.

1513: Li! He has about six or seven feet for birdie at 18. That would get him within three. He was 12 - TWELVE - behind Spieth when teeing off four hours ago.

1512: Love Kuchar. "Stay left, left... get a good bounce... good bounce... nahhh, not a good bounce."

If he could just type that stuff out I'd be able to put my feet up. Bunkered next to the fourth green.

Spieth now. One hand off the club... not as bad as it may have seemed but 60 feet short on the green. 

1511: Big chance for Grace coming up at five after a really good approach. He's doing best of the final few groups and will be four back from six if that goes in.

Ahead to 18, Li's tee-shot is an absolute ripper. Birdie for six-under... well you never know. I wouldn't leave for a while. Maybe go and play the slots on Southport pier.

1509: It's four feet minimum, in fact it looks like five. Then again, they always look longer when you're on, don't they?

Spieth, then... and he misses. Wow. Didn't see that coming.

1508: Kuchar for the par... misses. Wow, that broke hard across the hole. Wonder if it'll play on Spieth's mind. Firm and straight, Jordan.

1507: Spieth is taking his time over this. Spence reckons he'll be 'shocked' by the start he's had, which I think is way overboard. Again, he's scoring about to field average here.

Anyway, I won't dispute this is pretty important and he lags it delicately to four feet. Not dead, but that's one half of job done.

Pars at four in the penultimate group.

1506: Noren birdies nine to get into a tie for fourth.

1506: Another birdie from Li. Sensational stuff and he's a par away from 64. Currently third, that would guarantee a top-10 finish, surely. Especially the way this rabble are playing right now.

1505: Kuchar from sand, and that's pretty good albeit he doesn't carry the ball as far as he expected to. He'll have 10 feet for par, maybe. Spieth next.

1503: Will Smith update: intrepid colleague - well, peer, because he's working for ESPN - Matt Cooper has been chatting to some girls, as usual, and they reckoned they had seen Big Willy earlier. Will Smith. I can just imagine him being mates with Kuchar.

1502: Spieth now into the third, he wants it to sit but goes through the green. It's not bad from there, much better than short, and an up-and-down which could kickstart his round.

First error from Kuchar, who pushes it right into the trap.

1500: A tweet from Scott, who says: "Spieth needs to settle here, and settle quickly #Openblog"

I'm not sure he's not settled to be honest, Scott, but I know what you mean. The reality is he's played the first two as well as those in third, better than Matsuyama and DJ, better than Fisher...

It just so happens that Kuchar played them as well as anyone this afternoon.  Do feel like par at three is important though.

1456: Kuchar takes three-wood off the third tee. He's been faultless so far, really, and that's another beauty to the left half of the fairway. Perfect.

Spieth now and he takes iron as the course firms up. It's right, into the rough, and far from ideal given a front-right pin.

1455: Par for Connelly at the third and it's matched by Koepka, who plays a beautiful bunker shot to 10 feet and makes the putt. As you were, off to four.

1453: Scoreboard in the media centre says Spieth birdie while we watch him lining it up. The three is then removed. No idea what, if anything, that means.

Anyway, after a look from all angles, he misses. That's two putts gone sliding by and the lead is down from three to one.

1452: DJ is four-over through four holes and +1 for the Open. Staggeringly poor start to the final round and all chance of a second major gone.

Connelly's second to the third is good and he'll have 20 feet for birdie, with Koepka working for par after a poor approach short and right, into a dell.

1450: Just a nine-iron for Spieth... and what a reply that is. He'll have around eight, maybe 10 feet for birdie.

Troon II?

1449: Kuchar now at the second, into a breeze off the right but that's quite nice for a little cut, which he likes.

Here we go, six-iron, don't miss short... wow! Inside a foot.

1448: Grace's putt from 50 feet at the third is heading in, but runs out of gas. Another par and he's playing the best golf of the leaders right now.

1447: So, with the field through the first confirmation that it's playing the toughest hole out there today.

Plenty still have to go through 13 and I'd imagine they'll switch positions, but even so the first has shown its teeth for the first time since Thursday.

Silver Medal winner Alfie Plant signs off with a 73, +6 overall and a brilliant week. Next stop the Walker Cup.

1445: Pars for Koepka and Connelly at the second. In the grand scheme, one-over through two is pretty good. Stenson bogeys the third. Still waiting for a birdie from the last six groups. They're a combined +14.

1444: Really nice, confidence-boosting start from Kuchar as he drills a low drive down into the first cut at the second.

Spieth now and, with a little help from the bank, he splits the fairway.

1442: Another birdie for Li! He's tied for third and still has two to play.

1441: Spieth is prowling over this putt.

"The way Spieth has been putting this week..." begins Spence. Wasn't watching when he missed six of these yesterday then, I guess.

And he misses another of them. Bogey.

1440: Kuchar knows that if he can get this up and down, the lead will likely be two. He chooses putter and it's good, inside three feet on a great line.

1439: This time, Spieth has a lovely lie, but it's 50 yards and over a bunker. Downwind. I don't see him getting it inside 10 feet, but this is Spieth, right?

Here goes... and it's a good, sensible shot to around 15 feet, no more.

1438: Not a single birdie from the final six groups as yet. Combined, they're 12-over - that's before Spieth and Kuchar register their scores. Erm.

1437: Kuchar also misses the first green. He's in a much better spot than Spieth, not far to the right of the green and on the short grass.

Ahead to two and Grace is up and out of it quickly as a chance goes begging.

1436: "A really horrible lie," says Jamie Spence. Spieth can only thrash at one and it goes way left, into the crowd, some way short of the green. Odds-on an opening bogey.

1434: Birdie! A birdie! It's from Noren at six. And there's one from Poulter at five, too. They're three-under and two-under respectively.

1433: Nope, bogey Koepka. Brutal start here.

1432: Spieth's drive is just a shade left and seems to sit down in a thick section of the rough. Not ideal. He liked it, too.

Bogey Connelly, but it looks like a par for Koepka.

1431: Here we go then. Kuchar. Spieth. A potential two-way battle for the Claret Jug. Kuchar into the first cut.

1429: Hao-tong Li is also bogey-free today through 15 holes, and a birdie there puts him into a share of sixth. Magnificent from the young Chinese.

DJ's woes continue as he bogeys the second.

1426: Confirmation that Scott has carded the sole bogey-free round of the day so far, a 67 to get to level par. Solid, unspectacular effort from the one-time major winner.

To the first and Koepka... it's pin high but off the green to the left, on a downslope.

Connelly's approach, from an upslode, runs and runs into the DJ/Matsuyama bunker.

1423: Connelly chooses driver and barely carries the bunker, but it now looks fine. Up ahead at the green, Grace two-putts for his par but it's a lip-out for Matsuyama, and that's a seven. Wow.

1421: Iron off the tee for Koepka and that's a wise call. He misses right, but the club choice means it's perfectly safe.

1419: Grace's second to the first trundles onto the front of the green. That's a good result following a poor tee-shot and he should make a cherished par.

1418: Hideki's fourth is poor, into DJ's bunker. Better lie, but still, six or seven rather than the three or four he would've been looking for.

Good news if, like me, you've backed Connelly without the final pairing today. Bad news if, like me, you've backed Matsuyama each-way. Confusing game, this.

1416: Day, DJ and Schwartzel have all doubled the first today. All major champions. Ryder Cup player Sullivan made seven. Hold on tight.

Looks like another par-save from sand for Rory at the third.

1415: Awfully tentative from DJ and it's a double as he misses from three or four feet.

Erm, hardly a start which suggests Spieth should be worried about anyone but the man next to him in the final two-ball, under way in 15 minutes. Stenson par.

1413: DJ's fourth to the first is perfect for pace and he should escape with bogey. Matsuyama would love one of those but there's a chance he might manage it after a perfect provisional.

1412: World number two Hideki Matsuyama next to tee-off. And he'll get another go in a minute, because that's gone directly into a thick bush to the right of the fairway. Awful shot.

Yesterday's man, Branden Grace is next. Another 62 would still require Spieth to shoot his worst round of the week to win outright. His drive is left, lucky, and safe.

1410: DJ's second to the first is really ugly and he'll face an even uglier third from sand. In fact, he has to go out sideways and is staring at bogey - if that.

Rory misses the third fairway. No sign as yet of yesterday's fireworks.

1407: 'My' = Ben. Sorry, should've said hello. Back in the chair here for the next part of the round as Fisher starts 5-6. Ouch.

1406: On McIlroy, this is hugely encouraging with regards his PGA prospects. He could be bidding to deny Spieth getting to the career slam first there at Quail Hollow, which is added incentive and can't hurt.

Given his two stunning wins at that course, and the signs he's shown here, Rory is the man to beat next month in my view.

