:00:37. > :00:55.The beautiful art deco clubhouse at Royal Birkdale. Stylish. Bold.
:00:56. > :01:09.Confident. But it is not the only iconic structure here this week. The
:01:10. > :01:11.famous Open scoreboard. And whose name will adorn this particular
:01:12. > :01:26.design classic on Sunday? Welcome to the third day at the
:01:27. > :01:31.Open. Hello from Royal Birkdale where we have much brighter skies.
:01:32. > :01:35.The iconic clubhouse behind me proving that we are indeed in the
:01:36. > :01:40.same place, but it is almost unrecognisable after the wind and
:01:41. > :01:45.rain of yesterday. It is Syahrin, perfect scoring conditions. It is
:01:46. > :01:50.all set up for a super Saturday on the links, but before we get out on
:01:51. > :01:57.the course, here is Andrew with a look back at what has been happening
:01:58. > :02:00.over the first two days of play. Links golf is a thing of constant
:02:01. > :02:03.change. On the second day, the wind switched around and play more
:02:04. > :02:07.fiercely. The timid Rory McIlroy of the opening day was gone, 68 and a
:02:08. > :02:21.spring in his stride, one of only four subpar McGroin is
:02:22. > :02:24.fraud in the morning starters. Matt Kuchar was rolling in the putts and
:02:25. > :02:26.smelling his way to a 61. The American challenges remain strong.
:02:27. > :02:28.Then the rain came, wet rough getting thicker. All players looking
:02:29. > :02:34.for shelter about Ian Poulter was one of those holding on and hanging
:02:35. > :02:40.in for a level par round of 70. As the rain came, the winds draft, the
:02:41. > :02:44.course often than the later starters could take advantage, none more than
:02:45. > :02:50.Jordan Spieth. Still missing fairways but with the scrambling of
:02:51. > :02:55.a genius. Clear of the rest, as he has been before. And what Spieth
:02:56. > :02:59.starts, usually finishes, but he knows that nothing is certain in
:03:00. > :03:06.golf, and we know how quickly things can change on the links. Jordan
:03:07. > :03:11.Spieth is at the top of the leaderboard. Some great friends from
:03:12. > :03:14.some of the British players. Ian Poulter three bag on 3-under par and
:03:15. > :03:21.Richie Ramsay continuing the form that saw him finish second at the
:03:22. > :03:25.Irish Open. McIlroy's round of 2-under par yesterday looks like a
:03:26. > :03:31.great round in that weather. He is five behind the leader. The best
:03:32. > :03:36.round of the day yesterday belonged to format Open champion Zach
:03:37. > :03:43.Johnson. 4-under par. He is 1-over for the championship. Just one ahead
:03:44. > :03:49.of defending champion Henrik Stenson. Tommy Fleetwood is through
:03:50. > :03:55.to the third day for the first time. The following players missed the
:03:56. > :03:59.cut. You might just get away with leaving the water proves at home
:04:00. > :04:04.today. It is really lovely here at the moment. The third day is often
:04:05. > :04:10.referred to as moving day, and in these conditions, it might live up
:04:11. > :04:14.to that name. Ken Brown is down with somebody who is hoping to make a
:04:15. > :04:17.charge up the leaderboard. The players come onto the football field
:04:18. > :04:24.and McIlroy makes it onto the first tee. He is getting a great
:04:25. > :04:29.reception. The crowd behind him. What a performance this week. This
:04:30. > :04:33.is what faces him on the first hole. This narrow, tied their way. It is
:04:34. > :04:38.one of the toughest tea-mac shots on the course. He is playing with Gary
:04:39. > :04:43.Woodland. They will be offering about five minutes. We wish Rory
:04:44. > :04:52.well, and all these people do as well. It will be quite a day for
:04:53. > :04:56.him. Good luck. 3:25pm is the time for a Rory McIlroy. What will we see
:04:57. > :05:01.from him today? He is playing with American Gary Woodland, who enjoyed
:05:02. > :05:05.his best finish at the Open last year, in 12. Following them, the
:05:06. > :05:10.Canadian, 20-year-old Austin Connelly. He is playing with
:05:11. > :05:14.Scotland's Richie Ramsay, on course for a top 50 finish at the Open for
:05:15. > :05:19.the first time. This is the penultimate great. Ian Poulter
:05:20. > :05:26.finished second around this course in 2008. An all-American final
:05:27. > :05:29.pairing. Matt Kuchar hoping to break his major dock alongside Jordan
:05:30. > :05:37.Spieth, looking to add the Claret Jug to his collection. The fifth
:05:38. > :05:43.hole is measuring slightly shorter today. Just 310 yards. This is
:05:44. > :05:50.picketing Dustin Johnson with a three wood. Take a look at this
:05:51. > :05:54.shot. He does not look too happy at first, but he got a bit of a lucky
:05:55. > :05:57.bounce. Onto the green, and two putts from there would be a third
:05:58. > :06:03.birdie of the day for Dustin. He would move to level par. Rickie
:06:04. > :06:08.Fowler from the same tee, but a different group. A more traditional
:06:09. > :06:13.route to the green, but an even better outcome. So close to an
:06:14. > :06:19.albatross, but he would tap that in for eagle to go to level par. The
:06:20. > :06:23.fourth eagle of the day on that hole. What a round of golf Branden
:06:24. > :06:30.Grace is putting together, four birdies on the front nine 429 on way
:06:31. > :06:34.out. This birdie putt at 14 to go to 6-under for the day. To the 16th,
:06:35. > :06:43.the par four, and this monster putt for another birdie. When you have
:06:44. > :06:48.got your eye on, the putts going. Par, par finish for Branden Grace
:06:49. > :06:53.and he would equal the lowest ever round at a major championship for
:06:54. > :06:58.men. But with the par five to come, Coetzee rewrite the history books?
:06:59. > :07:03.Jordan Spieth the man to catch, but early charges from those on the
:07:04. > :07:10.course. Branden Grace is 7-under par 3/16. He is within three. Dustin
:07:11. > :07:14.Johnson is one further back. He is 5-under through 11 holes. They have
:07:15. > :07:32.shown you can be aggressive, and this might suit this man.
:07:33. > :07:41.From Northern Ireland, Rory McIlroy. Well, McIlroy knows, all the late
:07:42. > :07:43.starters do, that the birdies are flying out there. It is time to find
:07:44. > :08:20.some. The driver at the first. A massive drive for McIlroy. His
:08:21. > :08:28.third round begins. Grace is staying at the possibility of the 62. This
:08:29. > :08:39.is the par five. His second shot Andy Green is well within range. A
:08:40. > :08:45.narrow target. -- and the green. My goodness. He has a treacherous leave
:08:46. > :08:54.fast putt. What an iron. Covering the flag the whole way. He made
:08:55. > :08:59.finish three, three. McIlroy, the second shot at the first. That was a
:09:00. > :09:04.big divot. Has he got enough ball? He certainly has. A majestic shot. A
:09:05. > :09:17.ripper. All eyes at the moment on this man,
:09:18. > :09:25.Branden Grace. This is a quick one, but it is a putt for eagle on the
:09:26. > :09:32.17th. 7-under at the moment. Get in, he says. Drifting, but good for
:09:33. > :09:36.pace. It will be another birdie. Number eight in this round for
:09:37. > :09:42.Branden Grace. He now just needs par on the last and he will be the first
:09:43. > :09:56.man in major championship history to shoot 62. One hole to go.
:09:57. > :10:05.The third green, Russell Henley, trying to open his birdie account
:10:06. > :10:17.for the day. It is not far away. Off he goes, getting into red numbers.
:10:18. > :10:29.Is there are still enough? It is plenty of club.
:10:30. > :10:39.-- is there still enough. Just about the perfect line for Branden Grace.
:10:40. > :10:47.He could not ask for anything better. Safely on, and two putts. It
:10:48. > :10:59.is a good shot, but quite a way from the hole. And running away.
:11:00. > :11:08.Darcy, on the seventh, he birdied the fifth. He recovered well from a
:11:09. > :11:17.bad first round with 69 yesterday. -- Garcia, or in the seventh hole.
:11:18. > :11:23.He likes it. Another birdie. Garcia is level par for the championship.
:11:24. > :11:31.They welcome home Branden Grace to the 18th green. On that putting
:11:32. > :11:37.surface, they will shortly see great drama. 62. Back to the first,
:11:38. > :11:40.McIlroy, after the magnificent second, this for an opening birdie
:11:41. > :11:52.and a big cheer. CHEERING
:11:53. > :12:06.What a grand way to start your round. The crowd know what is at
:12:07. > :12:12.stake. Two putts for a record 62. Is it good for pace? It is a great putt
:12:13. > :12:22.by Grace. Two feet left and he will have the 62.
:12:23. > :12:34.McIlroy, the second to the second. He birdied the first.
