Live Commentary: The Open Championship: Third round - as it happened

Good morning! Welcome back to Sports Mole for live coverage of day three from Muirfield!

It should be a fascinating session of links golf, with the leaderboard so bunched that anyone from as far down at five-over-par can consider themselves still in the mix, given they can produce a low score today.

The lead yesterday was five-under-par, held by Zach Johnson, but by the time the last ball was sunk it was Miguel Angel Jimenez on top and the lead had come in by two shots.

Conditions over the first two days have been at their hardest, but thankfully for the players today's weather forecast predicts that the sun will not be shining so brightly. The fairways are firm and fast, but the real test has been putting on the lightening-fast greens.

One man who has really risen to that challenge is Tiger Woods. His touch with the short stick has been immaculate so far. A 69 and a 71 has him just one behind our leader Jimenez.

The best round of yesterday, however, belonged to Lee Westwood and Charl Schwartzel. Playing together, they both shot three-under 68s having gone out early yesterday. Westwood had a blistering front nine but had to cling on for dear life down the back nine. Could he be ready to win his first Major at the age of 40?

LEADERBOARD: (-3) Jimenez; (-2) Stenson, Westwood, Woods, D. Johnson; (-1) Laird, Cabrera-Bello, Z Johnson, Cabrera; (E) Moore; (+1) Spieth, Clarke, Schwartzel, Scott Simpson, Molinari, Watson, Poulter, Mickelson; (+2) Leonard, Mahan, Day, Matsuyama; (+3) Wagner, O'Meara, Lehman, English, Donaldson, Grace, Kapur, Wiesberger, Curtis, Streelman; (+4) Gallacher, McDowell, Bourdy, De la Riva, Kaymer, Coetzee, Duke, Tiley; (+5) Willett, Fraser, Jacobson, Kuchar, Sink, Snedeker, Bjorn, Teater

There are some players out on the course at the moment. Shingo Katayama (+6) and Richard Sterne (+7) got us underway at 8.10am, and it's the Japanese veteran who is the course leader on six-over-par. He is two-under through 10 holes of his third round, while Chris Wood, Todd Hamilton and Sterne are the only other men under par out of 24 players.

We lost a few well-known names in yesterday's cut, which came at eight-over-par. Those who are not here for the weekend include: Alvaro Quiros (+9), Kyle Stanley (+9), Camilo Villegas (+9), Bill Haas (+9), Marcel Siem (+9), Nicolas Colsaerts (+9), Jim Furyk (+10), Luke Donald (+10), Justin Rose (+10), John Senden (+11), Tom Watson (+11), Thorbjorn Olesen (+12), Rory McIlroy (+12), Rickie Fowler (+12), David Duval (+13), Matteo Manassero (+15), Sir Nick Faldo (+15)

There is definitely more cloud cover today. There are a few dark spots on the fairways where the sun is unable to burst through. It may be a case of the earlier you can get out the better your score will be. Unlike yesterday, I can see the lead being stretched today. But not by much, mind. Who will be in that final group tomorrow?

The Silver Medal, awarded to the best amateur, will be contested between Sheffield's Matthew Fitzpatrick (+7) and Jimmy Mullen (+9), from Devon. At just 18 and 19 respectively, both look younger than their birth certificates tell us, but both have also shown there is plenty more to come over the years.

Defending champion Ernie Els (+6) is negotiating the first hole as we speak, and about to tee off now is Sergio Garcia (+6) and Padraig Harrington (+6).

1985 champion Sandy Lyle (+6) and 2009 PGA champion YE Yang (+6) are next up on the first tee. Graeme McDowell (+4), one of those really capable of putting in a challenge, in my eyes at least, gets underway at 12.20pm.

Brandt Snedeker (+5) cannot be discounted either. He finished poorly yesterday, but definitely has the game for links golf. His putting can also be spectacular. The American tees off with compatriot Stewart Cink (+5) at 11.40am.

1999 champion Paul Lawrie (+7) shot a brilliant 69 yesterday but, coupled with his opening 81, thought that he would miss the cut. He drove home to Aberdeen only to be told by his son that he had in fact made the weekend, so he drove back for his 9am tee off. It's never over until you know who sings.