1405: No repeat of 1998 for Rose as he can only par the last despite a fine approach. At four-over, it's another disappointing Open Championship. He's yet to match that tie for fourth as an amateur. Next year will mark its 20th anniversary.

Par McIlroy. Great save, again.

1404: Rory's bunker shot is pretty good considering the difficulty level, but he'll still face at least six feet for his par.

Up ahead, we could be on the verge of a first bogey-free round as Scott birdies 17 to move to three-under for the day.

And back to the first, that's a miraculous par from Cabrera Bello. Drive into cabbage, second into rough, third to 20 feet, fourth in the hole.

1402: Stenson's drive on one is perfect, as you'd probably expect. He's really found a grooze over the last 24 hours and the same is true of DJ, whose drive kicks right and into the first cut.

1400: Adam Scott seems to have been playing the 17th for about 40 minutes. Meanwhile, back at the second hole and Rory finds sand.

1358: Bubba has now had five 3s in a row. He'll need to eagle 15 to keep that streak going but we saw one from Xander Schauffele there earlier. 

1355: The wind is definitely picking up a little. Spieth and Kuchar now warming up. It's 35 minutes before they head out in the 39th and final match of the day.

1353: Ramsay thins his bunker shot horribly at the second but is hugely fortunate as it canons into a mound and rolls back onto the green. He spoils a lovely story by missing the par putt. Bogey and back to two-under.

1351: Important par putt for Rory at the opener. He strokes it in from six feet and avoids an early mishap. Stays at -2, nine back. Fisher's slides by from 12 feet though and it's a bogey.

1350: Zach Johnson swallows his first bogey of the day, at 14, to fall back to -1. Adam Scott still bogey-free with two to play.

1345: Oh Sergio. Gets too cute with a bunker shot and it rolls back into sand. With his next, he overcompensates and leaves himself 15 feet. He misses that and, I've lost count a bit, but it goes down as double bogey on the scorecoard but possibly a triple on the TV. He's now at +2 so each-way hopes fading.

1342: Richie ramsay sinks a 10-footer for birdie at the opening hole and the Scot, who grew up playing links golf in Aberdeen, is 3-under and up to T7. Poulter's birdie putt hangs on the lip.

1341: Ross Fisher goes with iron but finds rough. He's wearing pink incidentally. A two-ball based on kids sweets' colours.

1340: Rory wearing a vivid yellow shirt today as he prepares to tee off at the 1st. That shirt would work well at Augusta. Just a thought. Anyway, he pulls driver and finds the first cut of rough down the left but that's just fine.

1336: Another birdie for 2015 Open champ Zach Johnson, the latest at 13, and he's four-under on his round and two-under overall. No bogeys either.

1335: Bubba starts the back nine 3-3-3. That equates to two birdies and a par although he was coming off bogeys at 6, 7 and 8. He's +2 overall.

1332: Noren's birdie putt stays left so it's an opening par for the Swede. Fowler holes a testy one for his par after missing the green. He's good at those. In fact, is there anyone better?

1329: England v Scotland on the tee now as Ian Poulter and Richie Ramsay prefer to hit. Poults was furious with his 71 yesterday while Ramsay expressed delight at his 70. Perceptions and expectations eh.

1326: Spieth looks out of sight but can Alex Noren launch a charge today and grab a top five? He closed with a 62 (the hipster's score these days) to win at Wentworth and has a birdie chance coming up at the opening hole to get to -2.

1324: A lot of folk would have been on Sergio each-way - especially with 10 payout places - and he's creeping closer. Four pars and a birdie so far today and he's -1 overall and in tied 15th.

1322: Leishman's birdie-2 at the seventh came via a holed bunker shot. A tough one too.

1320: Rickie Fowler launches his opening tee-shot down the fairway. Looks a bit like one of the orange-clad marshals today. Think I preferred when the marshals wore blue but not enough to start a poll about it.

1318: Marc Leishman, he of St. Andrews lost in a play-off fame, appears on the media centre leaderboard in T11 after three birdies and four pars in his opening seven holes. Currently winning the top Aussie market by two from Scott Hend. Jason Day a further shot back after a doubl bogey-birdie start.

1315: Dave here again. Just back from outside where the weather is still officially lovely and people are wearing t-shirts. Quick observation, Jimmy Walker looked incredibly miserable. I know he hasn't had a brilliant week but a closing 70 was decent enough. By contrast, playing partner Martin Kaymer looked positively chipper, raising his hat to the crowd as he walked up 18, about to shoot 68.

1314: Another birdie for Scott and he remains one of just two players who have played nine or more without a blemish today.

The Australian is now one-over for the championship and will have eyes on finishing under-par, with two par-fives to come including 15, which is next.

1310: Big cheers as Beef birdies the third to get back the shot he gave away at one. He's level once more and on the fringes of his second Open top-10 finish.

1309: Day, then, for bogey... and he misses. That's the fifth double or worse at the first hole today. Don't go right.

1305: Disaster awaits off the first tee today, just as it did at the start of this championship.

We've already had a seven and a number of sixes. And now, Jason Day is forced to play his provisional after losing his first attempt way right.

His fourth is solid one but that looks like a six for all money, which would put Leishman in command of the top Aussie market.

1250: Another birdie for Zach Johnson, who turns in 31 - the fourth player to do so today. He's under-par for the championship.

When Zach won the Open at St Andrews, one of the enduring images was of Spieth celebrating with him on the flight home, despite having come up a shot shy of the play-off as he chased history.

If Spieth goes out in 31 today, could that be job done?

1245: Beef starts with a bogey, I'm afraid, but there are early moves from Chris Wood at two-under through five, Marc Leishman at two-under through three, and now Paul Casey, who birdies the first.

Conditions still beautiful. Wind is coming but it will affect all of the contenders, remember. Not just the leader.

1240: Let's all hope for a silly-low score from Andrew 'Beef' Johnston today.

Within the actual golf media, you won't find a bad word said about him. But on a certain radio station and between two IF WE SHOUT IT MEANS IT'S TRUE pundits, he's an appropriate target for name-calling vitriol.

Reminder: Beef is a European Tour winner who then went out to the US and earned a PGA Tour card. He's got an Open top-10 to his name and is just outside it again this year. He's still only 28, not much older than Rory.

That he's also happy, jovial, friendly, charitable and the rest is surely a great credit to a player who had a really difficult time in his late teens. In fact it's downright incredible what he's achieved.

But yeah, go ahead and lay into him for retweets. Berks.

1237: Like all good each-way bets, Ernie Els is on course to miss a place by one in the top former champions market.

Only four of the 14 (or was it 16?) made the cut, but with Stenson -3, Rory -2 and Zach Johnson now level following a long-range birdie, Els is struggling at +3.

Really frustrating, but to be honest the bet was based around an inkling that Stenson and Rory might struggle. Got that wrong, so can't really grumble.

1230: It's been a whirlwind six weeks for Xander Schauffele, who you suspect is here to stay.

First, he finishes fifth in the US Open. Then, he birdies the last to win his first PGA Tour title. Now, on his Open debut, he's eagled the 15th to get to level.

The 23-year-old Californian, who was a top-10 amateur before turning professional, is going to cause headaches for sub-editors for many a year.

1225: Back to reality, Sky Bet make Jordan Spieth 13/2 to go bogey-free today.

Context: he's been bogey-free in two of his three rounds so far this week, but of the 20 groups who've played six or more holes, only one is bogey-free and he has nine to play.

With the wind set to increase and there being huge pressure on Spieth, it seems unlikely. But 13/2? It's at the very least tempting.

1223: It's a bird, maybe a falcon, called Jet, apparently. Employed to keep seagulls away. Wasn't aware we'd had a seagull problem in here to be honest.

1220: They haven't let Will Smith in, but they have let some sort of parrot in. And I don't mean John.

Seriously, there's some sort of wild bird in the media centre.

1218: This is a story, all about how, my media credentials, they got turned down.

Chinese whispers could well be at play here but word has it that Will Smith - yes, that Will Smith - has just been refused entry to the media centre, where he'd hoped to grab something to eat.

Admire that level of security. "I don't care who you are, pal, if you're not writing an Open blog you're not coming in."

1216: Someone just asked for the latest on the so-called Major's Cup, an award (well, accolade...) which goes to the player with the lowest combined score across the four majors.

Said player has to make the cut in all four and here's how I see the leaderboard:

-22 Koepka
-18 Kuchar, Matsuyama
-12 Fowler
-11 Spieth
-6 Hoffman
-3 Stricker

1210: I tipped Yikeun Chang to beat a big name on Saturday and he couldn't manage it despite playing well enough.

Today, he's bogey-free and two-under for the round through eight holes, which is enough to hold Adam Scott by two. Drat.