:12:35. > :12:42.I think he fancies it. Dead on line. Five or six yards short. A good
:12:43. > :12:55.shot. One shot left for Branden Grace, the
:12:56. > :13:15.62nd of his day. There it is. There it is for Branden
:13:16. > :13:25.Grace. It seemed an unbreakable barrier it is in major goal for men.
:13:26. > :13:30.29 before had shot 63. Jack Nicklaus, McIlroy, Norman, all of
:13:31. > :13:42.them. But Branden Grace becomes the first man to shoot 62 in a major.
:13:43. > :13:53.Thanks very much. I really enjoyed it. It was a pleasure to see you
:13:54. > :13:58.play. Thank you. That was awesome. Accepting the congratulations. What
:13:59. > :14:03.a performance by Branden Grace. He did not hit many bad shots in around
:14:04. > :14:14.like mad. 62, his own little piece of history. A great swing from the
:14:15. > :14:24.20-year-old Austin Connelly. He just fired it at the pin. He looks a
:14:25. > :14:29.serious talent. The champion on the 12th, Henrik Stenson. A difficult
:14:30. > :14:35.pin to get close to today, hidden behind a hill.
:14:36. > :14:46.Rolling well. In she goes. Stenson. That gets him to 1-under for the
:14:47. > :14:53.Championship. He's not going to give up his Claret Jug. Two lovely shots
:14:54. > :14:54.for Austin Connelly. The 20-year-old Canadian, and a putt to match.
:14:55. > :15:11.Perfect start. McIlroy at the second. This is a
:15:12. > :15:14.slowish putt. Quite a swing. He's done it. Oh, it turned the other
:15:15. > :15:20.way. How can you putt on greens like
:15:21. > :15:42.this? ! Magnificent effort. Mother nature's been very kind on
:15:43. > :15:49.this third day, and the scoring has shown that. The players have played
:15:50. > :15:52.beautifully, none more so than Branden Grace, in with 62, setting
:15:53. > :15:57.all sorts of records. Let's hear how he did it.
:15:58. > :16:02.How did it feel to walk off the 18th knowing you were the first man in
:16:03. > :16:07.442 Majors to shoot 62? It was awesome. It was a special day. It's
:16:08. > :16:12.obviously great being in history. But it's great to be able to go out
:16:13. > :16:15.on a Saturday and shoot a number to try to get yourself back in
:16:16. > :16:19.contention. To be honest, I wasn't thinking about it. I didn't actually
:16:20. > :16:24.know, I was just making the birdies and I was just on the run trying to
:16:25. > :16:30.finish the 18 without a bogey and that was the main thing on my mind.
:16:31. > :16:34.After the putt on 18? Yes, I had no idea until then. Both came and said
:16:35. > :16:38.congratulations, I knew it was a great round but I didn't know it was
:16:39. > :16:44.in he history books, you know. They told me and I said, what are you
:16:45. > :16:50.talking about. It was great. It makes it even more special and even
:16:51. > :16:54.better doing it at a British Open, at The Open, this is my eighth one
:16:55. > :17:03.and it's definitely one that I'm liking so far.
:17:04. > :17:10.Can he convert this shot? He certainly can. Lovely birdie. On the
:17:11. > :17:22.tee from the USA, Jordan Spieth. Played very well yesterday in foul
:17:23. > :17:51.weather. What can he do on a perfect day?
:17:52. > :18:04.There are better places fancy. Ken's found one of them.
:18:05. > :18:08.Golf courses are amazing for lots of things. One of them is the wildlife.
:18:09. > :18:16.You never know what you are going to find. I'm having a ramble here.
:18:17. > :18:22.Quite a few butterflies about. There they are. One down here, called the
:18:23. > :18:28.Gatekeeper. Can you see it down there? Sitting on the bramble. This
:18:29. > :18:31.week is the big butterfly count so if you are interested in doing the
:18:32. > :18:35.butterfly count, butterfly conservation. Look at him, a little
:18:36. > :18:39.beautiful thing. It's not quite warm enough for him to fly at the moment
:18:40. > :18:47.so you can get your hand quite close to it. Look at this for a... There
:18:48. > :18:51.will have been a few people that needed one of these yesterday. A
:18:52. > :18:55.mushroom. Could have used it for an umbrella! I love links courses,
:18:56. > :18:59.they're good for the environment, good for the wildlife and I'm
:19:00. > :19:03.particularly interested in butterflies and there's loads here.
:19:04. > :19:10.Well done, Ken. Look at this little beauty. What's down there then? I'm
:19:11. > :19:14.going to pop in here for a minute and see what's about. You never know
:19:15. > :19:18.when you get your nose into something.
:19:19. > :20:16.CHEERING AND APPLAUSE. Have another look at this. Gives it
:20:17. > :20:23.a good old crack, very youthful swing. Eyeing it. Dead on line. One
:20:24. > :20:32.bounce and oh! That's the way you do it!
:20:33. > :20:59.Matsuyama getting his fair share there. Richie Ramsey's attempt at
:21:00. > :21:04.the second. Yes, yes! Three for Ramsey. Better by his playing
:21:05. > :21:20.partner, Austin Connelly. Spieth. Easily passed by Spieth up
:21:21. > :21:27.and down as he does so often. A par to begin his third round for the
:21:28. > :21:38.leader. McIlroy. First of the short holes.
:21:39. > :21:45.Where is he, where is he, where is he? Come on. Well, I thought it
:21:46. > :21:54.sounded a bit clumpy when he hit that, as if he'd gone too deep on
:21:55. > :22:00.line but short. Austin Connelly, magical start, birdie eagle, but a
:22:01. > :22:02.bit of bother here on the third. Magical run is over. That for his
:22:03. > :22:17.par. McIlroy short of the fourth, par-3.
:22:18. > :22:20.Well short. You don't want to be dropping shots with totally
:22:21. > :22:29.misjudged shots. That looks... Pretty good. By golly! Just when
:22:30. > :22:35.you've seen it all, they do something silly like that. It's
:22:36. > :22:41.wonderful. What with young Connelly starting, McIlroy pitching in. What
:22:42. > :22:47.a day this has been. What a rare mood I'm in. Another look. See the
:22:48. > :22:51.hump in front of him, this is no pushover, just gets it to the top of
:22:52. > :22:57.the hill, destined for the hole all the way. The huge crowd here today
:22:58. > :23:02.are having their money's worth. I don't think I've ever seen more
:23:03. > :23:09.people on a golf course and are they enjoying it? !
:23:10. > :23:21.Connelly to save his par on the third.
:23:22. > :23:38.No pars yet. Birdie, eagle, bogey for the young Canadian. Stenson at
:23:39. > :23:46.the 15th. Second shot. This is a great opportunity for a birdie or
:23:47. > :23:54.eagle on this 5-par hole. It's not gone the other way. That leaves a
:23:55. > :24:05.difficult four. Kuchar. Good lie, just off the fairway. Second shot at
:24:06. > :24:09.the second. Good straight shot is all that's needed. And he's done it.
:24:10. > :24:27.Good shot. All the players are out on the
:24:28. > :24:34.course. 6-under the target set by Jordan Spieth and Branden Grace's 62
:24:35. > :24:38.takes him within two shots. Dustin Johnson also making it to three
:24:39. > :24:47.back, as is Rory McIlroy. What a start from the Northern Irishman.
:24:48. > :25:03.McIlroy having a cut at the fifth. Couple of twos here. Par-4 in
:25:04. > :25:08.reality, but the tee's born brought up and that's sailing high.
:25:09. > :25:14.Handsome? It certainly is. Hello, hello!
:25:15. > :25:26.Threewood for McIlroy. 310 yards today. Stunning.
:25:27. > :25:36.Cabrera-Bello. Little chip up the green. Making a mockery of the game
:25:37. > :25:41.today. Everywhere you look from all sorts of distances.
:25:42. > :25:50.Just playing a 7-iron chip. Maybe more aloft than I thought. Beautiful
:25:51. > :26:03.shot. Kuchar just folds himself into
:26:04. > :26:08.position. This for his first birdie of the day.
:26:09. > :26:24.Yes, indeed. Kuch-Kuch they call him.
:26:25. > :26:33.Brooks Koepka, chance of a birdie. Absolutely dead straight. Rattled
:26:34. > :26:35.in. It was going at some speed. Koepka hops on board the birdie
:26:36. > :26:43.train, bogeyed the first. Casey nearing the end of his round.
:26:44. > :26:54.Playing alongside Dustin Johnson. Something for Paul Casey. Turned 40
:26:55. > :27:11.yesterday. Kuchar and Spieth side by side,
:27:12. > :27:17.Kuchar playing first. Difficult to get a good view of this pin.
:27:18. > :27:34.And it's just about there. Just in. What a shot from cut ah. Ramsey at
:27:35. > :27:40.the fourth. Birdie putt. Oh, yes indeed!
:27:41. > :28:06.Spieth and his caddy have been taking an inordinate amount of time
:28:07. > :28:11.deciding how to play, particularly after the magnificent previous shot.
