Day three at the Open saw Rory McIlroy keep up the momentum at the top of the leaderboard.
With rain threatening the Wirral venue, play was started earlier than usual with McIlroy teeing off shortly after 11am.
The 25-year-0ld had a slightly shaky start, bogeying the first hole, but he was back on song with a birdie at the fifth.
McIlroy picked up another shot on the 11th hole before immediately dropping back to even par for the day.
As Rickie Fowler blazed a trail and at one time even joined McIlroy at the top of the leaderboard, but two eagles in his final three holes helped the Irishman as Fowler dropped shots in three of his last five holes.
If McIlroy does win his first Open on Sunday, he will become only the third man - after Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods - to win three Majors by the age of 25.