Speaking of tips, I've got a 12/1 shot (someone did say there's now some 16s in a place) ahead of today's action, rather than get stuck in to a two-ball again.

Click here for my take on the day's best betting opportunities.

1208: Tommy Fleetwood was among the first off the tee on Saturday, but he's only just gone today after a third-round 66. He's playing alongside Marc Leishman and the pair hit solid tee-shots.

What else? Well, if you want to recap yesterday's fabulous round from Spieth, and get my verdict on the state of play for this week's betting tips, you can click here.

1205: First, some stuff to get us all up to speed.

The weather is glorious right now. Hot, sunny, calm - just perfect. It's only the fact that the course is firmer and the pins trickier that means we won't see another 62, one day after the first.

We've seen a 64, though, thanks to Aaron Baddeley, and a 66 from Sung Kang.

As with each day so far, holes 12 and 13 are playing toughest. Six is also tricky and we've had some big numbers at the first again, including a seven and three sixes.

That tee-shot would bring ordinary folk to their knees. Jordan Spieth is no ordinary folk. He's out in the final group with a three-shot lead at 1430.

1200: Hello and welcome back to our coverage of the 146th Open Championship.

Ben Coley here (and there, if you like that sort of thing), ready for the 18 holes which separate Jordan Spieth and a first Claret Jug.

This is by no means over, but in terms of ideal outcomes after 54 holes, well it'd have been hard to ask for more. He leads by three to Matt Kuchar, seeking his first major, and there are another three shots back to third. 

2000: Right folks, keep your eyes on the site for a report and tee-times and please join us for the final round. I hope Spieth runs away with it, I really do, but Opens are not over after 54 holes.

See you from midday Sunday.

1950: Spieth leads Kuchar by three, and is a 1/4 chance with Sky Bet to win his third major.

Without getting ahead of ourselves, that would see him head to the PGA Championship next month searching for a career grand slam at 24 (he's 23 now, but turns 24 next week).

Just put that through the system for a moment. Staggering. And don't forget he's been runner-up in a couple, too.

Not to discount Kuchar. He was brilliant but for one hole today, he really was, and playing with a friend must help. He also doesn't have to deal with the pressure of leading. Playing chief pursuer must suit.

The rest? They need Spieth to do something he hasn't done all week: fail to break par. If Spieth cards the 69 he managed on Friday, Koepka or Connelly would need to shoot 63 from the penultimate group for a play-off. Not happening.

If he shoots the 65 of today, or of Thursday? Good night.

1945: Kuchar misses. Sensational finish for Spieth, hard on Kuchar, but, well, wow. Spieth is magic.

1944: Great players do great things on the greatest stages. Spieth cans it. First putt he's made from any sort of distance all day. A bogey-free 65 from the lead.

1943: If you told me Spieth would shoot a bogey-free 66, Kuchar would make a double and a bogey, yet the lead would be halved, I'd have said stop wasting my time.

But if Spieth misses - and it's closer to 20 feet - and Kuchar makes his from seven or eight, that's what will have happened.

1941: Spieth now. Does he try to answer, keep hold of the two-shot cushion?

Yes, and while he hates it having pushed far too close to sand, his ball just cushions in to around 15 feet. A fitting end for both of these would be to pop these in as they've been by far the best of the final few groups, bar Connelly that is.

1939: Kuchar's angle is better on 18 but he's miles back of Spieth and in the first cut off a downslope. It is, therefore, a truly incredible shot to six feet. As good as it gets to chase one up close. Wow.

1938: It's been a battle for Poulter today and he emerges fairly unscathed thanks to a lengthy par save at 18. That's a round of 71 to sit two-under overall.

Now, Koepka... he misses. That's a bogey and the gap from Spieth to third is five, from three this morning.

1936: Koepka in a bit of bother at 18 and, not for the first time today, will face a 20-foot par putt. Made one, missed one so far, that I recall at least, and this one is to keep him alone in third. Whatever happens he'll play with Connelly in the penultimate group tomorrow.

1934: Kuchar's tee shot just sneaks away from a fairway bunker at 306 yards on 18. Some juice in that one from the Joker.

Spieth now, he's avoided bunkers from the tee all day, and rips one over the top of them here. Big drive, that, and while the flag is tight to the right, he can attack it should he wish to.

1932: As Kuchar taps in, worth noting Spieth needs a four or better at 18 for his second bogey-free round of the week. He's taking bogey out of so many holes by first avoiding pot bunkers, then hitting greens.

1930: Ramsay joins Connelly in making birdie at 18. He's two-under, which is a share of 11th currently.

Back to 17 and Spieth for birdie... it misses. He'll feel somewhat aggrieved given the first two shots and the lead is back to two, as it was at the start of the day.

1928: Good bounce-back coming from Kuchar after a perfect bunker shot to two feet at 17.

Spieth next, much tougher despite being in the same bunker. He has to get it up very quickly and, as predicted, he's come up short. No more than 15 feet for birdie.

1927: Austin Connelly birdies 18 for five-under and will play in the penultimate group on Sunday, on his Open Championship debut. Sensational.

1925: "That was three feet from really good, Mike," says Spieth, as he finds the same bunker as Kuchar at 17. Harsh on both and Spieth's may well be the tougher shot off a downslope. Easy to see a defensive shot coming up short next.

1922: Looks like a birdie coming from Koepka at 17 after a really nice pitch onto the correct level. Poulter first, though, and his attempt just misses. He remains two-under.

Koepka steps up from six feet and makes no mistake. Four back.

1921: Perfect drive from Spieth at 17 and Kuchar follows him down the fairway as rain returns in force.

1920: I missed the following email from friend-of-the-show Gary...

"After Emiliano letting us down yesterday I have rowed in with Jordan outright. He's playing so well I can't see him shooting less than 3-4 under today, that leaves the rest including non winner Kooch with a lot to do to get close. 

"Rory too far back in my opinion, expect 1-4 Jordan at 7pm!"

That was four or five hours ago. Spieth is now 1/4 in places, 2/7 with Sky Bet, whose prices you can find here.

1917: Merry crowds obviously searching for someone to root for with the locals struggling to make a serious impact, and there's a massive roar as Connelly makes his putt for a birdie at 17.

Rory meanwhile has 30 feet or so after a great approach to 18 considering he had no lie, no angle, etc.

1916: Spieth's putt just dies left but that's a good par, one he'd have certainly taken when ball left clubface off the tee.

That's 16 holes down today and the closest he's been to trouble came at the first, when he got up and down from the back of the green.

Kuchar misses. He was briefly level through 15. He's three back through 16. All because of a fairway bunker.

1915: Kuchar now for par and that's quite some way short, albeit far from the 12 feet claimed in some nearby quarters. About eight I'd say. Anyway, not good.

Spieth now for birdie...

1913: Good par save from Bland at 18 and he's one-under through 54 holes of his second Open appearance, at the course which gave him his first some 19 years ago.

Lovemark also shoots 70 after a bogey and he's level.

1912: Divine from Connelly. So impressed with him this week. Something about Birkdale throws up a superstar in the making in contention and he's this year's. Five feet for birdie at 17.

1911: Rory goes right off 18 but is safe - albeit in a place from which getting inside 10 feet would need help from some kind of spiritual overlord.

Kuchar pushes his third to 45 feet. Torrance lists the possibilities: "Could be a two-shot swing. On the other hand Kuchar could make it and Spieth could miss. Or they could both two-putt."

All true.

1910: Almost, almost for Connelly at 17, his bullet three-wood trundling right into sand rather than left onto the green. Up and down needed for birdie.

Back to 16, where you don't miss left, Spieth hits his approach pin-high, 20 feet right. Ideal.

1908: It's raining, it's pouring, Rory isn't scoring. Just a five at 17 as he misses from 10 feet. Two-under and in need of a miracle says Torrance. Not quite that but he's a long way off the lead here as Kuchar splashes out of sand at the 16th.

1906: Joost Luiten and his lacquered hair are level par, just outside the top dozen or so. Basically exactly where they are almost every week.

1905: Top former winner update: Stenson -3, Rory -2, Els +1, Zach +2. Hopefully Ernie can shoot something good tomorrow.

Big hook from Spieth on 16 but he must've aimed way right because it's only just missed the fairway. Not his best but - and I'm sorry for repeating this - how often are his misses in the best place?

Tiger built a career on that.

Scrap that nonsense, I'll try again.

Tiger used to do that a lot.

1903: I can see a rainbow. Nice line from Jamie Spence: "Pot of gold for someone on Sunday night."

At the moment it's going to be Spieth or Kuchar, but the quality of the peleton is sufficiently strong so as to ensure we don't call this a match play situation for a while yet.