:28:12. > :28:19.Let's see if all that talking has done any good.
:28:20. > :28:31.It did! Would you believe it? It did.
:28:32. > :28:54.Come on, come on, oh, golly. That's a three. Tee shot, on line put. Six
:28:55. > :28:59.inches short. Still a three and a birdie.
:29:00. > :29:28.What a simple hole the third is. Great stuff. 6-under.
:29:29. > :29:38.Koepka. Can he get to 4-under? Yes, he can. So Brooks Koepka bogeyed the
:29:39. > :29:50.first but birdies on the third and fourth.
:29:51. > :30:04.This is Chan Kim from the United States. He is on the tenth hole. It
:30:05. > :30:08.is a short par four. We are seeing more and more of these shots. Give
:30:09. > :30:13.the best players in the world the best conditions and they will do
:30:14. > :30:18.this kind of thing. A tap in birdie for Kim. What a beautiful day. The
:30:19. > :30:22.man who once possessed the most beautiful swinging golf, Frank
:30:23. > :30:30.Noble, is joining our commentary team. Thank you. Two weeks ago, the
:30:31. > :30:33.course looked exactly like it does just now but they soften in bile --
:30:34. > :30:42.the softening of the golf course by the overnight rain has made it
:30:43. > :30:47.perfect, can you see perfect? Spieth and Kuchar, pushing each other
:30:48. > :30:50.along. The lean of a man who has lost it a little bit to the right.
:30:51. > :30:59.Short and right. At one stage he threatened Branden
:31:00. > :31:28.Grace's round of 62. I am not sure I have seen a player
:31:29. > :31:31.frustrated with a 64 before. But Dustin Johnson now as he left a few
:31:32. > :31:38.shots out there and the others were making headway as well. A wonderful
:31:39. > :31:42.round of golf, no bogeys, six birdies.
:31:43. > :31:45.A 64 for Dustin Johnson, 3-under par, four back from Jordan Spieth
:31:46. > :31:50.who has picked up his first birdie of the day. Matt Kuchar is right in
:31:51. > :31:58.touch with his fellow American. Let's hear from Johnson. How much
:31:59. > :32:01.more did you enjoy today as opposed to yesterday? It was difficult
:32:02. > :32:06.conditions. The first to Maghreb days I was getting up and down from
:32:07. > :32:11.everywhere, hanging in there. Keeping myself remotely in the
:32:12. > :32:16.tournament. I really hit it badly the first two days. I got some good
:32:17. > :32:20.practice in this morning, some good feel, and I started swinging better.
:32:21. > :32:29.Today I controlled the ball nicely and take lots of great shots. Brooks
:32:30. > :32:33.Koepka, going for it on the fifth, just a three wood. He might have to
:32:34. > :32:40.take something of this. 298 yards as the crow flies. He gives it a
:32:41. > :32:51.fearful whack. I beautiful shot from Koepka. Not as close as McIlroy, but
:32:52. > :32:58.that for an eagle. Poulter, not as long as Koepka, hence the driver at
:32:59. > :33:09.the fifth. He needs everything. He nearly fell over. Past it. There we
:33:10. > :33:17.are. Stay. A lovely drive. I think the crowd pushed that around.
:33:18. > :33:43.He was up early. No rotation of the clubface. Jamie Lovemark. Not quite
:33:44. > :33:54.joining the party, but he might get an invitation. Kuchar left his first
:33:55. > :34:10.putt from just off the front of the fourth Green a long way short. One
:34:11. > :34:16.shot will go. You know you're following a long way back with
:34:17. > :34:23.bogeys. Losing ground. Kuchar slips back to five. That is the option for
:34:24. > :34:29.Poulter. Firmly on the red Line, more gently on the black line.
:34:30. > :34:44.Either way, this is for eagle. On neither line. Rory is in trouble at
:34:45. > :34:53.seven. Even the best falter. There are a few watching familiar with
:34:54. > :34:58.that shot. Koepka, his eagle putt. There are the options. Firmly on the
:34:59. > :35:08.Red Line. More gently on the black line, to give you an idea. It is a
:35:09. > :35:14.two putt birdie. For Koepka, it is birdie on the third of the fourth
:35:15. > :35:23.and the fifth. Getting a run going, two behind Spieth.
:35:24. > :35:38.A much-needed birdie for Poulter. He drove the green.
:35:39. > :35:51.Kuchar, two back, electing to try and drive the green at the fifth.
:35:52. > :36:03.He will have to threaded through the bunkers at the front. He has. One of
:36:04. > :36:10.the best we have seen. These players are showing us how the game should
:36:11. > :36:16.be played today. What a scene, water setting, what a stretch of golfing
:36:17. > :36:22.terrain. Birkdale, Hillside, Formby, further down the coast. West Lancs.
:36:23. > :36:31.Nealon of 60,000 spectators coming here today. Amazing crowds. McIlroy,
:36:32. > :36:41.problems coming out of the rough, and this to save par. A backward
:36:42. > :36:45.step for McIlroy. Bogeys today really are the hand
:36:46. > :36:49.brakes. A dropped shot for Rory McIlroy moves him back to 3-under
:36:50. > :36:54.par. Matt Kuchar also dropped a shot. He is on 5-under, but Brooks
:36:55. > :37:00.Koepka, with three birdies on the bones moves into second. There are
:37:01. > :37:09.two shots behind the man in front, Jordan Spieth. The sixth green in
:37:10. > :37:12.the distance for Koepka. He wants this to stay in the air. Does it
:37:13. > :37:48.stay? One more yard. A putt for a two. An eagle on the
:37:49. > :37:54.fifth for Kuchar. Goodness me. It finishes right behind the hole.
:37:55. > :37:57.Kuchar denied an eagle, a chance to tie the lead. There it goes. One
:37:58. > :38:09.behind his playing partner again. Koepka forced to chip at six.
:38:10. > :38:19.Because of the steepness of the bank. It was very nearly going to
:38:20. > :38:26.come back to him. McIlroy, unleashing on the eighth hole.
:38:27. > :38:36.He lost it on the breeze, what little there is today. Bunkers, and
:38:37. > :38:49.the ditch. He is more worried about the bunkers. Some nasty, thick rough
:38:50. > :38:53.as well. All will soon be revealed. Poulter, testing his bunker skills
:38:54. > :38:55.on the sixth hole. He has hit some great ones this week already. Add
:38:56. > :39:20.this to the list. Rickie Fowler. A beautiful shot into
:39:21. > :39:26.the 15th. Not much going on there, and eagle, and a birdie at the par
:39:27. > :39:38.five. Time for an escape now for the US open champion.
:39:39. > :39:54.He does. He stays within two. He needs now is to keep that momentum
:39:55. > :39:55.going. Out of jail. Jamie Lovemark, to get to 2-under par at the
:39:56. > :40:06.difficult eighth hole. It took its time and made up its
:40:07. > :40:24.mind. Lots of usable green to the left of
:40:25. > :40:36.this flag and perhaps a little past four Spieth.
:40:37. > :40:52.-- for Spieth. Nothing left. Straight at it. Stenson at 18.
:40:53. > :41:17.Trying to push a little closer. Well, we have seen lots of different
:41:18. > :41:25.shots. This is awkward. The grass behind his ball is forcing him to
:41:26. > :41:27.putt. He gave this a bit tougher wrap. A lovely touch from Matt
:41:28. > :41:46.Kuchar. -- a bit of a rap. Yesterday
:41:47. > :41:54.afternoon, McIlroy hit some fantastic pitches. Misjudgement from
:41:55. > :41:59.the tee. He will have that to save par. The greens are a little quicker
:42:00. > :42:08.today, little smoother. This is down the slope.
:42:09. > :42:18.Slightly misread, just the one red figure on his card, despite the
:42:19. > :42:24.second shot at number six. There are massive crowds out there today. They
:42:25. > :42:34.are really enjoying this display of golf. He leads by one. Stenson at
:42:35. > :42:41.18. A chance to get to 4-under par. This would take him round in 64. He
:42:42. > :42:47.has given himself a transfer Sunday's final round. A great round
:42:48. > :43:04.of golf for the Iceman. They love him. 69, 73, 65 today for 3-under.
:43:05. > :43:10.Koepka, in the bunker from the tee on the short par three. Once again,
:43:11. > :43:27.trying to get away with par. His putting does not save him this time.
:43:28. > :43:35.Let's have a look at the scoreboard. It is exciting. Branden Grace around
:43:36. > :43:41.in 62, a record low for a major championship. He is at 8-under in
:43:42. > :43:44.the clubhouse. Spieth leads from Kuchar.