When you look at the leaderboard, there's so many players you would love to see win the Claret Jug. Of course, only one can. Jimenez or Westwood, two of the most popular players on Tour, to make their Major breakthrough? Tiger to get closer to Jack Nicklaus's record of 18 Major championships? An American to get their hands on one of the big four titles? So many possibilities.

Eight players on the course are under par for their third rounds. Sterne (+6), Lawrie (+6), Hamilton (+6) and Katayama (+6) are all two-under-par. Bradley (+6), Pettersson (+7), Jaidee (+7) and Garcia (+5) are all one-under.

The greens have showed some signs of slowing compared to the first two days. Matthew Fitzpatrick (+7) has just played a nice approach into the eighth green and, although it did run past the flag, it was nowhere near as severe as Thursday or yesterday.

Sir Nick Faldo has been deliberating on the troubles of Rory McIlroy, whose disappointing season continued by missing the cut this week. He believes that it is a mixture of new clubs and off-the-course issues, such as management, playing contributing factors.

Faldo told BBC Sport: "Six months down the line Rory is still tinkering [with his new clubs], trying to find the right driver and putter. And he's also mixed in other things, like the business side of things. Take it from me, you've only got a limited window as an athlete. The priority now should be playing more golf, working his way through this. He should have gone and played somewhere else before the Open. His clubs were the first step that changed his confidence and now he's got a lot going on and every decision that's being made is being critiqued because he was world number one."

It's certainly a curious case, one that will rumble on until he at least starts showing signs of the immense talent he possesses.

We'll be jumping into the action soon, with Graeme McDowell (+4) and Gregory Bourdy teeing off at 12.20pm.

Sports Mole also has coverage of the third day of the second Ashes Test between England and Australia. You can follow that with Callum Mulvihill by clicking here.

Richard Sterne (+5), first out this morning, has just posted a three-under 68. After a bogey at four, it must have felt like he was travelling south, but birdies at five, seven, 13 and 15 has shown that there are shots to be shaved out there. But how much of that is down to the conditions?

The South African played alongside 40-year-old Japanese favourite Shingo Katayama, who posted 69. No cowboy hat from Shingo this week, unfortunately.

McDowell (+4) steps up on the first tee. Looks like he's got a hybrid in his hands, and that's a perfect result. Straight down the middle. Bourdy (+4) went before him and also found the short stuff.

BOGEY! It's not been a great start from Snedeker (+7), who dropped a shot at the first hole and has just bogeyed the third. Any faint hopes of him mounting a charge today have now surely evaporated.

McDowell (+4) with his approach to the first green, it takes a hard bounce and skips off the back of the green. It was right at the flag, though. Bourdy (+4) is on in two and looking for a birdie to get his day underway in perfect fashion.

Garcia (+4) and Harrington (+9), old adversaries, are playing together today. There's not much love lost between these two. The Spaniard is currently two-under-par for his third round, which has him four-over for the week. The Irishman isn't faring so well, and is three-over today, nine-over in total.

Bourdy (+4) stays at four-over after leaving his birdie putt to the right on the first green.

BOGEY! Sergio Garcia (+5) drops back to five-over with a bogey five at the eighth.

McDowell (+4) rescued par at the first hole after going off the back of the green with his approach, and he found the fairway with his tee shot at the second. He flies a wedge over the flag and leaves himself a really difficult birdie putt.

BIRDIE! Snedeker (+6) erases some of those bad feelings with a brilliant birdie putt at the fifth. That's more like it.

Well judged putt from McDowell (+4) at the second and he makes another par. Solid start, plenty of time to get the low scores in. Bourdy (+4) also puts a good stroke on his birdie effort but comes up short as well.

Ben Curtis (+3), surprise winner in 2003, finds the first fairway. Austria's Bernd Wiesberger (+3), who rather impressively hasn't missed a cut this year, follows him onto the short grass.

McDowell (+4) is wayward off the tee at three, it's in the wheat. Els (+7) with his second at 11, it just clings onto the back of the green.

BIRDIE! Garcia (+4) nearly reached the green in two at the par-five ninth, finishing just shy. One of the best short games of any era, he puts his 'Spanish hands' to good effect by running the ball up to the hole and tapping in for a birdie. He's out in two-under-par.