Kuchar misses right off 16, straight into the bunker. It's playing fairly short today so it's not a certain bogey, as can be the case when you find those, but he'll be working hard for his par.

1901: Good recovery from McIlroy and he'll be pitching up the 17th green with his third to the par-five. In the group ahead, both Bland and Lovemark make fours to move under-par for the championship.

1859: Solid approaches from Koepka (-5) and Poulter (-2) to 16. Both will have half chances for birdie from just inside 20 feet.

Now to Spieth, for birdie at 15... makes it! Fist pump. He knows that was big.

Rain extremely heavy which will delight those in the clubhouse.

1858: Kuchar's putt is straight, pretty well, and up the hill. Big chance despite the 40 or more feet and this is to lead... but it comes up short. Tap-in birdie, though, and for now he ties the lead.

1857: Really difficult to get this putt close. Here goes... and he's failed to do so. Massive putt coming from nine or so feet for birdie.

In essence he hit the putt just too far to the left, missing the main spine of the green, so it just stayed out there and went long. Rain pouring now. Storm could be on the way.

1856: Way right from Rory off the 17th tee. It's no disaster but he's going to struggle to reach the green from there, surely.

Now over to 15, where the final group are putting for eagle. Kuchar's is slower, breaks less and is closer. But Spieth is a magician, isn't it?

1855: Last Sunday, Cabrera Bello shot 65 and stole the Scottish Open title. One week on, I doubt another 65 will do it, but a 62 might after he birdies 18 to finish at three-under. I'd say 'vamos' but I'm not a total berk.

1853: Kuchar is really asking questions of Spieth, the latest by finding 15 in two. He'll have 45 feet for eagle and you'd think that's a birdie as good as written on the scorecard.

Spieth now. As I said, this feels important. It's a fine shot, but he doesn't quite take as much off it as planned and is fully 60 feet away for eagle, right at the back of the green.

1850: Cabrera Bello has a birdie chance at 18, which would put him into that collection at three-under.

1848: Birdie Koepka, but that doesn't tell the full story. His eagle putt is in but for one roll. This is some performance from the US Open champ, especially considering he hasn't played since.

1847: Lovely from Kuchar, fairway found. Strange as it may seem I think this is a big hole for Spieth. It's a reachable par-five which most players are gobbling up and he's not had a birdie for a long, long time, despite appearing in control.

His drive is very good, down the left side to avoid a pot bunker, and, again, with an ideal angle. Hopefully he can aim at the middle of the green and bleed one inside 25 feet for eagle. Not asking much, is it?

1846: Birdie for Cabrera Bello at 17 and he's one under, while Noren misses his chance on the last. Back to 15, where Kuchar is ready to go...

1845: Oh, must've just been surprise at the quality of the veggie enchilada. He makes it. Lead remains one.

1844: I think Spieth is about to miss, because I heard a noise of alarm.

1843: The TV feed in the media centre has a weather alert warning across the bottom. Kind and all, but it's been there for an hour and is obscuring the, you know, TV coverage. Managed to work out that Spieth has three feet for par.

Ahead at 15 (it's fine except for on putts where the hole is sort of important), Koepka plays a beautiful second to 40 feet.

And back to 13, Kuchar drains it! The lead is down to one. Brilliant birdie.

1841: Bit of an error from Connelly, as he comes up short with his third to 15 and then misses his birdie try. Chance missed and he remains six back as Spieth lines up a lengthy putt for birdie at the 14th.

1840: Not seen much from Noren today but an approach to 10 feet at the last gives him the chance to join Fisher and McIlroy on two-under, as Koepka finds the 15th fairway.

At 16, Rory also hits an excellent drive a long, long way down.

1838: Superb shot from Kuchar to 20 feet. Really impressed with him today.

1837: Cabrera Bello is going to have an eagle chance at 17. Why couldn't you have done that on Thursday, pal? In fact he played the final two 5-5 both Thursday and Friday and will surely better that here.

Back to 14 and Spieth isn't happy as he pulls his tee-shot, but it finds the green. Around 50 feet away but this is a dangerous hole and two putts will do.

1836: Connelly now with his second to 15. Far from a classical set-up, the wirey Canadian, but it's working as he hooks one close to the front of the green.

1833: Good work from Spieth to tidy up and 'just' a birdie for McIlroy, whose putt was in actual fact no more than six feet.

It's not quite Stenson v Mickelson, but these two have opened up a gap here. Five shots from Spieth to third as Matsuyama joins Grace in the clubhouse.

1832: Rory might just have fired himself back into this with a classic, towering iron shot into 15. Inside 10 feet for eagle as Spieth leaves himself work to do for par at 13.

1831: While we continue, Kuchar almost steals one at 13, missing by fractions and leaving two feet for par.

1830: Close to a suspension in play here, I suspect. Last thing anyone needs, especially the leaders who could theoretically be asked to come back to the course in the morning which means interrupted routines and so on.

1827: Kuchar's approach to 13 runs through the green but that's a really good result from the lie - he's around 3 feet away, in the fringe, and should have few problems.

Now Spieth, much higher, and it virtually bounces over the flag. Again, fringe, probably 20 feet, and a birdie chance of sorts on a tough hole.

1825: Koepka misses and falls to four-under, alongside Grace and Matsuyama. He has some scoreable holes to come, particularly both par-fives.

Hideki meanwhile finds the 18th green, some 30 feet away. At worst he should match Grace's total which is good news for the pre-tournament selections. As things stand we've the outright leader and two of the biggest threats.

Back to 13 and another one goes for Poulter. That's three in succession since his birdie at 10 and he's one-under.

1824: This Spieth tweet the most popular I've been since scoring a brace for Thorpe Acre against Boothwood back in '95. (Ben here, moonlighting for Dave for a second or two).

1822: A1 off 18 for Matsuyama. He's just about close enough here, certainly were Spieth to come back to the field, but would dearly love one more.

Problems for Koepka at the tough 13th and 15 feet for par.

1820: Brilliant bunker shot from Kim and he should tap that in to join Johnson and Stenson in the clubhouse at three-under.

Big tee-shot now for Spieth at 13, the most dangerous hole left in front of him, and it's his worst for a while, missing the fairway right.

Where is the worst place to miss this fairway? Left. 

Kuchar also way right and that looks to be worse off than Spieth's, which is sitting fine.

1817: Excellent lag putt from Kuchar leaves him a kick-in par and now over to Spieth, who has yet another mid-range chance, and it's another narrow miss which goes past the hole.

So far it's a display of absolute control. Wonder whether he feels completely happy, or whether there's a part of him thinking 'I could be six clear', because with one of his best putting days, he could be.

The big picture is definitely that he's keeping the field - even those closest - at a comfortable distance for the time being.

1812: Koepka seems in a sort of no-man's land at the moment. Can't quite get to the leaders but in front of those in the clubhouse. Moving up to four-under is Matsuyama after a 20 footer at 17. That's T4.

1811: Another excellent iron from Spieth and he has inside 15 feet for birdie at 12. Kuchar is a good club short with his attempt so faces a 40 footer.

1810: Oh dear. Weather alert flashes on screen: Potential thunder and lightning within the next hour.

1809:  Back-to-back bogeys for Poulter and he's now down at T10. 

1807: Pars for Spieth and Koepka at 11 so as you were. The leader had a good chance to get to double digits under par there but missed left.

1806: The Bubba Watson impersonator gets to -2 with a birdie at 15. It can't be the actual one can it? Playing this well at an Open? I smell something fishy, or is that the whiff of tonight's meal option which Ben has just warned me about ("looks like it's been there all day").

1803: Some dark skies overhead are looking a little threatening. Sunny right now but things can change quickly with Open weather.

1758: Poulter makes a mess of the 11th and drops a shot. Back to -3 and six back again.

1755: McIlroy needs to start making 20 footers after his poor stretch but his attempt to nail one at the 12th stays left and he mains eight back of Spieth.

1754: Six of the nine previous 54-hole leaders of the Open at Royal Birkdale have gone on to win so Spieth will have history, as well as being bloody good, on his side. He stays at -9 with an up and down at 10 and Kuchar follows suit after a lovely little chip.

1751: Gary Woodland's tee-shot at 12 hops over the hole. So close to the first ace of the week. Rory, before him, plonks his tee shot on the green and will have inside 20 feet for birdie.

1749: Spieth's second spins back off the 10th green. Kuchar, meanwhile, thrashes out of the thick stuff and comes up short so both men will need to scramble here.

1746: Rory needs to make sure the adrenalin doesn't go out of him here. He has to scramble a par at 11 and remains in T11 on one-under.

1744: Poulter turns to the crowd with a raised fist to greet the cheers of a birdie at 10 which takes him to four-under.

