Back-to-back birdies for Thomas Detry as he joins Robert MacIntyre at the top of the leaderboard on two under.

That's some response from the Belgian who rescued par from a ditch a few holes ago, and has now found his groove.

Alex Fitzpatrick evens up his card with a birdie at the fourth, then takes aim at the short par-four fifth with the driver - but finds one of the manhy bunkers guarding the green.

Robert MacIntyre and Rickie Fowler both lay-up here, with the American winning the wedge contest by knocking it closer than the Scotsman.

There's a ton of strategy to be used this week with the short par fours in particular having all kinds of different permutations depending on the wind. It's a proper links test this week.

Ben Croucher
BBC Sport journalist at Royal Birkdale

Image source, BBC Sport

There was a time in his beefed-up years that Bryson DeChambeau was a very polarising figure in the game.

He’s mellowed somewhat now, and aided by a hugely successful YouTube channel, he’s a real hit with younger spectators.

On Monday, I saw him take care to sign as many autographs as possible and pose for photos with the waiting masses by the 18th.

He gives the fans what they want. But considering he’s missed the cut in every major this year, will those here at the weekend even see him?

Image source, Getty Images

Joe Dean has just made a birdie on the fourth - and what a story this guy has....

For the first time ever the R&A held a Last Chance Qualifier event on Monday this week where 12 players who came close to qualifying played 18 holes for one remaining place in the field.

Sheffield's Dean, who has worked as a delivery driver when his golf wasn't going too well, managed to win, but was then busy scrambling around looking for somewhere to stay this week.

And just to add to his story, he's due to get married next week, and his fiance Emily is also his caddie!

"A week off would have made the wedding a bit easier but The Open is a good excuse to liven things up a little bit," he smiled.

No prizes for guessing what any prize money he makes this week will be spent on.

Read more on Joe Dean's remarkable story

This one made me chuckle.

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The modern Open Championship has all sorts of modern features, but with such history it's also one of the last bastions of tradition that will hopefully remain.

Crowds are fair, no "mashed potato" shouts on every shot, and there's iconic features everywhere you look - the Claret Jug and those yellow screboards are just glorious when they come into view.

Image source, Getty Images

Then there's Royal Birkdale's clubhouse which is so famous around the golfing world. There's room for modern golf of course, stadium holes and party holes at tournaments, loud music and these new simulator leagues, but it's also important that we keep some things from days gone by.

The Open feels like coming home to many golf fans - this wonderful sport played just as it should be.

Image source, Getty Images

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport golf reporter at Royal Birkdale

Good morning golf fans! Straight ahead to a sporting pick-me-up? I’ll take a one-way ticket please.

The Open Championship is ready to rev up over the next four days and, as always, will take centre stage.

Well, nothing else happening in the sporting world is there?!

Fans are flocking to Birkdale from all directions, with plenty trudging along my route through the quaint, leafy streets from Southport.

One gang of fellas troop along armed with keep-cups of coffee. They might have been cans of lager if England had won last night…

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Two out of two for Robert MacIntyre after a stunning second shot on the second hole landed inside two feet - even I could knock that in!

He starts with two birdies in two holes to grab the early Open lead - he may hang around there for a while too.

Alex Fitzpatrick makes bogey on the second though to drop to one over.

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Matthew Baldwin gets his first birdie of the day on his home course to go to one under after a very nice start to the day.

One under through five.

Obviously Robert MacIntyre is a left-handed player...

And here's a not exactly extensive list of lefties that have won The Open.

• 1963 - Bob Charles (Royal Lytham & St Annes)
• 2013 - Phil Mickelson (Muirfield)
• 2023 - Brian Harman (Royal Liverpool)

Two in the past 15 years though at least.

A bonus birdie for Robert MacIntyre at the first as he manages to roll in a huge putt from 45 feet away for his three to make the perfect start to his Open challenge.

The Scotsman has got a great links game with three top 10s in the Open, including a seventh last year, and he's won the Scottish Open too.

His putting would be the weakness in his game but the greens are a lot slower in the Open Championship than those on the PGA Tour - and going on that first hole they suit him down to the ground!

After the disappointing scenes in Atlanta for England's footballers last night, plenty of us are going to need a bit of cheering up this morning - or at least something different to groan about!

So we'd like you to suggest some anthems that would work well on the golf course.

• Rai of Light by Madonna?
• Burns Baby Burns?
• Anything by Scheff Leppard?

I'm sure you can do a lot better than us - get your suggestions in.

Image source, Getty Images

Rory McIlroy's latest tilt for Open Championship glory will get under way at 15:15 BST today at Royal Birkdale.

The six-time major winner, ranked second in the world, will play alongside number three Matt Fitzpatrick and 2024 champion Xander Schauffele, with their second round starting at 10:09 on Friday.

World number one and defending champion Scottie Scheffler is in the other half of the draw, teeing off alongside fellow American Bryson DeChambeau and England's Tyrrell Hatton on Thursday at 09:58 and at 15:04 on Friday.

Home favourite Tommy Fleetwood is in the following group and will play with Ryder Cup team-mate Jon Rahm and American Jordan Spieth, who won The Open the last time it was held at the Southport course in 2017.

Justin Rose, who shot to fame when he finished fourth as a 17-year-old amateur at Royal Birkdale in 1998, is out at 09:36 in round one and 14:42 in round two.

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Scotland's Robert MacIntyre starts his Claret Jug challenge believing he is a much improved golfer from the one who teed up at his first Open Championship at Royal Portrush in 2019.

That was MacIntyre's debut appearance at a major and he finished sixth behind home favourite Shane Lowry.

Since then, the 29-year-old has become a top-20 player in the world rankings and arrived here after finishing third at the Scottish Open.

"In 2019, I felt like I was just being part of the tournament," MacIntyre said this week. "I was making up the numbers whereas now, I come here and I know that if I play well, I've got a chance to win.

"That's all I'm trying to do. If I play the golf I know I can play, I'm going to have a chance to win come Sunday - and that's the difference.

"In 2019, I didn't know how good I was. I didn't know how good I could be. I was just playing with zero expectation and had a good finish.

"Now there's an expectation and demand on me, but it's not pressure. I know if I play well, I'll have a chance."

Read more

One man who probably enjoyed last night's World Cup semi-final is Scotsman Robert MacIntyre, who may be giving Englishman Alex Fitzpatrick some gentle ribbing before this group teeds off.

One thing MacIntyre isn't happy about is the drone flying above the first tee box as it buzzes around getting some pictures for TV, so that's ushered away as he hits his opening drive into the left rough.

Rickie Fowler completes a really interesting group - don't be surprised if one of these three starts well in these calm conditions.

Image source, Getty Images

Henrik Stenson, a brilliant Open champion in 2016, has just teed off with a familiar face on the bag in the form of Swedish legend Fanny Sunesson.

The first woman to win a major as a caddie, Sunesson was famously on the bag for Sir Nick Faldo during four of his six major titles.

She was Stenson's long-term caddie previously and has recently returned to golf - and still seems as energetic and positive as ever. She's one of the most thorough out there and has been out walking Birkdale constantly this week picking a route through the sand dunes.

Let's see how these two get on this week.