BIRDIE! Snedeker (+5) is on a roll, he's now gone birdie-birdie to get himself back to five-over-par. Did I speak too soon in writing him off? I doubt it. But still, good job Brandt!

BOGEY! McDowell (+5) has dropped a shot at the third. His six-footer for par hit the lip, leaving him five-over-par for the championship. Despite that blemish on his scorecard, he's not actually started too badly. Clean hitting so far.

BIRDIE! Kevin Streelman (+2) has picked up a shot at the second to get within five shots of the lead. He

BIRDIE! Garcia (+3) making great strides with a monster putt at the 10th. That's magnificent. 'Moving Day' living up to its moniker early on here at Muirfield.

McDowell (+5) can't get his third round back to level-par at the fourth. He didn't put enough pace on it or allow enough borrow from left to right. Should go in for par, though.

BIRDIE! Els (+5) makes it back-to-back birdies with a two at the 13th. He drained that one from around eight foot. He was very critical of the course setup in his post-round press conference yesterday, although he stopped short of branding it "unplayable". He made quite sure of that.

Garcia (+3) from the greenside trap at 11, that's strange. It pitched and spun backwards. That's the first time anything has bitten on these greens all week. "How's that happened?" asked BBC Sport commentator Peter Aliss. Something we're all wondering.

DOUBLE BOGEY! Streelman (+4) is back to four-over-par for the championship after shooting a six at the par-four third.

McDowell (+5) finds the fairway with his tee shot at the par-five fifth. This hole is an ideal opportunity to get something going today. We've already seen a couple of birdies and an eagle here today.

BOGEY! Streelman's bogey at the third left Garcia (+4) as the on-course leader, but the Spaniard has also taken a step back now with a bogey at the 11th. That was following the bizarre reaction he got off the green with his bunker shot.

BIRDIE! Much like the fifth, hole nine is a par five that can really be taken advantage of. Thomas Bjorn (+3) is the latest to shave a shot off his total there, meaning that he has reached the turn for home in two-under-par. Can he put himself anywhere near the leaders down the back nine?

BIRDIE! And back to three-over goes Garcia (+3) with another birdie at the 12th. That's bogey-birdie-birdie-bogey-birdie over the last five holes for the Spaniard. Par-three 13 next, if he can get it on the green he'll at least have a chance to get to two-over-par.

BIRDIE! McDowell (+4) finally gets something going at the fifth.

EAGLE! Big move by Snedeker (+3) as he picks up two shots at the ninth. These par fives are here for the taking early on.

Garcia (+3) came up short of the green at 13. He landed it on, but his ball rolled down a slope at the front and left him with a wedge onto the green. He's on in two and looking to save par to maintain momentum.

BIRDIE! Not heard much of Matt Kuchar (+4) this week. He's just drained a putt at the eighth and is one-under for his third round, four-over in total.

BIRDIE! Johnson Wagner (+2), no longer mustachioed, rolls in a 15-footer for birdie at the first, which gets him to two-over-par. If he wins this week that will well and truly put to bed any rumours that his handlebar gave him Samson-like powers.

Oh my, that's a rather delicious shot from the bunker at the 18th by Keegan Bradley (+6). His ball was very close to the back edge, giving him very little room to get the club head down and under the ball. With the face wide open, he's splashed out to within inches.

BIRDIE! Kuchar (+3) follows birdie at eight with another one at nine to go out in 34. He's now six strokes off leader Jimenez (-3).

Justin Leonard (+1) and Phil Mickelson (+1) both find the fairway at the first hole, which has played quite difficult so far this week. We've already seen some accurate tee shots today, though.

BIRDIE! Branden Grace (+2) gets to two-over-par with a long birdie putt at the third. Good stroke.

Hunter Mahan (+1) birdied the opening hole and has found the green in two at the par-four second, although he's miles from the cup. He challenged at Merion last month and is showing that his game is definitely adaptable.

Ian Poulter (+1) and Bubba Watson (+1) are about to get their third rounds underway.

Mickelson (+1) starts with par at the first.