1743: Superb drive by Spieth at 10 but Kuchar is way off line and in the cabbage. He'll have to get lucky with the lie.

1741: Good news for all you Noren backers. After the irritation of 13 straight pars on a day of red numbers, he finally has a birdie of his own. It comes at 14 and gets him to 1-under. Can he pick up a few more in the final four?

1738: Kuchar turns in just 31 blows. An excellent front nine. But so does Spieth and it means the gap remains at two. It's a further two shots back to Koepka. By the way, Lee Trevino in 1971 is the only halfway leader to have gone on to win at Royal Birkdale. Spieth's play so far suggests he'll make that stat two from 10.

1736: Spieth goes through the back of the 9th green and his chip is a little fruity. Perhaps five feet for par, the same distance Kuchar has for his four.

1733: Matsuyama continues to battle on and a birdie at 14 puts him into T5 alongside Poulter, who bounces back with another red number after his dropped shot at 8.

1731: Is that Rory's race run now? He makes double bogey at 10 and suddenly he's eight behind Spieth. Which is probably too many.

1730: An update from Sky Bet before I hand over to Dave and go and eat something. Food has improved every day so far. Here's hoping.

"Spieth is into 8/13 having exuded control over the first eight holes.

"This could develop into a Troon-esque battle with Kuchar 4/1, but don't rule out Rory or Koepka yet - they're 13/2 combined with our Price Boost."

1728: Feel hard done by with today's two-ball double but ultimately it lost as both players tied with their partners.

However, hopefully some of you joined me on Fowler at evens to beat Garcia. He's two up playing 18. Please close that out, Rickie.

As Spieth hits it to where Spieth always hits it on nine (just left of the fairway, no problems there), McIlroy chips to 12 feet. That for bogey.

Kuchar then misses the ninth fairway.

1727: McIlroy's second stayed on the lip of the bunker which is a break, as it allows him to have a go at an audacious approach to the green.

He pulls it from above his feet, though, and is now in thick rough to the side of the green. Absolutely must get up and down for bogey, you feel.

1726: Grace was two back when he finished. He's now five back. Superb stuff not just by Spieth, but by Kuchar. These Ryder Cup team-mates appear relaxed and in full control.

1725: It's out sideways for Rory and oh no, he's bitten off more than he can chew and looks to have popped it into the next-door bunker. Really stupid, that.

Spieth now... and it's there! Nine-under.

1724: Kuchar will putt first, but it's arguably the easier putt. In it goes and the lead is one - at least for a minute.

1723: Trouble for Rory as he finds sand off the 10th tee. Usually that means a pitch out but we'll see, maybe he can hoist one high and long enough.

Fisher birdies 16 to get to three-under. One more par-five then the 18th and he could yet match Grace's clubhouse lead.

1721: Wedges in for Kuchar and Spieth at eight but the target is very small.

Kuchar first and that's very good, no more than 10 feet below the hole.

Spieth next and that's very good, too, to around 10 feet.

1720: Connelly is ruining that whole point with his approach to a foot on nine. We now have a group of eight. All those major winners and what have you, and a 20-year-old Canadian who qualified at Royal Cinque Ports recently. Stunning performance.

1719: There are some players here outperforming all expectations, from around the world, from all parts of the world rankings.

But, as Koepka birdies eight, it strikes me that five of the top seven players are major champions. All have played a Ryder Cup, or a Presidents Cup in Grace's case.

All are just world-class players. And, surely, one of this seven will win.

1718: It's a dropped shot for Poulter at the eighth. Ahead to nine and Rory birdies to go out in 32 - that was an important moment in his quest for a second Open Championship.

1715: Sneaky progress from Ross Fisher, who is into the top 10 at two-under, four-under for the day. Big group there includes Chan Kim, who has won two of his last three starts on the Japan Tour.

1714: This is seriously good #TourSauce from Poulter. Hacks at one in the rough on eight. It goes a few yards. His reaction? "Knew I should've hit the seven."

Try the middle of the clubface. Or the fairway.

1712: Kuchar's birdie try at seven just - and I do mean just - stops on the lip.

Connelly misses at eight and drops alongside Rory at two-under, although the latter has a good chance to come at nine.

Back to seven, Spieth... drains it. That had been coming. He's two clear of Kuchar and four clear of third - the latter gap now bigger than it was at the start of the day.

1710: Stenson pars 18 for a 65. Superb stuff, especially considering all that's gone on in his world this week. He's tied for fifth, the defending champion.

1709: Bit of a lull, scoring-wise, for those thinking what Grace did was in some way anything but exceptional regardless of conditions.

Connelly faces a tough par putt down the slope at eight.

Wayne Grady has no time for spectators. I quite admire it. "You only have to get it in the air and a lot of the gallery like it."

1707: Bit of a mug's pin, the one on seven. Connelly went for it, but he's 20 and playing in his first major. He knows no better.

Spieth now and that's another glorious iron shot to 12 feet. Mug.

1705: It's not a cheer for Koepka, either, as he bogeys seven having found sand.

Here's Rory on eight. It's way long and he misses the par putt. 

For the Spieth-as-great-putter-nothing-else prats, he's missed four very good chances today and the birdie he made was from about three inches.

In other words, he's hitting his irons great and not making much - yet.

1703: Big roar, not sure what it is, hoping it's Spieth at six, but it isn't. Rory at eight? Surely not another chip-in...

1702: They say you don't get a bad lie on the green and they're right, but you shouldn't on fairways, either. Kuchar's ball is rested against a divot and forces him to putt, but maybe it's a blessing in disguise as he pops it to a foot.

Fairway bunker for Connelly at eight. Not a good place to be.

1700: It was a free-flowing start for Rory but now he's having to grind, just like yesterday. His approach to eight is some way short and he'll need to scramble for his par.

1658: I just wonder whether the fact that Spieth leads in some way helps those like Lovemark in pursuit. He can kid himself into thinking he's got no chance here and that means freedom, which so often means birdies.

To six, Kuchar. Must clear the false front, must not find sand short of the green. "Go hard... I miss it... ah shoot" he says and his ball runs back to the edge of a nasty divot short of the green.

Spieth now, good angle once more, 195 yards. No commentary usually a good thing and that's sumptuous, to 15 feet.

1656: Tim Rosaforte is a big-hitter of the press room and no mistake. He's also impeccably turned out, every single day. The satchel he's carrying today is exquisite, and I'm not usually a tan fan. 

Spieth finds the fairway at six. SHOULD'VE DRIVEN THE FIFTH GREEN JORDAN.

Lovemark to two-under meanwhile after a birdie at eight. He's been knocking on smaller doors lately and is just five back now.

1655: Kuchar's drive is perfect on six - at least, the result is. The shot itself was a big high cut and almost found the sand which would've been a disaster.

At eight, Rory also slices one into thick rough, over the two bunkers which would've caught golf balls hit by humans.

Par Koepka. Great save from 20 feet.

1652: Connelly goes pin-seeking at the seventh and will have a great birdie chance as Spieth misses on five. 

I do get why a (currently) poor driver/great iron player would lay-up but you have to hit such a bad drive to go wrong there. Koepka and McIlroy hit three-woods inside 20 feet.

Speaking of Koepka, it looks like he'll bogey six after a weak chip.

1650: Kuchar now for eagle... he's walking after it but the ball just holds its line. The easiest of birdies and he's now six-under.

1648: Right then Jordan, prove me wrong. Nope, not really - he's got a good birdie chance from 12 feet but a good drive and he'd have had less than half that.

1647: Correction: Rory is able to putt and it's only 20 feet or so. He misses so that'll be a bogey and there's one for Ramsay at six, too.

1646: Kuchar drives the green. I rarely question Spieth's decision making - that's one of his biggest strengths - but those with access to proper data would be able to confirm that the scoring average for an attempt at the green is considerably lower than a lay-up.

Rory at seven and he flubs it completely. Almost a double-hit, the sort of shot I can be seen playing several times per round. Bogey likely coming unless he can find magic like that which saw him chip in at four.

1644: Big pull from Stenson at 17 and work to do for birdie at the par-five.

To seven, and Rory is also left, in rough near to the sitting spectators. Tricky from there.

And back to five, Spieth is laying up. Wow. I know he hasn't driven it well but so many players have come through here and tried a short eagle putt.

EVEN KUCHAR IS HAVING A GO.

1641: So in terms of the top two, we're basically as we started: a two-shot lead for Spieth, albeit both are one-under today.

But the size and quality of the group in behind has increased markedly, and as Koepka birdies five he now joins Kuchar in a share of second.

Key hole coming for the final group as they go to the fifth tee knowing that a good drive means a likely birdie, but that we've had a couple of disasters including lost balls.

Birdie Poulter, too. He's three-under.