:43:45. > :43:50.Let's catch up with Henrik Stenson. 65 today, just the one birdie -- the
:43:51. > :43:54.one bogey and six birdies. How do you feel your plate? It is the best
:43:55. > :43:59.I have played and the best my putting has been. I was reading the
:44:00. > :44:02.greens well. I hit lots of solid putts earlier in the week. More
:44:03. > :44:07.could have dropped in. I am pleased with that around. Hopefully by the
:44:08. > :44:12.end of the day we might have made up a few on the leaders. It will need
:44:13. > :44:13.something special tomorrow to challenge, but at least we might
:44:14. > :44:26.have an outside chance. My goodness. Bogeys today, the
:44:27. > :44:37.fielders charging past you. You cannot afford many bogeys. He found
:44:38. > :44:43.our bad life from his tee shot. -- he found a bad lie from the tee. The
:44:44. > :44:47.sign is certainly shining today. You can see this short par three, the
:44:48. > :44:56.seventh hole. We will find Ken Brown down there. One of my favourite
:44:57. > :45:00.par-3s is number 7, elevated tee back there. This very small green
:45:01. > :45:04.with seven bunkers around it, including this one with a little
:45:05. > :45:08.island in it which is very awkward. Because you are playing from an
:45:09. > :45:12.elevated tee, the ball plugs in it sometimes and you are in an awkward
:45:13. > :45:18.spot. This bunker on the left is one of the deeper ones. If you look how
:45:19. > :45:20.steep the lip is, it's interesting. Oh, my Lord!
:45:21. > :45:31.LAUGHTER. It's the Beef. Perhaps he sleeps
:45:32. > :45:35.there. He's off! The bunker on the other side, this
:45:36. > :45:41.is the smallest one on the green. Cheers, Beef. Did you have a good
:45:42. > :45:45.night's sleep? Tuck a couple of balls in there and you can see if
:45:46. > :45:51.you get to the bottom you get a half decent lie. If you don't, you could
:45:52. > :46:03.be in a tricky spot. Splash it out here. Lovely sand here. Can't teach
:46:04. > :46:07.that. The eternal vegetarian, Ken Brown, both hands full there. The
:46:08. > :46:18.hole looks slightly different minus Ken Brown here. Spieth.
:46:19. > :46:45.Quite a few birdies. One at the third, one at the fifth, one at the
:46:46. > :46:49.eighth and now one at the 15th. Fisher moves to 2-under. Doesn't
:46:50. > :46:54.waste much time once he's over the ball. Spieth for two at the seventh.
:46:55. > :47:00.Learnt a bit from his playing partner. And he makes no mistake,
:47:01. > :47:04.extends his lead to two. 8-under. I think he's going to be tough to
:47:05. > :47:19.beat. Just four yards from the back of the
:47:20. > :47:21.green, got to be careful, you go down a steep bank if you go over
:47:22. > :47:44.there. Rory's second. But... Might soon be five. Needs to
:47:45. > :47:49.get going again. Koepka. Good line to attack this pin. And a helping
:47:50. > :48:15.hand. Yes! McIlroy slams it into forward
:48:16. > :48:21.gear again. 32. Look at that. Wonderful scene.
:48:22. > :48:26.We are just here off the ninth green, Rory just walking past us.
:48:27. > :48:31.The spring has returned a little bit after that hole. There was a bit of
:48:32. > :48:35.a blip over seven and eight. There certainly was. There was a huge roar
:48:36. > :48:39.on the ninth when he made that birdie putt. It was almost
:48:40. > :48:44.reminiscent of what happened two days ago, looks like he was gone, on
:48:45. > :48:49.the verge of yet another misputt. He turned it around. The roar there on
:48:50. > :48:53.the ninth, all these people right here are rooting for Rory. We should
:48:54. > :48:57.mention the incredible crowd, it's not just around Rory but the whole
:48:58. > :49:00.course. Jordan Spieth out in front, the difficult thing is getting him
:49:01. > :49:05.off the top of the leaderboard when he's there. He is well entrenched
:49:06. > :49:11.and confident. He got his tenth win on the PGA Tour, only one got it at
:49:12. > :49:15.a younger age, that was Tiger Woods. Over the last couple of years, this
:49:16. > :49:21.is what we have wanted, Spieth, McIlroy, by the looks of things, we
:49:22. > :49:22.are just about to get it. Rory McIlroy's 3-under, he's on the
:49:23. > :49:39.tenth. Fresh off the birdie at nine. Two
:49:40. > :49:48.bunkers down the left. Perilously close.
:49:49. > :50:02.Kuchar perfect tee shot. Pin on the back ledge of this eighth. Good
:50:03. > :50:17.stuff. The flag's right about there! Just a puff of a breeze from his
:50:18. > :50:56.left to push this towards the flag. Ross Fisher. Chance to get to
:50:57. > :51:06.3-under. And he does it right in the heart of it. He joins the others in
:51:07. > :51:09.tied position for fifth. Kuchar for a birdie.
:51:10. > :51:40.Now, third for McIlroy at ten. Didn't make the sand but this is
:51:41. > :51:45.ugly. Some of that is really thick rough and not much green to work
:51:46. > :51:50.with. Down slope. Just had a momentary lapse of concentration.
:51:51. > :51:53.He's taken a gamble here. A lot of players couldn't have played that
:51:54. > :51:57.without strength. Spieth. Just watch this. It's like it's on a piece of
:51:58. > :52:01.string running on ice. Absolutely magical. 9-under. There
:52:02. > :52:19.was a touch of Tom Watson there. There's birdies all over the place
:52:20. > :52:26.at the moment. Jordan Spieth moves to 9-under, a two-shot lead restored
:52:27. > :52:31.over Matt Kutcher on 7-under. Back-to-back birdies for Fisher on
:52:32. > :52:38.the sixth hole has him six back on 3-under. McIlroy splashed into the
:52:39. > :52:46.next bunker. He's playing fourth on an awkward lie. Done pretty well to
:52:47. > :52:53.get there. Just to drop the one stroke.
:52:54. > :53:10.Flat lie. Poulter from just over 160 yards.
:53:11. > :53:22.Can he? Can he? No. A six on one of the easier holes. For a lesser
:53:23. > :53:26.player, you might say that's his Open Championship over but he's so
:53:27. > :53:33.capable of stringing five birdies together.
:53:34. > :53:38.Nicely done for Ian Poulter. Little birdie at nine takes him at level
:53:39. > :53:46.par. Drops two birdies. 3-under. Found a pretty good lie in the right
:53:47. > :53:55.rough, Kuchar. Doesn't want to go over the back of
:53:56. > :54:11.the green. Is it going to get up the bank at
:54:12. > :54:15.the front? No, it doesn't. Scared of a slight flyer.
:54:16. > :54:22.Been very impressed with his irons in the past hour or so, Peter.
:54:23. > :54:25.Striking the ball beautifully. Looks impregnable at this moment but still
:54:26. > :54:30.a lot can happen. He looks very calm. Always looks so calm.
:54:31. > :54:53.Maybe too far. Yes, it is. One short. One past.
:54:54. > :54:58.Richie Ramsey. This is a good angle to putt from, but not really for a
:54:59. > :55:03.par. Left it short. Kuchar. Beautiful
:55:04. > :55:16.grass but not for the faint-hearted. Finds the centre of the hole. Great
:55:17. > :56:21.viewing spot. No birdies here yesterday. There's
:56:22. > :56:35.been a few today. Bubba makes one. 7-under.
:56:36. > :56:41.If he misses any, they are this sort of length and a bit nearer. Breaks a
:56:42. > :56:43.bit more than you think this one. It will dive right if he doesn't keep
:56:44. > :57:05.the pace up. Got it. It was moving. The pin is on the left edge of that
:57:06. > :57:12.TV tower. Can't see the flag. 143 yards. Good angle for Poulter.
:57:13. > :57:16.Is that Ryder Cup buzz coming around the corner? Psyching himself up.
:57:17. > :57:25.Matsuyama. Third shot, 15th hole. Very well played. Deep bunker.
:57:26. > :57:39.Chance of a birdie. Alex Loren. He's trundled it in.
:57:40. > :58:00.Look at that, all pars. Just outside the left edge. Ian
:58:01. > :58:10.Poulter birdies the ninth. He's got it. 4-under. Only three players
:58:11. > :58:20.ahead of him. I think he's enjoying it.
:58:21. > :58:30.Matsuyama after a splendid bunker shot. Oh!
:58:31. > :59:05.Took an awful long time to settle there. As if he wasn't sure what to
:59:06. > :59:10.do. Everything worked out. As long as it doesn't go off the green. Oh,
:59:11. > :59:15.would you believe it? ! It didn't deserve that.
:59:16. > :59:51.67, 71, 71, 67. Connelly, his third shot that the 11th. Over the bunker.
:59:52. > :00:15.McIlroy. 185 yards. At the 12th. The pin is back right. He is trying to
:00:16. > :00:19.cut it in. It takes great skill to get that this flag. Very good, pin
:00:20. > :00:44.high left. Poulter. He drives up the 11. Not in the.
:00:45. > :00:50.Gee-whiz. -- not in there. In that horrid patchwork. A wry smile.