Poulter (+1) and Watson (+1) send their tee shots down the first fairway. Unlike the Harrington and Garcia match, these two are very friendly with each other.

BIRDIE! Mahan (E) drains an absolute monster putt on the second green to get himself level-par. Big move by the American!

Poulter (+1) and Mahan (+1) are well short of the pin at the first but will putt from where they've finished. Garcia (+4) goes in for par at 14, his first since the par-three seventh.

BIRDIE! Mickelson (E) stiffs his approach to the second pin and leaves himself a tap in for birdie. That's him back to even-par. Leonard (+1) stays at one-over with his second successive par.

No problems for Poulter (+1) and Watson (+1) at the first as they both pop in for par. Els (+5) misses with a birdie putt and stays one-under for his third round.

Garcia (+4) nearly holes his shot from the sand at the par-three 16, which would have given him and unlikely two. However, it's a par for the Spaniard, his third in a row now.

Mickelson (E) found trouble with his tee shot at the third, but a good recovery has seen him save par and move onto the fourth on even-par.

Poulter (+1) puts a decent stroke on his long birdie attempt at two, but it doesn't do enough. Watson (+1) is also in for a four. A couple of pars to start for this group.

BOGEY! Well, that's McDowell (+7) challenge surely at an end. He's dropped three shots in the last four holes, with his latest coming at the ninth. I really thought he'd make a move today but it's not to be.

Charl Schwartzel (+1) drags his opening tee shot into the fairway trap. Adam Scott (+1) also went to the left and will find his ball in the overgrowth.

Ernie Els (+5) posts a one-under 70 for his third round at Muirfield. Not bad, but the defending champion needed something better.

BOGEY, BOGEY! Mahan (+1) drops back over par with a bogey at the fourth. Kuchar (+5) slips to five-over with bogey at the 10th.

BIRDIE! Justin Leonard goes under par for his third round with a birdie at the fourth, he moves to one-over for the championship. Really good roll on his 10-foot putt.

Poulter (+1) nearly holes a putt from just off the green at the third after a brilliant escape from the thick stuff. He'll settle for par, as will Watson (+1).

Clarke (+1) finds the green at the first to leave himself 10 foot for a birdie. Spieth (+1) is also safely on and looking to get back to level par.

Mickelson (E) with his second from the rough at the par-five fifth, he's back in play on the fairway and in a good position to have a go at the flag.

Poulter (+1) chops out from the rough at the fourth but has a long one to save par. Watson (+1), pitching out from the bunker, also has work to do for his three. Spieth (+1) can't find the cup for birdie at the first. Clarke (+1) sees his effort burn the edge of the hole, unlucky.

Mickelson (E) puts too much on his approach to the fifth green and is off the back. It's turned from a birdie hunt to a par hunt for him. A brilliant approach to the fourth left Poulter (+1) with 10 foot left, but he watched on as his effort curled just before the hole.

Sergio Garcia (+3) goes round in 68 to leave himself five shots off the current lead.

BOGEY! Mickelson (+1) lets one go at the fifth. He'll have had this hole marked down as a scoring opportunity, so he'll be doubly disappointed with that result.

BIRDIE! Johnson Wagner (+2) picks up a shot at the sixth, atoning for his bogey at the fifth.

Matthew Fitzpatrick (+9) is leading the charge for the amateurs... well, the only two left. He signed for a 73 today and is two shots clear of Jimmy Mullen, who carded a 75.

Padraig Harrington (+12) has had a shocker today, going round in 77. The only saving grace? He won't have to spend any more time in the company of long-time rival Sergio Garcia (+3) tomorrow.

Poulter (+2) with a snaking birdie putt at the fifth, close but no cigar. He stays at two-over following his bogey at the fourth.

BIRDIE! Adam Scott (E) is now even-par after sinking a 25-footer at the third. Ryan Moore (E) starts with par.

BIRDIE! Watson (+1), like Poulter (+2), bogeyed four, but has returned a birdie at the fifth to get back to one-over-par.

Zach Johnson (-1) and Angel Cabrera (-1) open with a couple of fours.

Tiger Woods (-2) and Lee Westwood (-2) approach the first tee. Both men are greeted warmly and shake hands with the match referee before receiving their scorecards.