1639: Two good chances gone for Spieth, who has missed twice to the right from the sort of range he gobbles up. Kuchar misses, though, and the lead is two.

Meanwhile it's a good two-putt par for Rory at the sixth. Job done over the first third of the round.

1638: Very poor approach putt from Kuchar on four. He's going to have six feet for par there as Jamie Lovemark birdies seven to get under-par for the championship.

Clearly, the temptation is to focus on the current top six or seven, but there are at least 20 players who are not out of this yet.

1637: Koepka with three-wood from the fifth tee and it's about five feet short of where McIlroy's ended up. In other words, a real eagle chance and almost guaranteed birdie. Some fightback from the US Open champion. No birdies yesterday and here he's likely to sign for his third in a row.

1635: Neither Ramsay nor Connelly manage to birdie the fifth. It's playing 3.606 so far today - in other words, it's a real birdie chance gone for those two, although they will be delighted with their under-par starts.

1634: Kuchar comes up short and in Rory territory at the fourth. He knew straight away that wasn't going to get there.

Seven-iron for Spieth. Is that enough? Yes - he'll have around 18 feet from just short and right of the hole.

1633: Par at 18 for DJ. That's a fine, bogey-free 64, even if he'll feel like he should've matched Grace's 62 given the chances missed late on.

1632: Koepka stole one at three but earns one fair and square at four after a brilliant tee-shot to 10 feet. He's alongside McIlroy, whose approach to six is a little long, leaving 30 or more feet. Not bad though on the most demanding hole of the front nine.

1630: DJ's approach to 18 just carries the front-left bunker and runs out to 35 feet. Good break and he'll have that to get within three of Spieth, after his tap-in birdie at the third.

Birdie Kuchar, too, and he remains one back.

1627: Brilliant stuff from Kuchar so far. Three fairways, three greens, and another chance coming - this time from 12 feet.

Deep discussions between Spieth and Greller. Both happy as Spieth steps over a shot he wants to carry 165.

I'd say they figured things out quite nicely. Six inches for birdie.

1624: Koepka steals one at the third, his far-too-hard birdie putt from distance ramming the back of the hole and then popping straight down into it.

We now have nine players within three.

1623: McIlroy leaves his eagle putt short but tap-in birdies are fine. Like Johnson earlier, he's three-under through five and now just two behind.

1622: Spieth hits his best tee-shot of the day to split the fairway at three, just as Kuchar does. These two know each other well and that'll help as they battle both the pressure which comes from being in the final group at the Open, and the pressure which comes from birdies and eagles all around.

1620: Birdie Ramsay at four. Some comeback after a bogey at the first.

At 17, DJ's prospects take a hit with a par from the middle of the fairway on this straightforward par-five. He's three back, tied fourth, but prospects of a 62 - or even a 61 - have gone.

1618: Stenson does birdie 15. We have the defending champion in among DJ, Rory, Spieth... incredible. And then there's Grace after his 62, and Kuchar, who birdies the second to move within one.

1617: Rory now off the forward fifth tee. Not sure this is driver. In fact, it just isn't driver, it's three-wood. And he lands it 20 feet short of the flag, it then runs out a few and he'll have an excellent eagle chance as Spieth misses at the second.

1615: DJ hates his second to 17 and finds sand to the left. Really aggressive line, no doubt knowing he needs a couple more to keep close to the leaders - and of course, three-under the last two for a 61!

We now have 23 under-par rounds signed for and plenty more coming.

1614: Spieth missed the second fairway but again on the right side. His approach is brilliant, just left of the flag and no more than 12 feet away.

He's hardly hit a fairway this week, but that's the thing: you don't need to. Primary requirement off the tee is to avoid bunkers and open up angles to pins. He's done that superbly, hence why his approach play has been so strong.

1612: Stenson at 15. Second shot from the middle of the fairway. It's just long and he should be able to get that up and down for another birdie.

Back to three and Connelly bogeys following a heavy-handed chip.

1610: McIlroy chips in at four! Sensational shot after a rank iron. Wow. He now heads to the driveable fourth. If he eagles that he's one behind.

1608: Urgh, Jaidee and Wood tie after the Englishman's bogey at 17. Rubbish.

Better news comes from an Els birdie at eight. He's going nicely today, level for the championship, and third in the top former winner battle. Only four remain and he needs a top-three for a place.

1607: Dougie Donnelly with a good stat: Spieth has led after 13 of his major rounds. I think it was 13. He's played just over 60. Incredible.

To keep hold of this lead, it seems pretty clear he'll have to break 70. He's the only player to have done so in both rounds so far.

1606: Rory must have mishit his approach to four as it's well short of the green. Another scrambled par will be the aim as Spieth bids to do just that at the first.

Six feet at most on reflection, probably five, and no alarms whatsoever.

1605: Some darkness has started to colour the clouds here as Kuchar's putt just misses. Par.

1604: Good lie for Spieth but this is tricky. He's chipping from well above the level of the green, downhill but then back up a slope, and it's no surprise he comes up six or seven feet short. Big putt coming.

1603: Big moment for Rory as his par putt from five feet at the third has a good look before accepting gravity's pull. Par and he moves to the fourth within four of the lead.

1602: Wow, Johnson has 10 feet for birdie at 16. Here we go... but no, he misses right. Bit tentative that, especially considering how well he's putted this week.

Back at 14 another birdie for Stenson gets him to two-under. Leaderboard any good?

1601: Spieth has a much better lie than at first it appeared, but it does fly and he's through the back, just short of the nasty stuff. 

Kuchar, from prime position, hits a classic Kuchar shot: safely left of the flag, inside birdie range at 20 feet.

1600: Ah, also a bogey for Poulter at the first as he three-putts. Not good at all - it's an easy day in Open terms but gifting shots back is not going to work.

To Rory, 210 yards out at the third after an iron off the tee. Isn't sure about this... and it does indeed miss left. At least that's the right side of the hole.

1559: Alongside Connelly, Ramsay bounces back with a birdie. Back to the first and Koepka misses hispar putt. He's now four back of Spieth, who will soon play his approach from what didn't look a pleasant place.

1557: Tee-shots will play a huge part in Spieth's weekend and its success or otherwise. The first one is left and into a thick-looking lie. Wasn't miles offline but far enough. 

Confirmed, it was an eagle for Connelly at the second and a slam-dunk at that. I'm not sure this day is missing anything and it's nowhere near done. Twenty years old, Open debut, tied second.

1556: Game 39 on the tee, then, and it's Kuchar who gets things going with an excellent drive.

Some day, this and the top four in the Official World Golf Rankings are all inside the top eight and firmly in the mix.

1555: Koepka produced a bonkers up and down yesterday and might do the same here - eight feet for par.

Meanwhile the leaderboard says Connelly has made eagle at the second having birdied the first. Will update you, potentially a leaderboard error but we'll soon know.

Birdie Hideki at 7 - that's three in a row and he's two-under.

1553: DJ needs to play the final three holes in two-under to match Grace's record 62. Crazy game.

Meanwhile I was about to say the two-ball double is looking on but Jaidee's birdie at 17 followed by Wood's bogey, the second of the day at that easy par-five, means they're tied down 18. It's been one of those days for me so far.

1552: Back with a birdie for DJ at 15 after he came up just short in two. At the first, Koepka pretty much shanks one towards some bushes by the green. That wait for a birdie will be continuing...

Poulter next on a hole which does offer up an opportunity. Mr Shank himself finds the middle of the clubface but it's 35 feet left of target.

1548: Nice move from Matsuyama with back-to-back birdies at five and six. He's 1-under. Back at the opener, Austin Connelly birdies to move to 2-under. And now off to the second hole where Rory's ambitious birdie try just misses. So much could happen today. I'll hand back to Ben to tell the story...

1544: It's time for Koepka v Poulter. Surprisingly, US Open champ Koepka didn't have a birdie yesterday. He pulls his tee shot left into rough while Poulter finds the very light stuff on the right.

1542: Not Rory's very best approach at the second and he'll have a left-to-right breaker from about 20-25 feet for birdie.

1540: Apparently, the field has performed 674 shots better to this point than they did in round two. Is that right? Or have I read the graphic wrong? Basically, it's miles easier than it was on Friday.

1536: Unlike tennis, when we've seen so many finals feature two of Federer, Nadal, Murray and Djokovic, we don't get many final-group duels between the game's elite. A Spieth v McIlroy Sunday last group pairing would be absolute box-office. Maybe with DJ v Poulter in the penultimate two-ball for added spiece.

1534: Rory rolls in his putt and it's the birdie start he would have been thinking about all morning. Up to two-under and tied sixth. That's four back from Spieth.

1533: No moves yet from Matsuyama or Noren. Both even par for the day (after 5 and 4 holes respectively) and even par overall.