:00:51. > :00:56.Perhaps not. When he gets there, he will not be smiling. With the modern
:00:57. > :01:01.ball and the modern sand wedge they can do such deft things from this
:01:02. > :01:10.range. He nearly did it, just delightful. That little bit of grit.
:01:11. > :01:25.Brilliant from Kuch. Gary Woodland at the 12th. Two over. Oh, boy. It
:01:26. > :01:30.has been a feast for the masses of spectators. It would not surprise me
:01:31. > :01:33.if it is another record. A good tea-mac shot, he spun his ball off
:01:34. > :01:43.the front of the green with his second at ten. He used the putter up
:01:44. > :01:48.to here. This is to save par. He does not always bash it in. That was
:01:49. > :01:59.more of a caress. No bogeys on his card, with three birdies. Poulter,
:02:00. > :02:06.creeping along nicely. This is his third shot. He is not happy with
:02:07. > :02:15.that. Got into trouble, hacked out. Well, I have seen worse than that. A
:02:16. > :02:20.good putt will solve all problems. At the 12th, McIlroy. Never an easy
:02:21. > :02:31.green to red. Well, he has misread it. It looks like a par three. Still
:02:32. > :02:37.a trio of Americans that lead the way at Royal Birkdale. All separated
:02:38. > :02:44.by four shots. Jordan Spieth in front, 9-under par. He is setting
:02:45. > :02:52.the target to match. This is going to be a big drive. Three bunkers on
:02:53. > :03:02.the right, to a crawl on the left. -- two on the left. Where is it
:03:03. > :03:13.going? Jeepers creepers. You do not go that far on your holidays.
:03:14. > :03:21.Poulter to save par. Another shot goes. Too many bogeys on Poulter's
:03:22. > :03:27.card. He was in trouble from the tee on
:03:28. > :03:34.the final hole, Fisher. This four par. It will be at least one shot.
:03:35. > :03:40.Still a bit to do. He has scarcely put a foot wrong today. The 11th
:03:41. > :03:51.hole, Jordan Spieth. 167 yards to go.
:03:52. > :04:10.The long 13th, reduced to very little by McIlroy. Can he make
:04:11. > :04:14.something happen before it is too late? That is pretty good. The putts
:04:15. > :04:30.do need to drop. Chan Kim at 17. Two great shots.
:04:31. > :04:33.This for an eagle. Will it come back? Not quite, but a solid birdie.
:04:34. > :04:49.He moves to 3-under. Bubba Watson, and the chance to get
:04:50. > :04:59.to 2-under at the 15th. The ball is there somewhere. It is there. He
:05:00. > :05:03.does enjoy a par five for a snack. Just the one birdie today for Bubba
:05:04. > :05:08.Watson. Spieth, another birdie chance, this is to get to double
:05:09. > :05:22.figures. He fancied that one as well. He is not taking any risks.
:05:23. > :05:25.That is only about nine inches. He is nothing if not thorough. The
:05:26. > :05:43.spectators moving on to get in position. In the she goes. -- in she
:05:44. > :06:04.goes. He says wow a lot, Jordan Spieth. So, 25 feet and one inch
:06:05. > :06:13.four Kuchar. This for his birdie. 9.7 inches of uphill completely fill
:06:14. > :06:22.them. Bubba Watson. A chance to get to 2-under par at the 15th. The ball
:06:23. > :06:29.as there somewhere. It is there. He does enjoy a par five Furness. Just
:06:30. > :06:36.the third birdie two for Bubba Watson. Spieth, another birdie
:06:37. > :06:44.chance. This to get to double figures. No. He fancied that one as
:06:45. > :06:55.well. He is not taking any risks. That is only about nine inches. He
:06:56. > :07:02.is nothing if not thorough. The spectators moving on to get in
:07:03. > :07:12.position. In she goes. He says wow a lot, Jordan Spieth.
:07:13. > :07:21.McIlroy looking for his three on the 13th. Moving. Unhappy. It has all
:07:22. > :07:26.gone a little bit wrong for Rory McIlroy. A double bogey on the
:07:27. > :07:38.tenth. No birdies since. Outside the top ten.
:07:39. > :07:47.Connelly at 13. He has hit a beauty from the tee. A long iron in. He has
:07:48. > :07:54.a good game face. He certainly does. He gives nothing away. He would make
:07:55. > :08:03.a fine poker player. He would soon get rid of all his prize-money.
:08:04. > :08:25.Poulter, it needs to drop. And shot gone furry Ian Poulter. He slips
:08:26. > :08:32.back. Back-to-back bogeys. Costly. Not putting a foot wrong, is he? No.
:08:33. > :08:39.When he takes a tiny step out of line, he is quickly on it and
:08:40. > :08:47.recovers well. This one is heading left. The pin is back right. You can
:08:48. > :08:52.really attack this pin. It seems tucked away. That is a beautiful
:08:53. > :09:00.shot from Jordan Spieth. Rory McIlroy on his way to the 14th tee.
:09:01. > :09:06.Ken has been looking at the pin position. Day three and I have got
:09:07. > :09:11.the pin positions for today's play. Some of them are tighter than you
:09:12. > :09:17.would anticipate. This one is four from the edge. This one is only nine
:09:18. > :09:22.feat. Quite a few are near the edge. The 14th is ten on from the front
:09:23. > :09:26.and four from the right-hand side. It is perched on the very edge of
:09:27. > :09:35.the green, with the bunker guarding it right at the front. One, two,
:09:36. > :09:40.three, four, five and a half yards over the bunker and if you slip to
:09:41. > :09:44.the right, the ball will get dragged off. It goes down the edge. When you
:09:45. > :09:49.hear the commentator said, you have missed on the short side, it means
:09:50. > :09:55.you have missed on the side the pin is caught. It is awkward to get up
:09:56. > :09:59.and down in two from there. Impossible to get to this flag with
:10:00. > :10:05.the wind coming from the right. You will have to in for the centre of
:10:06. > :10:09.the green and putt for the flag. If you land here, you have the whole
:10:10. > :10:17.width of the green to a mad. It is only about a 15-20 foot putt. This
:10:18. > :10:23.14th, that is a Rascal of the pin. McIlroy might be dragged into
:10:24. > :10:37.chasing the pins. He is a long way behind Spieth. Dark skies above.
:10:38. > :10:41.Sick, says the master. -- sit, says. A beautiful shot. Just to the left
:10:42. > :10:50.of the flying, exactly where he was aiming. The third shot for Matsuyama
:10:51. > :10:51.at the par five 17th. That is woeful. It was all follow through
:10:52. > :11:15.and no backswing. Connelly, he seems to play without
:11:16. > :11:23.fear. That was a rather timid putt. If it is birdie after a daft chip.
:11:24. > :11:26.Matsuyama to move to 4-under. He has holed it. He moves into a tie for
:11:27. > :11:34.fourth. Matt Kuchar, a long, long birdie
:11:35. > :12:09.putt. John Woods tending the flag. A lovely deep iron to 15 feet. This
:12:10. > :12:16.four birdie four McIlroy. Momentum has just gone. You wonder if it is
:12:17. > :12:19.going to be one of those majors were McIlroy threatens, he is there or
:12:20. > :12:25.thereabouts but he cannot quite get to the very top. A perfect look at
:12:26. > :12:36.the line of Jordan Spieth's birdie putt at the 12th.
:12:37. > :12:41.He cannot quite get into double figures. Doing enough to keep the
:12:42. > :13:04.rest of the field that day, though. -- at bay, though. Kim at 18. Up and
:13:05. > :13:10.down for 67. Beautifully played. Whipping the right hand through, and
:13:11. > :13:20.the club risking under the ball, flopping it out on a soft pillow of
:13:21. > :13:29.sand. He is trying to save par at 17. A little heavy-handed.
:13:30. > :13:39.Chan Kim, the American, born in Korea, grew up in Hawaii. The final
:13:40. > :13:45.shot of the day. In she goes. 67. Playing alongside Ernie els today. A
:13:46. > :13:53.wonderful round. McIlroy, trying to make something happen. The par five.
:13:54. > :14:19.Matsuyama's second to the final hole. Hold that pose. He crumples
:14:20. > :14:33.and disappointment. That is all right. Better than that.
:14:34. > :14:38.Koepka for bogey. OK. Just the one dropped. He is now three batting
:14:39. > :14:56.Kuchar, and five behind Spieth. Another shot gone for Poulter. Three
:14:57. > :15:07.in a row for him. It's slipping away from him.
:15:08. > :15:23.Bubba Watson. Couple of holes from home but this to drop just one.
:15:24. > :15:28.Double bogey in the 16th. Matt Kuchar on the 13th. Looks heavy. Can
:15:29. > :15:39.he get enough club on this to chase it up to the green. Looks straight.
:15:40. > :15:57.Wants a good bounce. Oh, and he got it. It was a good shot.