Laird (-1) hit a great tee shot at the first, but his approach to the green has found the back bunker.

Super recovery from Laird (-1) to give himself a great chance to save par.

Woods (-2) and Westwood (-2) are safely on the first fairway.

Laird (-1) starts with a par after a good recovery shot from the beach.

Dustin Johnson (-2) was on the putting surface in two at the first hole but his birdie putt pulled up just short.

Westwood (-2) and Woods (-2) will line up birdie putts at the opening hole.

A nice approach to the second by Laird (-1) but it doesn't quite get what it deserves as it runs down a ridge on the green and leaves him around 25 foot from the cup. Unlucky.

Good birdie effort by Westwood (-2) but it comes up a couple of inches short. Woods (-2) never had the line, so it's a couple of fours at the first for the penultimate group.

Stenson (-2) slices his opening tee ball to the right. Big cheer for Jimenez (-3), and he delights his adoring fans with a drive down the fairway. It gets a good run off the firm ground.

So everyone is either underway or have completed their third rounds at Muirfield.

BIRDIE! Martin Laird (-2) has started very well, saving par at the first and now picking up a shot at the second. Now he would be a popular winner back on his home soil this week.

Great recovery by Stenson (-2), hacking out of the jungle to the front edge of the green. That'll be a long one for birdie. Jimenez (-3), showing no sign of nerves, is on the green, although he's unfortunate to find a soft bounce and doesn't get too much run.

Very good putt from the Swede (-2) but it doesn't have the line. Jimenez (-3) also puts a good roll on his but a late break takes it off course. Like those before them, it's a couple of pars.

Westwood (-2) and Woods (-2) are on the second green but a fair distance from the hole. It's another nicely weighted effort from the Englishman that doesn't have the line to drop.

TIED FOR THE LEAD! Woods (-3) makes a move to join Jimenez (-3) on three-under-par. Great putt!

Westwood (-2) taps in his his par.

BOGEY! I'd assumed Stenson (-1) had sank his return putt for par but he'd simply put a marker down and picked up his ball. Upon returning to it, he pulls it to the left and drops a shot. Nervy start.

BIRDIE! Snedeker (+3) finishes with a birdie to get around in 69 blows. He's tied for 20th as it stands.

BIRDIE! Mahan (E), who has made four pars since dropping a shot at the fourth, nearly sank a long right-to-left eagle putt on the ninth green, but it needed just a tad more oomph and curled short. It's still a birdie, which sees him two-under for his third round.

BOGEY, BOGEY! It's not been going swimmingly for the Poulter (+4) and Watson (+3) group, to say the least. Both men have just bogeyed the eighth and find themselvs hurtling down the standings.

BIRDIE! Great response from Stenson (-2) at the second, clubbing a three to return to two-under-par.

BOGEY! Jimenez (-2) lips out from close range at the second, so you know what that means...

SOLE LEADER: Tiger Woods (-3)

CATASTROPHE! Ohhhhhh no, no, no! Martin Laird (+3) hit a loose shot into the thick rough at the third and was struggling just to find his ball. After doing so, he had a couple of hacks but couldn't get his club on the ball. He took a drop, pitched on, took a couple of putts... all in all, he walks off with a NINE! Heartbreaking, after such a good start as well.

After that, I can imagine Martin Laird muttering to himself something which I often say on the course... I HATE GOLF!

BIRDIE! Mickelson (E) is the latest to taste the fruit of the ninth, finding the bottom of the cup for a four to see him get back to level par.

BOGEY! Adam Scott (+1) is back to level par for the day with a bogey at the fourth.

BOGEY! Westwood (-1) bogeys three to fall two shots off leader and playing partner Woods (-3), who makes his par.

STREAKING! Hideki Matsuyama (-1) is now in the red figures after birdies at nine, 10 and 11. He finished 10th at the US Open and is now making ripples here at Muirfield.

Westwood (-1) didn't hit the best of approaches to the par-three fourth, but a good putt has saved his par.

BOGEY! Woods (-2) drops a shot at the par-three fourth. We're tied for the lead once again.