1532: Superb approach from Rory at the opener and he has about four feet for birdie.

1530: I didn't back Grace (unlike Ben) although he is in my six-man line-up for the official European Tour Fantasy game. So that's something. Wish I'd backed him though. I still could, of course, but how on earth can he follow that?

1528: No birdie for DJ at 14 but now he gets his first par five of the day to try and dismantle. Three-under for the last four holes (two par fives) will see him match Grace's 62. Seems daft writing that and yet it's reality.

1526: Okay, Rory, what have you got in you today? Mid 60s? 63? 62? Or will it be 'bad Rory'? Finds the thin strip of light rough with his opening tee shot. That's fine.

1524: DJ at 14.. doesn't like it. On the green but he'll have about 30 feet for birdie after tugging his iron left.

1523: Amazing Grace. Well, we are sitting next to the Sunday tabloid guys. 1/33 that's the headline they use. 

1522: In goes the par and back you go to Dave Tindall for the next half an hour, as Rory steps onto the first tee.

1519: Grace may still have company soon, as DJ has eight feet for par at 13 following trouble off the tee. He's five-under for the round, the target is eight-under.

1517: Just stunning. He's shot 62 with a five on the card. He's had a putt from eight feet lip out, and others from mid-range also just miss.

And then on 17 he's hit two shots to 20 feet, followed by a really brave two-putt from distance on 18. Ballsy and brilliant.

1516: Here we go. A formality under virtually any other circumstances.

AND HE MAKES IT! 62!

1515: Caddie Zack Rasego doing a great job of keeping Grace calm here. His story is an incredible one if you've time to did it out. And he could be part of history any second.

1514: Grace putts, it's wonderful, but not quite dead. Three feet I'd say. Tentative applause here in the media centre. Fair to say there's not a single person bar Johnny Miller who doesn't want this to go.

1513: WHY ARE MY PALMS SWEATING? Don't envy Dave, who has to use this laptop again shortly.

1513: It's putter. Wise choice. Probably the best part of 60 feet back towards the flag and fairly flat. In normal circumstances he'd get this inside four feet 9.5 out of 10.

1511: Latest bad life choice: I left the 18th, where I'd gone to watch Grace come in, after he didn't birdie 15. Not to worry. Desperate for him to do this. Such a likeable player and person, and he's absolutely fearless. Doesn't mean he always executes, but he's not afraid to try. One good chip or putt needed to get it close.

1509: It's Tom Watson at Turnberry. Grace is pumped up and hits it through the green. He loved that in the air and line-wise it was absolutely perfect.

1508: I'm nervous for him. How must Grace be feeling here? Caddie gives him the 'perfect' reassurance, they confirm the wind, and here we go...

1506: Dufner is a pretty good player to be alongside when you're in this situation. Chilled as you like. And Grace seems relaxed as he strides down the 18th fairway chatting away.

1503: Ben back in the chair here to see this through. Grace's drive on 18 is left of the fairway but fine and to a front-right pin it's actually a great angle.

I really hope, that said, he does not think about the pin. Middle of the green.

1500: Grace puts it to tap-in range. Birdie! Eight-under for the day. A par for 62. We're on the cusp of history folks.

1459: Being very optimistic, Grace holes for eagle, birdies the last and matches the 60 he shot at Kingsbarns. That's silly though isn't it.

1456: Rafa Cabera Bello tees off without his beard. Doesn't need the added protection of facial hair today. Or does he believe in that old saying "you don't win a major with a beard"?

1455: If Grace does make birdie and get to -8 he'd need a par at the last for that record 62. Just to let you know, 20 players have tackled 18 so far today; 19 have made par and there has been just a single bogey.

1454: Grace's second at 17 is right over the flag. "Get down", he shouts and the ball listens, dropping down on the top tier. Don't want to tempt fate but I'd fancy myself to make a two-putt birdie from there.

1451: Fowler taps in his tiddler for eagle at the fifth while Sergio gets up and down from sand for birdie. Stenson joins Fowler at even par with a lengthy birdie putt at 8. A fist pump from the Swede as his ball drops (glad I put the 's' in the right place there).

1448: Grace finds the fairway at 17. This is on. This is very much on.

1445: And, of course, if Grace fails, there's always Dustin Johnson. DJ curls in his birdie putt at 10 and goes five-under for the round and two-under overall (T6).

1443: Grace at 16 now with a 20 footer. And he drains it!! Seven-under for the day, a par five at 17 and a par four at 18 to come. If he can play those two holes in one-under he'll become the first man in the history of the earth to shoot 62 in a major. Goodness me.

1441: Wow. Fowler almost makes albatross at the par-4 5th. Superb drive lands on the green, is tracking towards the pin and just curls wide. A tap-in eagle is a nice way to get his score going though. That'll get him back to level par.

1440: Gary Woodland supports Luton while DJ is a Wolves fan. Making these up now.

1437: Golf from four different networks on the little portable TVs dotted around the media centre. Although a couple have the footie on. Liverpool 2-1 up on Leicester by the way. Great goals too according to a fellow LFC fan. Of the leaders, Poulter, as we know, supports Arsenal while Richie Ramsay is an Aberdeen fan. Not sure about Richard Bland. Rory is Man Utd.

1435: Game No.31 (eight more to go) features Hideki Matsuyama. The World No.2 finds the fairway. I fancy him for a real charge today. Could he reel in Spieth before Sunday night? Big ask but perhaps one of the few who can, despite being six back.

1430: Agony for Grace as his birdie try at 15 catches a big chunk of the hole but lips out. That looked in all the way a foot out. The 62 isn't dead yet but has become a whole heap harder now. 

1428: 17 completed rounds so far and 11 of those in the 60s.

1426: Grace yanks his second shot way left but gets a good break as he misses all the trouble. He chips across the green to about eight feet. That to go seven-under on the day.

1421: Fowler and Garcia still queuing outside the club marked 'birdie party'. Both miss the green at number three so looks like they'll have to wait a little longer yet to be let in.

1417: First job for Grace is to find the fairway at the par-5 15th and he does so with a booming drive down the left side. Forget landmarks, a birdie here would put him into tied 3rd in the tournament.

1416: DJ's second into 8 with a sand wedge lacks control from the rought and he'll have to hold from 25 feet for another red circle.

1414: Hello. I bring news of another Grace birdie. He sinks a good one from distance at 14 and is now six-under for the day with two par fives to come. We're definitely seriously excitingly on #62watch now.

1412: To shoot 62 anywhere, you'll need some fortune and even more so at the Open. Well, Johnson got a huge kick on five and another on eight sees him stay out of trouble.

Day meanwhile parred the last for a round of 65. Fifteen scores in, 11 sub-70. Incredible scoring so far today and conditions remain ideal.

And with that, I am going to pass you over to Dave until I come back in time to welcome Spieth onto the tee.

1410: Johnson is now 25/1 with Sky Bet, who quoted Stenson at 33s and Grace at 50/1. 

Spieth remains favourite and a strong one at 6/4 with McIlroy 13/2 and Koepka 7/1, then Kuchar at 15/2 and Poulter at 14s.

Click here for all the latest odds.

1408: DJ birdies. Five back.

1404: Thing that could happen: Grace does go on to shoot 62, and DJ then goes and shoots 61. Johnson has a foot or two for birdie at six to be four-under for the day.

Grace meanwhile sees yet another putt miss narrowly. Birdie putt on every hole for the South African.

1402: Bonkers par for Scott at five, as he holes from at least 60 feet having been in all kinds of trouble.

Only 16 players have been through 17 and there have been three eagles. Come on Branden, let's have that 62.

1400: Another hole, another brilliant approach from Grace and he'll have 15 feet for birdie at 13. Should that go in he would head to 14 and then the par-five 15th with a genuine, massive chance to shoot 62.

Fine birdie from Chang at the fourth and he's at least keeping tabs on Stenson.

1358: And Rose, alongside Fleetwood, after his 69.

"It was brilliant being out there with Tommy. Obviously a local hero.

"Big crowds, obviously, first, second group out, really.

"The place was packed from the word go.

"Even looking down the first hole it was four or five deep.

"I don't think I've played in crowds that deep since the Ryder Cup."

1355: Fleetwood after his 66: "Yesterday was one of the best rounds of the year, and it just gave me a chance to play two more days.

"After a good one today, if I have another good one tomorrow, we'll see where it ends up.

"It's just great to be able to have two rounds on the weekend."

Fleetwood revealed that he felt he played well on Thursday but got nothing from the round and was relieved to end a run of missed cuts in the Open, at a course he ranks highly.

"It would have been pretty rubbish staying home for the weekend.

"I think this is one of the best tracks in the world. If I had a say, I'd definitely have it more at Birkdale."