:15:58. > :16:06.The sky is so dark here. They are talking about possible storm
:16:07. > :16:24.disruption very soon. Spieth second to 13th. Softly-softly, he says.
:16:25. > :16:38.McIlroy's crashed a huge drive down here. Mid iron to this par-5.
:16:39. > :16:46.Something special. And it is very, very special indeed. That for me
:16:47. > :17:01.though. And they're still willing him on. Kuchar from the back of the
:17:02. > :17:18.13th. Up and over the top. Up she goes. Looks good.
:17:19. > :17:26.Matsuyama. He's reached the final green. This for a birdie and a round
:17:27. > :17:54.of 65. Not quite. 66 for Matsuyama. Spieth from just over the back of
:17:55. > :18:09.13. This for birdie. He may have learnt from Kuchar's. Or he may not.
:18:10. > :18:17.So a par apiece on the 13th for the two leaders. Still Jordan Spieth
:18:18. > :18:19.ahead of Matt Kuchar by two shots. Look at the round from Branden
:18:20. > :18:27.Grace. He's in amongst the mix, the first time in a men's major we have
:18:28. > :18:32.seen a 62 and here is how he did it. Let's take you through the very
:18:33. > :18:40.first 62 in men's major golf history. Branden Grace. He was off
:18:41. > :18:44.to a flyer, a very early starter. Started 4-over one inside the cut
:18:45. > :18:52.mark. At the first, he found his first birdie. His next came at the
:18:53. > :18:59.fourth. The par-3, long, long birdie putt. But this was a sign of things
:19:00. > :19:08.to come. Never had a great record at Open Championship. Just one top 20.
:19:09. > :19:13.Here at the fifth, took the driver and got his reward.
:19:14. > :19:25.No eagle but a two-putt birdie and his third of the day. So today, the
:19:26. > :19:35.par-4 and the putt working once more. Seen it done before this week
:19:36. > :19:40.but this was for 29 on the front nine. Beautifully judged. And
:19:41. > :19:43.Branden Grace at this stage must have been wondering what was
:19:44. > :19:44.possible, although he said he never knew, never thought about the
:19:45. > :19:57.record. Par-3 and another two for Grace. Not
:19:58. > :20:12.had a great season. Seldom missed the cut.
:20:13. > :20:28.At this stage he was 7-under trying to get on two in the par-5. What a
:20:29. > :20:34.shot this was. Two putts for a birdie. 8-under and then this, the
:20:35. > :20:40.62nd shot of the day. And the first time that had been done by a man,
:20:41. > :20:49.major golf history. 62 for Branden Grace. After that, this must go in,
:20:50. > :21:44.don't miss this! Austin Connelly. Youthful character
:21:45. > :21:48.from Canada. 3-under. He had a couple of chances, missed a couple,
:21:49. > :22:03.but he's kept going wonderfully well. Showing very good nerve and
:22:04. > :22:11.concentration. Spieth. The last of the short holes. I think he likes
:22:12. > :22:19.it. He fences it. Perhaps he's ringfenced it. Right length, wrong
:22:20. > :22:27.line. Kuchar trying to get nearer the pin than Spieth. He looks a
:22:28. > :22:54.little more pleased with that. Cabrera-Bello. Par-5. Go left a
:22:55. > :23:04.bit... And get up on to to the green. A beauty from Rafa.
:23:05. > :23:10.18th hole for Alex Noren. At long iron, he's well back.
:23:11. > :23:20.Suits his shape. He's a left-to-righter. All pars and one
:23:21. > :23:27.birdie so far. Might be his second birdie of the day. That was a
:23:28. > :23:32.wonderful shot. Austin Connelly will give it a whack one day. He'll put
:23:33. > :23:34.on some beef and who knows what 'll happen. This for birdie. Three from
:23:35. > :24:11.the front edge. Good pace. Be easy to putt it into
:24:12. > :24:22.the bunker from there. Koepka's second on 15. That looks to be
:24:23. > :24:38.pretty good. Pitched all the way. Absolutely where he was aiming.
:24:39. > :24:46.Northern for a birdie. -- Noren for a birdie. Bit of a dribbler. Kuchar
:24:47. > :25:06.for a birdie. 14th hole. 32. Well, we are coming
:25:07. > :25:10.to the end of this third round and I wonder if there's going to be a
:25:11. > :25:24.couple of twists and stings in the tail.
:25:25. > :25:38.This is not one of Spieth's favourite lengths. Could be a
:25:39. > :25:43.two-shot swing if he misses this. Only a one-shot swing. Kuchar two,
:25:44. > :25:56.Spieth three, and it's on to the 15th.
:25:57. > :26:03.Ken's been looking at the 15th. I'm standing on the 15th fairway and the
:26:04. > :26:07.tee is there. It's the first par-5 and a demanding tee shot no matter
:26:08. > :26:09.where the wind is, due to the bunkering. There are three down the
:26:10. > :26:15.left and two on the right. Let's have a look. Here is the first down
:26:16. > :26:19.the left. This is the tee back here. The first doesn't come into play.
:26:20. > :26:24.This one can if the wind is strongly in your face. This one here, that
:26:25. > :26:27.little bunker there, that's 270 yards to clear it. But the tricky
:26:28. > :26:30.thing if you can clear that and push it, you get gathered up by these on
:26:31. > :26:35.the right hand side. There are two there. 300 to reach them. 312 to
:26:36. > :26:38.clear them. The wind behind you can clear that. The whole doing leg is
:26:39. > :26:42.at the moment where you want the ball to land. The tactics are,
:26:43. > :26:46.depending on the breeze, you can hit it here, if you are there you can
:26:47. > :26:49.hit it here, but the play, interestingly, is if the wind is
:26:50. > :26:53.behind and you can take this out of play, and most of the play, can do
:26:54. > :26:59.270 yards in the air, you can carry this one. If you pull it a bit, come
:27:00. > :27:04.and see what the rough is like over this bunker. The rough over here, if
:27:05. > :27:07.you can carry this, you'll avoid the ones on the right, this rough down
:27:08. > :27:11.here is actually very fluffy. In fact, from here, you get the best
:27:12. > :27:15.angle in and basically the rough is very light. There's almost nothing
:27:16. > :27:18.here. If you can carry that bunker, find this left rough, you have got
:27:19. > :27:22.the best angle in and the rough is very light. The tactics here are
:27:23. > :27:37.encompassing, they're tricky. He knows, you know! Here is Kuchar.
:27:38. > :27:48.What ploy is he going to use? Middle right.
:27:49. > :27:55.Spieth trying to follow Kuchar up the fairway. Spieth may be a bit
:27:56. > :28:01.longer than Kuchar. The bunkers could be in play but he's hit them
:28:02. > :28:13.up the left. That should be perfect. And it is.
:28:14. > :28:25.Eagle try for Brooks Koepka. Hawkeye showing the corridor. Good putt.
:28:26. > :28:35.Will it get there? It will not! Good grief. Agony for Koepka.
:28:36. > :28:50.He moves to 5-under. In sole possession of third place right now.
:28:51. > :28:57.You don't want to go paddling there. You have to go eight miles before
:28:58. > :29:01.you go knee deep and it's very treacherous. Come on, Poulter get a
:29:02. > :29:03.birdie you've let it slip through your fingers the last few holes.
:29:04. > :29:24.Well done! 18th fairway. Rafa Cabrera-Bello.
:29:25. > :29:30.Second shot. Trying to cut it into the front right hole position.
:29:31. > :29:38.Trying to help it. And a pretty good shot.
:29:39. > :29:50.Kuchar. It is a mighty big hit for him to reach the screen. He might
:29:51. > :29:56.find a bit of fairway with a bit of bounce and scuttle it up to the
:29:57. > :29:59.front. He did not need it. It landed on the green. Good hit. That was
:30:00. > :30:14.massive. Spieth taking a wood. Not that far
:30:15. > :30:26.from the green. He must be coming from a pretty soft, high cut. --
:30:27. > :30:34.must be going for. There it is. He looks right at it. Beautifully
:30:35. > :30:41.played from Spieth. It should be a safe birdie.
:30:42. > :30:52.Rafa Cabrera-Bello. This putt 467, to move to 3-under. He has been
:30:53. > :31:02.stroking it well. Will he get his reward? They will. A good round. He
:31:03. > :31:14.moves up to sixth place. Rounds of 67, 73 in the wind, and 67 today. He
:31:15. > :31:24.is usually a very good judge of distance. Spieth. Can he judge the
:31:25. > :31:32.distance? Its wings one way and then it swings back. A long putt. Turn to
:31:33. > :31:45.the right. Turn to the right. He missed it all together. That is very
:31:46. > :31:51.unlike him. Two very important tee shots coming up. If he is really
:31:52. > :31:53.going to be challenging tomorrow, he needs to finish no worse than four,
:31:54. > :32:17.four. That is aware right, in the lap of
:32:18. > :32:24.the gods. Bunkers there. -- that is way
:32:25. > :32:34.Well, if Kuchar halls and Spieth misses, we will have a new leader.
