Rounds will be completed a lot quicker over the weekend compared to Thursday and Friday, when it was taking in the region of five and a half hours - give or take - to play all 18 holes.

The remainder of the tournament will be played in two-balls rather than three-balls, which certainly reduces the amount of waiting around and helps things progress faster.

Tommy Fleetwood and Jon Rahm have completed their first nine holes in a touch under two hours today.

Tommy Fleetwood takes the safe option on the driveable par-four ninth, misses a 25-footer for birdie and walks off with a par four. Southport's finest ends the front nine two under for the day.

Jon Rahm went for the green but wasn't happy with his effort, which leaked right into the rough. It meant a bit of a scenic route to the hole, but a 10-footer secures the Spaniard's par.

Rory McIlroy finishes a trying day with a battling par at the last, getting up and down from the greenside bunker.

Another strange round from the six-time major winner. An eagle, two birdies and three bogeys.

It's a one under 69. Currently six back, he'll probably start tomorrow too far back, but we've seen three 62s this week, so who knows...

A fine tee shot from Bob MacIntyre at the seventh sets up a birdie chance from 10 feet.

Will it drop? Not this time. He stays four off the lead.

Important par for Cameron Young at the fourth as he two putts from 35 feet.

Ryan Gerard safely through the par-three too.

Hang on to your hats - Bryson DeChambeau's back on the fifth tee, the scene of the crime so to speak, and he's got his driver out...

This time though there's no way he's going right, and draws it off the left, misses the green and into the rough, just the regulation scrub though, no need to be stomping around in there.

The wind blows Lucas Herbert's drive to the right and he catches a flyer out of the rough with his second.

From the back of the green, he undercooks his attempted bump and run and leaves 12 feet for par.

Misses it. Bogey. His first since Thursday. Ryan Fox leads on his own.

Jackson Suber looks comfortable. He burns the edge from 30 feet and backs up his birdie on two with a par.

Image source, Getty Images

Here comes Sam Burns - shot 62 yesterday of course and he's two under through four after draining a 15-foot putt on the par three to move to within one of the lead.

He's one of the best putters in the world and with these greens not being that quick and most being pretty flat he'll be a big threat if he can knock it close enough.

There are certainly plenty of people in the mix, Andy.

Twenty five feet for birdie for American Cameron Young at the third. He gives it a sniff, but it drifts by and he stays two back.

Compatriot Ryan Gerard has slipped though, a trip to the native area ultimately costing him a shot.

Incidentally, 5 Live have got former England footballer Stephen Warnock following this group. If you're a fan of his punditry, have a listen!

Scottie Scheffler is a little short on the par-three seventh but luckily the ball doesn't roll all the way down into a swale, so it's not too tough an up and down for par.

I'm going to stop giving updates on Alex Fitzpatrick for a bit unfortunately.

He's just had a bruising encounter with the sixth hole - playing the hardest at Birkdale. After reaching the edge of the green in two, he decides to chip and ends up losing it down the false front.

It costs him a double bogey and he's down to level par, eight off the leaders.

Jon Rahm slides a par putt past the left edge of the cup and drops a shot at the eighth.

Tommy Fleetwood is unable to reproduce his magic putt at the previous hole and settles for a par, continuing his bogey-free start to Saturday's round.

Rory McIlroy smashes a 368-yard drive down the 17th. Short iron in hand for his second, he sets up a look for his second eagle today, but two putts for a birdie.

One under for the round. Not what the Masters champion was after.

Paul Birch
BBC Sport journalist at Royal Birkdale

After shooting his record-equalling round of 62 earlier, Ryan Fox said he intended to head home and catch up with New Zealand's win over Ireland in the rugby this morning.

The All Blacks' victory carried extra meaning as Fox revealed that he needed to collect his winnings off Irishman Shane Lowry after the two had a wager on the outcome of the match.

"I'll watch a fair bit of golf on TV and try to get a replay of the All Blacks game," Fox said of his afternoon plans.

"I watched a decent chunk of that this morning and I was pretty happy with that result too. I just saw Shane on the screen and I'm looking forward to taking £100 off him, the little bet we had.

"I'll find him somewhere," Fox joked about Lowry. "I don't live too far away from him in Jupiter. I know he's good for it if I don't see him this week."

An absolute stunner from Jackson Suber at the second!

He clips a delightfully struck wedge from 128 yards to kick-in distance and moves to seven under.

Workmanlike par from Lucas Herbert.

With thousands trailing the likes of Bryson DeChambeau and Tommy Fleetwood, there's a muted atmosphere around this final group. They won't mind that one bit.

Image source, Getty Images

Bryson DeChambeau is one over after three holes in his third round under way - how do you think he'll get on today? Will this penalty fire him up or will it affect him in a negative fashion?

And how do you think he's handled it? Was he right to plead his case or should he have just taken it on the chin? And what about apparently considering not playing today?

Get in touch using the Get Involved button on this page with all your thoughts, and indeed questions, on this hot topic and we'll try to get you some answers!

We are not seeing anything of Cam Young and Ryan Gerard but I can see they've navigated the second safely.

Both had birdie opportunities - 24 and 12 feet respectively - but neither see them drop.

Consecutive bogeys have dropped England's Matt Wallace down the leaderboard.

He three-putted from 40 feet on the third green, then paid the price for missing the green on the par-three fourth.