1350: Grace shaves the edge again on 12 and remains five-under for the day, one-under for the championship.

Back at five, DJ two-putts for birdie while at 17, Day has 12 feet for a birdie four. Pop that in and birdie the last and it'll be a record-equalling 63, but the 62 baton is passed on.

1348: In case you missed it earlier in the week, Garcia hurt his shoulder when taking out some frustration on a bush.

He's clutching said shoulder on the walk to the first tee and in direct response to that, I've just backed Fowler to win their two-ball.

1345: Grace now on 12. Boy is he hitting the ball exactly where he wants to today. This time it's straight over the top of one of the most demanding targets on the course and he'll have another birdie putt in the 25-foot range.

1342: Grace's birdie try on 11 just falls low. Handy par given how tough that hole is but a chance gone.

More scores coming in and a 65 for Hend, alongside whom Leishman shoots 66. Not sure there will be a better group today than their combined nine-under, even in these conditions, although Dufner (-3) and Grace (-5) are giving it a good go.

Better news for the two-ball double as Kjeldsen starts with a birdie. Wood is still one down to Jaidee, playing the seventh.

1340: Great stroke of luck for DJ at five as his drive bounces from left of the green to around 60 feet but on it. Eagle try coming but at worst he should walk off that green at three-under for the day through five holes.

Stenson meanwhile starts 3-3 - so much for the expected hangover - and is level-par for the championship.

1336: DJ makes another birdie at the fourth and is +1, while Day pars 16. Back to 11 and Grace's approach to a very demanding hole is good and he will have a birdie chance from no more than 15 feet. That to get to six-under for the round. Eight-under is the magic total.

1331: Incredible scoring from Hend, who makes five birdies in a row from the 13th. He now is five-under, needing a three at 18 for the week's first 64.

Alongside him, Leishman makes eagle and will shoot 65 if he can birdie at the last.

1329: Coming up for Grace is 11, a test. There have been just two birdies here all day, with three bogeys and the rest pars. Then it's 12, where there have been two doubles, two bogeys, one birdie. After that, chances reappear.

1327: Grace, like Day, knows that he's got a shot at history as well as getting himself back into this tournament. From off the green on 10, he races a birdie putt five-feet past the hole, eager not to miss any opportunity to pick up shots.

The par putt goes in and if he is to make this 62 which has suddenly appeared on the table, it feels certain that he'll have to keep bogey off the card. Eight to go, needs to play them three-under.

1323: Likely just a scoreboard glitch but given that group nine are on the 15th hole, it's troublig that group 10 are on the 12th, Not sure what the hold-up is but will try to find out.

Ah, a Hahn double at the 12th at least in part explains things.

1321: Day gets to five-under for the day thanks to a two-putt eagle at 15. He needs to birdie in for that coveted 62 and a place in the history books. He'll know it, too.

A far cry from yesterday, this, when we had eight under-par scores. Today the first three posted are 65, 66 and 69 and there are more low numbers on the way.

At the first, Stenson cans a mid-range birdie putt. 

1315: Grace by the way is out in 29 and it could realistically have been 26. I know everybody misses putts but he had chances at six and seven while his eagle attempt at five didn't miss by much. Stunning play and an indication of the ground which can be made up.

1313: Fleetwood two-putts the last for a par and that's a fine round of 66 to move to the fringes of the top 10.

He's going to be quite a way off the top of the leaderboard entering Sunday, but he's moving in the right direction and a top-10 finish is now possible.

Meanwhile another birdie for Grace at the ninth. He's five-under for the round, out in 29, and into the top 10.

1310: As mentioned you can tweet me @BenColeyGolf, which I'm delighted to say @es_hussein4uk has done.

"Hoping Kevin Kisner can cut through the field. Making plenty of birdies, hopefully avoid the bogeys! #Openblog"

Kisner is playing with fellow straight-shooting Colonial champ Zach Johnson today. Good pairing for both.

1307: Better news from the Wood/Jaidee match as our man birdies the third to square it up again. Convinced if he can break par it'll be enough, unless Jaidee got a good talking to from someone close to him yesterday.

1305: We've just seen exactly where they've moved the fifth tee to, and it's in the fairway. Don't see that often. Anyone not hitting driver (or less, even) has commitment issues. Southgate hits his to a few feet and makes eagle.

1300: Dave and I trying to work out what the low round of the day will be, with some speculating that we may see the first ever 62 in a major championship.

It's possible, definitely, and perhaps it'll come from DJ after an approach to six inches at the first.

Or maybe Grace, who once shot 60 at Kingsbarns. He's four-under through eight.

1256: Early days, but holes five, 15 and 17 are playing particularly easy today.

The driveable fifth is proving too tempting to resist for most, with driver the choice of club, and it's playing more than half a shot under its par of four.

The par-five 15th is even easier at 4.286, with 17 playing to 4.000. I imagine they may swap positions come the close but both are reachable.

1252: Norris for birdie.... wow that's close. A round of 65 and he's tied for 10th right now.

1250: Lovely to see what these experiences mean to players who aren't perhaps used to playing in majors, let alone shooting up leaderboards, as Norris and his caddie stop for a photo halfway up the last.

He won't be playing on his own tomorrow, that's for sure.

Back to the first and Dustin Johnson is about to go alongside Paul Casey.

1248: I mentioned that Fleetwood might be chasing 64...

Well, Shaun Norris will have a putt for one first after a birdie at 17 followed by a solid approach to the last.

1245: Not a great start - a bad one, in fact - to today's two-ball double, as Chris Wood bogeys the fairly straightforward first hole. Long way to go.

Interesting speaking to colleagues here and the breadth of views on Spieth. Some reckon this is over (it isn't), some say lay him for all you've got (risky). I'm sort of in-between. Reckon if you're punting fairly regularly on this sport you need to find that middle ground where a strong opinion doesn't mean a blinkered one.

1235: Interesting to see how the leaders approach the fifth hole later, as Andrew Dodt makes eagle having driven it to 15 feet.

Fleetwood is pumped up as he goes straight over the top of the 16th flag, 40 feet long.

1231: Another small, potential target for Fleetwood might be low round of the week. Currently, it's 65 - the number put together by both Spieth and Koepka on day one. He needs two more birdies over the closing three holes for 64.

1226: Fleetwood now for eagle, down the slope. Promise you this man will be playing next year's Ryder Cup, at the very course he just won the Open de France. For now, it's about trying to sneak into the top 10 here... and that eagle will help!

Brilliant, this. He shot one-under in horrible conditions yesterday and is four-under for round three.

1223: Fleetwood is another who could yet cut through the pack on Sunday, just as he's doing today. The local lad will have 12 feet at most for eagle after a brilliant approach to the par-five 15th.

Grace meanwhile birdies five after a good eagle putt from distance. He's one-over and so is Day thanks to a birdie at the 11th.

1220: The beauty of extra places each-way is that if your player makes the cut, they could still nick a place with a good weekend, and that could yet be the case with Branden Grace.

The South African has birdied the first and the fourth to get to two-over, and he's just driven the green at the par-four fifth hole. Pop that in and he'll be level.

1217: If you're having a two-ball bet, my Saturday preview can be found here.

Safe to say I really like Wood, out fairly soon, and Kjeldsen. The 5/1 chance is speculative in the extreme but the price is extremely generous.

Lots of other options on the list - Alex Noren to beat Kent Bulle looks a banker if you like a short price, for example - and you can find Sky Bet's latest golf odds here.

1215: Wayne Grady 'backed all the Aussies, mate', or so he tells Mark James. Not going especially well even taking into account Day's progress today.

Adam Scott is out with Beef Johnston later. That'll be fun.

1212: Another outward 31, this time from Day as he birdies the ninth. Ahead at 14, Fleetwood makes birdie following a brilliant tee-shot. He's really enjoying himself today and rightly so, having worked hard to make the weekend.

1206: You can find a full list of today's tee-times here, but let's look at some of the highlights.

Jordan Spieth and Matt Kuchar are last off the tee at 1555, preceded by Ian Poulter and Brooks Koepka.

Rory goes half an hour earlier with Gary Woodland - it could be bombs away in that group - while Rickie Fowler and Sergio Garcia are sure to draw a big crowd at 1350.

1200: Hello and welcome to day three coverage from the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

Ben Coley here to kick things off. I've cleared the first two days and that'll be the mindset of a lot of players here: what's done is done, now onwards. 

Conditions are just perfect at the moment. Just a light breeze, it's warm, sunny, and players are making hay. In fact Shaun Norris, playing on his own in 'group' one, is setting the tone at three-under for the round through 14 holes.

Other movers include Lee Westwood - out in 31 and now two-over - while Andy Sullivan and Jason Day are both approaching the turn at two-under for the round.