:32:35. > :32:40.Relatively straight. Certainly a much easier putt than Jordan Spieth
:32:41. > :32:56.had. It is not far away. It does not quite have the legs.
:32:57. > :33:07.A good birdie. He is now tied with Spieth at 9-under.
:33:08. > :33:23.Richard Bland. Look at this one. He has played some very steady golf
:33:24. > :33:29.this season, and indeed last year. Now we will just see. Master Spieth.
:33:30. > :33:37.That first putt was a surprise. It surprised me because he is usually
:33:38. > :33:41.so good on distance and line. It made him laugh. Golf does that, it
:33:42. > :33:55.makes you laugh, just before you take out your here. -- tear out your
:33:56. > :34:02.hair. It does not matter. Sele V. The crowd needed a bit of
:34:03. > :34:11.excitement. Only three holes left. -- c'est la vie. So, Spieth still
:34:12. > :34:15.leads by one. Three holes left. I am sure there could be a sting in the
:34:16. > :34:28.tail before we pick up the shutters tonight. Kuchar, past Arnold
:34:29. > :34:38.Palmer's plaque in the rough on the right. That is heading towards it. I
:34:39. > :34:43.think it will be on the fairway. It will not make it. It is very close
:34:44. > :35:02.to army. He could be in serious trouble. -- to Arnie. A birdie putt
:35:03. > :35:08.for Koepka. No. He has been relatively quiet. Five birdies, but
:35:09. > :35:15.sadly, three bogeys. McIlroy, the third shot on the par five. He was
:35:16. > :35:22.wide right with his tee shot. Not too bad. He caught it a little bit
:35:23. > :35:26.heavy. As the rain begins to fall at Royal
:35:27. > :35:32.Birkdale, how will that affect the remaining few holes for the leaders?
:35:33. > :35:37.Jordan Spieth still the man out in front. The birdie at 15 taking him
:35:38. > :35:43.to 10-under par, but Matt Kuchar is not going away. A birdie on -- a
:35:44. > :35:53.birdie for him at the Sam Hall and he is one back, on 9-under par.
:35:54. > :36:03.McIlroy, for birdie at 17. All caused by a misdirected tee shot.
:36:04. > :36:12.The back nine have not been his favoured holes. Kuchar did find the
:36:13. > :36:20.sand from the tee, so just splashing out on the 16th. Costly, costly.
:36:21. > :36:30.Connelly. His second shot at the 17th. Skipping through. Is it going
:36:31. > :36:44.to miss? Not quite enough steam. A very good lie for Jordan Spieth,
:36:45. > :37:07.just off the fairway on 16. Walking after it. To the heart of
:37:08. > :37:12.the green. And close as well. Another birdie perhaps coming for
:37:13. > :37:22.Spieth. He is putting his way around today. Kuchar, the third shot to the
:37:23. > :37:30.16th. In the sand from the tee, splashing out to here.
:37:31. > :38:00.The bunker camera, and Austin Connelly. That is how you do it.
:38:01. > :38:06.Matt Kuchar has not dropped a shot since the fourth. This to avoid
:38:07. > :38:12.doing so at the 16th. Go, go, he is crying already. No,
:38:13. > :38:32.no. All sorts of bother for Kuchar. Connelly at the 17th. A putt for
:38:33. > :38:41.birdie. In she goes. Well done, young man. 4-under, very good
:38:42. > :38:47.indeed. There is a chance that Spieth may be as many as four
:38:48. > :38:52.cleared at the moment. Kuchar in trouble, his playing partner. This
:38:53. > :39:02.for birdie. Kuchar racing in to watch. My word, that was close. Just
:39:03. > :39:10.a par. He stays at 10-under. But his lead will grow. Kuchar has a putt
:39:11. > :39:22.for bogey. That is the story at the moment, but
:39:23. > :39:34.it is about to change. Kuchar is going to drop at least one. But it
:39:35. > :39:39.is two. Spieth will lead by three. He did not even looked displeased
:39:40. > :39:48.with his drive, Kuchar, but it went into the sand, out onto the fairway,
:39:49. > :39:53.a loose third, and three putts. A double bogey and he is now three
:39:54. > :40:03.adrift. Down the right-hand side, but he has got a good lie. Sending
:40:04. > :40:10.it high, hoping for some control. That is pretty good from there.
:40:11. > :40:18.Flattered to deceive in this round, got off to a good start, but has
:40:19. > :40:21.toiled a bit since then. Brooks Koepka, his playing partner, Ian
:40:22. > :40:32.Poulter, getting his ball out of the way.
:40:33. > :40:42.Nicely done. Very nicely done by Koepka. A chance to creep closer to
:40:43. > :40:51.Matt Kuchar in second place. McIlroy, on the final green.
:40:52. > :41:03.Is there one at the last? No. That rather sums up the day. So near yet
:41:04. > :41:13.so far. He is some way distant of the lead of Jordan Spieth. Rory
:41:14. > :41:19.McIlroy, it is only a 69. Home in 37, over-par for the back nine and I
:41:20. > :41:23.think that has cost him dearly in this year's Open Championship. That
:41:24. > :41:29.is the leaderboard, the United States one, two and three. It is
:41:30. > :41:33.stretching out. Branden Grace, the 62. You have to go down to the
:41:34. > :41:38.second page of the leaderboard to find the first home contender. Ross
:41:39. > :41:42.Fisher, Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter all on the same number.
:41:43. > :41:48.Let's get the thoughts of Rory McIlroy. Normally when one shoots in
:41:49. > :41:54.the 60s, below par, it is a good feeling. How do you feel today?
:41:55. > :41:58.Disappointed, especially after the start I got of two, 3-under through
:41:59. > :42:02.the fifth hole. I had a chance to be 4-under. Just a couple of sloppy
:42:03. > :42:07.holes in the middle of their own. I give myself some opportunities on
:42:08. > :42:12.the back nine but was not able to capitalise. A disappointing last
:42:13. > :42:19.nine calls. What will be the main set for Sunday? Just try and shoot a
:42:20. > :42:22.better score than today. I am not sure about the weather will bring,
:42:23. > :42:26.but if I want to have a chance, I need bad weather, and I need to play
:42:27. > :42:30.well and I need the leaders to struggle. Just go out there tomorrow
:42:31. > :42:32.and play as well as I can and see what happens. Richie Ramsay's second
:42:33. > :42:45.shot to the last. He has just been hanging in there
:42:46. > :42:51.today. Be right, the eternal hold full cry of the golfer. It is.
:42:52. > :42:55.1-over for his round at the moment, Richie Ramsay. He has been slipping
:42:56. > :43:01.down the leaderboard, but an opportunity on the final hole.
:43:02. > :43:10.Koepka, that very good shot up to the 17th flag. This for birdie.
:43:11. > :43:36.Yes, sir, well done. Koepka goes 6-under. Kuchar, spanking one down
:43:37. > :43:48.the 17th. Is it straight? No. It is a troublesome little thing, isn't
:43:49. > :43:54.it? Spieth. A long iron. This is a good hit, he has got to rely on
:43:55. > :44:04.running it between the bunkers. That could be right. That was a big
:44:05. > :44:10.bounce into the back of the bunker. You need to be 15 yards left of
:44:11. > :44:18.there. If it is that one on the left, that could be a minor golfing
:44:19. > :44:23.disaster. Connelly, towards the bright white clubhouse and the dark
:44:24. > :44:31.sky. Look at the ball sail. I think he likes it. Why not? A wonderful
:44:32. > :44:36.shot from Connelly. Perfect for distance. He and Ramsay threatening
:44:37. > :44:45.the hole on the last. Still not a flicker of a smile. Kuchar has to
:44:46. > :44:53.crouch down to get that big frame in position.
:44:54. > :44:59.Oh, looks good. Wonderful shot from Matt Kuchar. He'll have his birdie
:45:00. > :45:19.surely. Now, can Spieth match it? Connelly. Come on, my boy, finish in
:45:20. > :45:23.a blaze of glory. He has a funny old grip. It's going to go right in!
:45:24. > :45:31.Well done, young Sir! Brilliant stuff.
:45:32. > :45:36.Perhaps we've found the only one many the world with a young head on
:45:37. > :45:48.old shoulders. This is Spieth from a very awkward
:45:49. > :45:55.spot. He's up and out. It looks as if it might only be a par-5.
:45:56. > :46:11.Richie Ramsey on the final green. Final putt perhaps. That may well
:46:12. > :46:13.go. That may well go. And it does. Ramsey finishes birdie-birdie, hits
:46:14. > :46:33.a level par round. He joins the other home contenders.
:46:34. > :47:27.McIlroy, Poulter and now Ramsey. Spieth for a birdie.