LEADERS: Tiger Woods (-2), Henrik Stenson (-2), Miguel Angel Jimenez (-2)

Jimenez (-2) and Stenson (-2) both go in for par the the third. It's the par-three third for these two next, the hardest hole of the week so far.

BIRDIE! It's been a tale of woe over the front nine for Ian Poulter (+3), but he's just birdied nine to turn in 38. Still not out of this, despite his struggles.

Charl Schwartzel (+6) began his round four shots off the lead on one-over-par. He started with a bogey five, but hit back immediately with a birdie at the second. However, a double at the fourth has been followed by three bogeys in a row. He's now five-over through eight holes of his third round and approaching the back nine.

BIRDIE! Martin Laird (+2) starts the long, arduous journey back up the leaderboard with a birdie at the fifth.

BOGEY! Matsuyama (E) drops his first shot of the day at the 13th, curtailing his forward momentum.

BIRDIE! Adam Scott (E) makes his second birdie of the day and gets back to level par for the championship.

EAGLE! Ohhhh yes! Westwood goes in for a three at the par-five fifth to take the outright lead! Spectacular putt from just off the green! Perfect weight, perfect line.

SOLE LEADER: Lee Westwood (-3)

LEADERBOARD: (-3) Lee Westwood; (-2) Woods, Jimenez; (-1) Z Johnson, Stenson, Cabrera; (E) Mickelson, Cabrera-Bello, D. Johnson, Matsuyama, Mahan, Scott; (+1) Leonard; (+2) Day, Clarke, Laird

BIRDIE! An up-and-down round from Mickelson (-1), but he's back in minus figures with a three at 12th.

Sorry, that was a birdie at the 12th for Mickelson (-1). He found the trap at the par-three 13th, but has splashed out to a couple of feet. Good recovery.

Birdies and bogeys all over the course. It's frenetic stuff out there.

Westwood (-3) consolidates his eagle at the fifth with a solid par at the sixth. He leads Woods (-2) and Jimenez (-2) by one.

BOGEY! Jimenez (-1) cards his second bogey of the day at the fifth.

BOGEY! Zach Johnson (E) is now even-par for the championship after shooting five at the eighth.

Westwood (-3) is on the green and will have a birdie putt at the par-three seventh. Not so good for Woods (-2) though, who finds a spot of trouble.

BOGEY! Mickelson (E) gives one straight back at the 13th, despite a great shot from the sand.

Cabrera (-1) has shot the front nine in even par without dropping a shot. Solid from the Argentine.

Stenson (-2) at the sixth, where he made a double yesterday, finds the fairway. Jimenez (-1) flirts with the rough stuff but he's OK.

Woods (-2) from the back of the seventh green, chipping from the rough. It's short and he'll need another Tiger special to save par and remain just one behind Westwood (-3), who is eyeing up a birdie putt.

BOGEY! Right pace, wrong line, which means Woods (-1) does indeed fall to one-under-par.

BIRDIE! Westwood (-4) rolls in from a couple of feet and now has some breathing space. It really was a fantastic tee shot from the Englishman. He's three shots clear of the field now!

Woods (-1) with his second from the eighth, wind blowing right to left, he's on the green but it's a runner that ends up at the back.

BOGEY! Jimenez (E) is now three-over through six holes of his third round.

Westwood (-4) looking at another birdie putt at the eighth, but that one rolls past the hole. Still a bit to do for par. Woods (-1) with his birdie attempt from the back of the putting surface, it's a good weight but a late break means it'll be a tap in for par.

BOGEY! He's played the front nine so well, but that's a lapse in concentration from Westwood (-3), who shoves his par putt wide.

Jimenez (E) for a birdie at seven, he gives it a chance but it misses to the left.

Mickelson (E) in all sorts at the 15th, chips out from the bunker but cannot make the green and he's scrambling for par.

Only four players under par now. They're finding it tough out there, as am I keeping up with the constant movement on the leaderboard! Some consistency please, guys! For your sake and mine!

Woods (-1) finds the bunker with his second shot at the par-five ninth. Stenson (E) is on the green in two at the eighth and putting for a birdie.

