13:45: Jordan Spieth has arrived, and he’s looking cool as a cucumber. Matt Kuchar and Henrik Stenson are also hitting a few balls on the range.
Incidentally, Rory McIlroy is wearing the most outrageous yellow shirt that’s going to make him target no.1 for passing bumble bees.
The Northern Irishman is underway with a well-struck drive straight down the fairway. He’s playing with Ross Fisher today.
13:40: Nope, Alex Noren couldn’t make it. He registers an opening par, as does Rickie Fowler who saves himself from an opening bogey with a sweet up-and-down in two.
13:35: Next up are Richie Ramsey and Ian Poulter, who could potentially get into the mix on -2 each.
After a terrific drive down the fairway, Rickie Fowler’s got himself in a spot of bother after finding the rough towards the back of the green. No such problems for Noren, he’s got a decent chance of a birdie.
13:30: There’s encouraging signs for Jordan Spieth out there. Quite a few players including Lee Westwood, Zach Johnson and Charley Hoffman have registered -2 or better today. The wind is fairly settled and the weather is immaculate.
Bubba Watson sinks his second birdie on the bounce, while Jason Day has also pulled one back after a double bogey on the first.
Here come Alex Noren and Rickie Fowler, who you’ll be delighted to hear has ditched his black skinny trousers for the classic orange. Order has been restored, thank God!
13:25: Some bloke on Twitter: “Jordan Spieth is like a level-headed sports movie antagonist who must be overcome by the maverick hero. But I really like him.” Not sure Matt Kuchar is ‘maverick’ enough to play that role! More a mild-mannered librarian if you ask me.
13:15: Yesterday’s hero Brendan Grace (-4) will be out there at 2.10pm. As you’ve heard a million times already – he produced a history-making 62. The South African says he’s delighted: “It’s awesome. It’s great to be part of history.”
13:10: Right, let’s get down to business. A few big names are underway with Paul Casey (-1) and Masters champion Sergio Garcia (-1) straight out the blocks with a birdie each. They’ll need a few more to figure in the top 10.
Things aren’t as easy for Jason Day (+2), who’s starring down the barrel of a double bogey on the opening hole after a poor tee-shot. Yep, that’s confirmed now.
13:00: Good afternoon folks, welcome to our LIVE coverage of The Open 2017.
It’s final final round at Royal Birkdale, and there’s only one name on everyone’s lips – Jordan Spieth.
The talented American goes into today’s action with a three-shot lead (-11) and really should have that beautiful Claret Jug in the bag.
So it’s all over, right? Wrong. We all remember is monumental meltdown at Augusta where the 23-year-old blew a five-shot lead.
Will it happen again today? Can Matt Kuchar win his first major? Will anyone in the Merseyside area not shout “BEEF” at the top of their lungs at Andrew Johnston? We’ll find out shortly folks!
PREVIEW
Express Sport brings you LIVE coverage of The Open 2017 from Royal Birkdale
Jordan Spieth takes a three-shot lead into the final round
Fellow American Matt Kuchar is Spieth’s nearest challenger, and is looking to win his first major
South Africa’s Branden Grace shot a record-breaking eight-under-par 62 on day three
Spieth said: “I’ve had a five-shot lead in a major and squandered it before. I’ve had the high and the humbling so I will keep my head down and not get ahead of myself.
“I think I’m in a position where it can be very advantageous, just everything I’ve gone through, the good, the bad and everything in the middle. I understand that leads can be squandered quickly, and I also understand how you can keep on rolling on one.
“It was a humbling experience that I thought at the time could serve me well going forward. And if I don’t win tomorrow, it has nothing to do with that. It has to do with it was someone else’s day, and I didn’t play as well as I should have.
“And if I win tomorrow it has nothing to do with that, either. You’re learning and it all goes into the mental process.
“Tomorrow will be a day that will be emotionally draining and difficult to stay very neutral in the head, but that’s probably the most important thing for me to do.”
Tee times:
1320 Alex Noren (Swe), Rickie Fowler (USA)
1330 Ian Poulter, Richie Ramsay
1340 Rory McIlroy, Ross Fisher
1350 Rafael Cabrera-Bello (Spa), Chan Kim (USA)
1400 Henrik Stenson (Swe), Dustin Johnson (USA)
1410 Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn), Branden Grace (Rsa)
1420 Brooks Koepka (USA), Austin Connelly (Can)
1430 Matt Kuchar (USA), Jordan Spieth (USA)