:47:28. > :47:37.He gets the birdie and gets the familiar sound and he's back within
:47:38. > :47:41.two. Two leaders make their way tonne the 18th. You can't help but
:47:42. > :47:45.be reminded a bit of that final day at Troon last year. These two have
:47:46. > :47:48.been trading blows out there on their third round. The beauty of
:47:49. > :47:56.this is, we have another round to come. It's Spieth leading by two
:47:57. > :48:00.from Matt Kuchar. Kuchar won the bronze in the Olympic games in Rio
:48:01. > :48:14.said his heart was bursting with pride. I'm wondering if a Claret Jug
:48:15. > :48:30.would surpass even that feeling. 300 yards down the left.
:48:31. > :48:45.Perfectly right on to the corner of the doing leg.
:48:46. > :48:51.Perhaps haven't seen the fireworks of some of the other players, but
:48:52. > :48:57.Jordan Spieth, well this was some shot.
:48:58. > :49:03.Even closer than his playing partner Matt Kuchar. That was the first
:49:04. > :49:06.birdie of the day for Jordan Spieth. Plodding along after that. In the
:49:07. > :49:19.par-3, seventh, birdie number two. Didn't have to wait too long for his
:49:20. > :49:35.next on the eighth. Once again, the putting touch, perfect.
:49:36. > :49:45.Not Beautifully from left-to-right. To the heart of the putting surface.
:49:46. > :50:00.From there to there. To there. The only birdie at the back nine. Enough
:50:01. > :50:11.to keep him clear of the field. Poulter. It's been that kind of day
:50:12. > :50:48.for Poulter. Too many bogeys today. Sprinkling of birdies today. Koepka
:50:49. > :50:56.slips back alongside Austin Connelly, 5-under, five behind
:50:57. > :51:04.Spieth. Ground to make up on the final day of the Open.
:51:05. > :51:11.Get it going straight between the two bunkers, that's the thing to do.
:51:12. > :51:28.Don't try and loft it, keep it under the height of the clock, if you can.
:51:29. > :52:23.Spieth. Birdie putt at the 18th. Our Championship leader tickles it down
:52:24. > :52:27.the hill and what do you know? ! What a way to finish. 65 shots, 31,
:52:28. > :53:00.43. Beautiful second shot. Wasn't to be.
:53:01. > :53:04.Spieth three shots ahead. That birdie on the 18th for Spieth gives
:53:05. > :53:10.him a three-shot lead as he head towards the final day of this year's
:53:11. > :53:14.Open Championship. Matt Kuchar on 8-under, the closest chaser and,
:53:15. > :53:21.look at Austin Connelly, 5-under on his open debut. A nice round from
:53:22. > :53:25.Ross Fisher today. 4-under, 66, 2-under alongside Rory McIlroy,
:53:26. > :53:29.1-under for his round today. A little further down, Ian Poulter,
:53:30. > :53:33.who'll be disappointed not to have taken advantage of his late start.
:53:34. > :53:37.It's all about Jordan Spieth. 11-under. Let us hear from him with
:53:38. > :53:43.Rishi. 65, how good was that for the
:53:44. > :53:51.penultimate day of the Open? Really good given the position that we were
:53:52. > :53:59.in. It's just, you saw some 65s, 63 or 62 today, right, that was I
:54:00. > :54:05.thought somewhat predicted just given softer greens and wins that
:54:06. > :54:09.had died down. Not a 62 but lower scores. I thought it's tough to do
:54:10. > :54:13.when you're in the lead when you know there'll be lower scores
:54:14. > :54:18.because you're not protecting par, you need to make birdies. A lead
:54:19. > :54:22.going into the final day of a major is nothing new for you, but what do
:54:23. > :54:27.you do, do you defend it or just play golf? We set a goal, we see
:54:28. > :54:32.what the conditions are in the morning, we see what is forecast.
:54:33. > :54:37.Same thing we did in round two. Knowing that 65 is not realistic
:54:38. > :54:41.tomorrow, that par is going to be a better score, therefore we change
:54:42. > :54:45.the game plan. Thank you very much for coming that tuck to us -- that
:54:46. > :54:50.talk to us and good luck tomorrow. Thank you very much.
:54:51. > :54:53.You have picked out one moment today Ken that you feel was particularly
:54:54. > :54:59.pivotal to the lead he has going into the final day? . Yes, there
:55:00. > :55:06.were a lot of pivotal moments but the 18th was massive. He was two
:55:07. > :55:10.shots behind Spieth and he's not sure if it will sneak past. It's
:55:11. > :55:13.pinpoint accurate. He controlled the way the ball was running out. Sets
:55:14. > :55:18.himself six or seven feet from a birdie. Spieth's hit the most
:55:19. > :55:25.perfect tee shot over the cross bunker and he's left this. When he
:55:26. > :55:29.strikes it, he thinks, well just watch. He's pushed it, the wind's
:55:30. > :55:33.taken it a fraction and you think, that's going to finish in the
:55:34. > :55:38.bunker. Back spin and Leighs himself 20 feet away. If one holes and one
:55:39. > :55:42.misses, there could be one stroke in it. If Spieth misses and Kuchar
:55:43. > :55:47.holes. But it's the other way around. Spieth holes this critical
:55:48. > :55:52.putt. What looked like might be a bogey ends up as a birdie, he
:55:53. > :55:56.finishes 11-under, puts pressure on Matt Kuchar and he's thinking, I
:55:57. > :56:02.must hole this. He has a good look at it and I don't know how it stays
:56:03. > :56:08.out but it does. Left edge. Just tipped past the edge. He can't
:56:09. > :56:13.believe it. Suddenly there's a three stroke lead and an enormous
:56:14. > :56:17.difference and Spieth is now the third player of six players six
:56:18. > :56:23.strokes behind him. It will be tricky to make that up so it's in
:56:24. > :56:27.his hands. The last nine times Jordan Spieth has led, he's won
:56:28. > :56:30.eight, so I don't know what the guys are thinking that are trying to
:56:31. > :56:33.chase him down. Let us speak to the man leading the chase. Here is Matt
:56:34. > :56:38.Kuchar with Rishi. You have had top ten finishes so
:56:39. > :56:43.far, what is the approach that you have in your mind as you go into the
:56:44. > :56:48.final day? It's pretty simple. Just take the course for what it gives
:56:49. > :56:51.you, step up, if you hit on the fairway, you can be aggressive, if
:56:52. > :56:58.you miss it, you have to figure out what is the best situation. In golf
:56:59. > :57:02.you have to be so adaptable. You face so many different is situations
:57:03. > :57:06.that you make the most of what you can and, I've been playing some good
:57:07. > :57:12.golf and I'm hoping to find a lot of fairways and hoping to be a little
:57:13. > :57:19.more aggressive. We wish you the best of luck on Sunday. Thank you. A
:57:20. > :57:26.shame he had that double bogey and the putts on 18. Yes; the 16th was a
:57:27. > :57:31.real blow to him. He was going along nicely, got to 9-under with a par-5,
:57:32. > :57:34.so he's thinking might be finished ten or 11 and he's taken a double
:57:35. > :57:38.bogey. That was hard to come back from. That was the moment it swung
:57:39. > :57:42.towards Spieth as well. Somebody else who started very well was Rory
:57:43. > :57:47.McIlroy and there were high hopes around Birkdale that he'd be clawing
:57:48. > :57:51.the difference back but it just fizzled out a little for him. He was
:57:52. > :57:55.done by one hole too. He had a beautiful frontline and seemed to be
:57:56. > :58:01.cruising. He drew his eye and found one of the bunkers, got into an
:58:02. > :58:07.awkward spot then he was in trouble. He took a double bogey on what was a
:58:08. > :58:13.relatively easy hole for him. So misjudgment off the tee or slightly,
:58:14. > :58:18.well a big mistake, bunker shot out. The fine margins are difficult.
:58:19. > :58:22.Branden Grace, we witnessed a piece of history there from him today.
:58:23. > :58:26.Finally a 62 in a men's major. Unbelievable. I never thought it
:58:27. > :58:29.would happen but it was the perfect day, soft green, lovely putting
:58:30. > :58:33.surfaces, not much breeze about. That is exceptional. The lowest ever
:58:34. > :58:39.score in a major Championship. Incredible stuff. We are all set for
:58:40. > :58:44.another big day tomorrow. We'll have all the highlights again tomorrow
:58:45. > :58:48.night, bean 2 at 8 o'clock for the final day of this year's Open
:58:49. > :58:52.Championship. BBC Five Live is out on the course with commentary from
:58:53. > :58:56.1. 30 and the BBC Sport website will have live text commentary and
:58:57. > :59:00.in-play videos. Tomorrow as well, the beginning of the world swimming
:59:01. > :59:03.Championships on BBC Two from Budapest.
:59:04. > :59:09.He turns 24 next week and he's staring down the barrel of a third
:59:10. > :59:14.major Championship. The big question ahead of the final day here at Royal
:59:15. > :59:16.Birkdale is, can anyone catch Jordan Spieth?