A throaty Irish roar at the sixth green can only mean one thing - a birdie for Shane Lowry to get to two under.

It's another sweet approach from the 2019 champion who has been swinging it nicely all day so far - and in fact he's hit every green in regulation so far, which really takes the stress out of things around here.

Richard Winton
BBC Sport Scotland at Royal Portrush

That’s the rain back on…

Brollies are popping and zips tearing shut.

Brilliant from Lee Westwood as he cashes in on the par-five 12th.

After reaching the fringe with this second shot, he knocks it to five feet and then buries a birdie putt.

He's up to four under and closing in on leader Jacob Skov Olesen.

White Rocks Beach is just beyond the fifth hole and a little earlier in the week, when the sun was shining and temperatures were in the high 20s it was packed with families, dipping their toes into the Atlantic surf.

It's not beach weather today though. An amber weather warning has just been alerted... that means lightning within 40 miles. Heavy rain forecast to start from mid-day...

...stay safe out there folks.

Catriona Matthew
Captain of Team Europe at the 2019 & 2021 Solheim Cup on BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Getty Images

Jon Rahm has had a really good start.

He's hit every green and given himself some good birdie chances and finally got one to fall, so he's one under for the round through six holes.

Matt Fitzpatrick is still going along nicely at two under after a regulation par on the seventh, which he played as a three shotter.

Portrush in a little corner of green there.

Long may that continue.

Barra Best
BBC News NI weather presenter

It is approaching noon and forecast rain is now tantalising close to the championship in Portrush, approaching from the west.

A Met Office weather warning for heavy showers and thunder is in place until 8pm on Thursday.

While the latest radar shows some heavy and persistent rain heading towards golfers and spectators, no lightning has been recorded yet.

Image source, Getty Images

Both Shane Lowry and Scottie Scheffler make pars on the fifth, but had to work for them when on the tee they'll have been licking their chops hoping this was a birdie hole.

It's not that easy though even for a short hole.

Image source, Getty Images

That's the moment Jon Rahm's been waiting for!

The Spaniard hits his tee shot to the par-three sixth to 12 feet and rattles in the birdie putt to move to one under.

Xander Schauffele drops back though, he was just off the green from the tee and couldn't get up and down in two from there.

Image source, Getty Images

Catching up with Lee Westwood, we see the Englishman lining up a birdie chance from 16 feet.

He's not made any of these mid-range putts yet today but he's on line and comfortably able to collect his par.

Onto the 12th and still no dropped shots.

Jonathan Bradley
BBC Sport NI senior journalist

Matti Schmid was the last man to qualify for this year's Open Championship, grabbing the third of three spots on offer at the Scottish Open last week thanks to finishing in a tie for 17th at Renaissance.

Not just a great moment for the German, but for his caddie Chris Selfridge too.

Schmid's looper hails from Castledawson, just about 35 miles away from Royal Portrush.

The world number 78 makes a nice start with a birdie on the second.

Everyone is having a pop at the fifth green today given conditions, but even though it's very reachable it's far from easy.

Shane Lowry leaked his right and had a tough pitch over the bunker onto the green - with the spectre of the Atlantic Ocean literally just a few yards off the back of this green, even though it's not really in play on this one.

Scottie Scheffler has a fiddly little chip left and he pulls one up short as he tried to knock it stone dead. I'll say it again, this hole is just epic.

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI senior journalist at Royal Portrush

Image source, Getty Images

I think you'd call that a past champion's bounce for Lowry on the fourth. Pity he couldn't capitalise.

The various mounds around the fourth green make for nice vantage points, but there isn't a blade of grass untouched out here.

Huge crowd. Lowry is enjoying himself. He just needs to get the putter dialled in.

Catriona Matthew
Captain of Team Europe at the 2019 & 2021 Solheim Cup on BBC Radio 5 Live

Fantastic putt from Xander.

He had to come up over that slope, the pin was just two yards at the top of the slope and he judged it perfectly just tapping in for his first birdie of the day.

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The par-four fifth hole is a tempting one for these players, as the longer hitters can drive it in one.

Xander Schauffele takes on that challenge and gets his reward. He's have a pop from 50-odd feet for an eagle...

Only just misses! But it's an excellent birdie to get the defending champion under par.

If you don't quite get the tee shot correct though, you're left with an awkward second shot like Jon Rahm, who can only pitch to 30 feet. A safe two-putt for another par for the former Masters and US Open champion.

JJ Spaun cards a birdie three to move back alongside Rahm at level par.

A par for our leader Jacob Skov Olesen but it's a really solid one as he hit a beauty off the tee to this difficult 16th known as Calamity Corner and he'll actually walk off a tad disappointed he didn't make a two.

That's a sign of how well he's playing today.

Tom McKibbin up first and it's a decent attempt, his ball tracking nicely but then sliding a good four feet past. At least one shot going at the last.

A two-putt par for Nicolai Hojgaard who opens with a 69 to set a good pace.

And then huge cheers for Padraig Harrington who follows him in. A 75 is not what he would have wanted but there's a smile on the face as he removes his cap to acknowledge the applause.

And finally McKibbin tidies up. A bogey at the last never nice but a 72 and a real rollercoaster of a round for the Northern Irishman. Four hours 55 minutes it's taken them.

Peter Scrivener
BBC Sport senior journalist at Royal Portrush

Image source, Getty Images

Australian Ryan Peake has had quite the journey to Royal Portrush, from being in a biker gang to playing in The Open alongside Phil Mickelson.

It's some backstory to read about if you've got a few minutes to spare...

The Open 2025: The ex-bike gang member competing at Royal Portrush

Image source, Getty Images

A second bogey in four holes for Phil Mickelson drops him back to level par so he just needs to make sure a fine start doesn't slip away now down the closing stretch.

Level par is not too bad at all, especially if the weather turns later on.