Westwood (-3) gets fortunate and then a bit unfortunate all in the same shot. He's goes for the green at the par five, flirts with the same bunker Woods (-1) finds himself in, skips onto the green and off the back. He'll take his next shot from the rough.

BIRDIE! Adam Scott picks up a shot at the 13th to make back to level par.

BOGEY! Mickelson (+1) is back to where he started the day on one-over after a bogey at 15.

Cabrera (-1) has carded 11 straight pars. Still going solid.

BOGEY! Westwood (-2) cards back-to-back bogeys and drops to two-under par. His lead is just one now.

BIRDIE! Woods (-2) strikes to level the lead at the ninth to tie the lead.

LEADERS: Lee Westwood (-2) and Tiger Woods (-2).

BOGEY! Zach Johnson (+1) continues to travel backwards, carding his second bogey of the day to drop two-over through 10 holes of his third trip at Muirfield.

Westwood (-2) and Woods (-2) find the short grass at the 10th.

WHAT A SHOT! Jimenez (E) is on the green in two at the par-five ninth and will have a putt for an eagle. That will would really boost his numbers if it drops. He has to be looking for a birdie at the very least.

Woods (-2) is now looking for a birdie to take the outright lead. His second shot to the 10th is good, leaving him a makeable one for a four.

BIRDIE! Mahan (-1) get within one of the lead with a four at the 17th. That's his fifth birdie today.

BOGEY! Mickelson (+2) leaks another one at the 16th.

BIRDIE! Jimenez (-1) gets back in the red, although he was a whisker from draining for eagle.

After three straight birdies nine through 12, Hideski Matsuyama (+3) cards bogeys at 13, 14, 17 and 18 to card 73 for his third round. That leaves him three-over for the week.

BOGEY! Cabrera's (E) first deviation from par is at the 13th, where he three-putts for a four.

Woods (-2) and Westwood (-2) are in for par at the 10th.

BIRDIE! Francesco Molinari (+1) hanging in there today. He was three-over through seven holes of his third round, but is now one-under. He's three shots off the lead on one-over for the championship.

Woods (-2) with his second shot from the rough at the par-four 11th, his third shot will be from the edge of the green. Pin placement makes it especially tough. Better news for Westwood (-2), who locates the green to set up a birdie opportunity.

WHAT A SHOT! Ryan Moore (+1) strikes a beauty of an approach to the 14th, bringing it in from left to right. It runs onto the green and bends round, getting better all the time. If that drops it'll be even-par for him.

Westwood (-2) knocked his approach stone dead at 11, but he cannot take advantage, pushing his effort wide of the cup. Woods (-2) knocks in a short putt to stay level with the Englishman.

BIRDIE! Cabrera (-1) makes amends for his bogey at 13 by sinking a 15-footer for birdie at 14.

CLUBHOUSE LEADER! Hunter Mahan (-1) finishes with par to card a third-round total of 68. Terrific display from the American, which could well be good enough for at least a share of the lead by the end of the day.

There have been a few put on the clock for slow play today. Graeme McDowell was one and he wasn't happy about it. Playing with Gregory Bourdy, he claims that they were guilty of bad play rather than slow play. He told BBC Sport: "You should be allowed to get off to a bad start, it's hard enough out there trying to navigate your way around this golf course. It only takes one bad shot to get out of position."

Phil Mickelson (+2) finishes with par to get around in 72.

BOGEY! Cabrera-Bello (+2) leaks his third shot in three holes and falls back to two-over-par. He's three-over for today's round, now approaching the par-four 15th.

Woods (-2) found the green with his tee shot at 13, but he left his birdie putt to the left. Westwood (-2) also goes in for par.

Stenson (E) watches his birdie putt curl agonisingly beyond the hole. The knees were bent and the putter almost went up, he thought that was going in.

Cabrera (-1) finds trouble at 16, taking his second shot from the rough. It's a duffer and he'll be dropping shots there. Westwood (-2) is dead on at the 14th, an absolute pearl of a shot that leaves him a gimme.

Westwood (-2) could hit his playing partner Woods (-2) with the old one-two, as the American finds the bunker with his approach to the green. A definite possibility of him taking a two-shot lead here!

BIRDIE! It's a birdie two for Jimenez (-1) at the 13th, who is now two-over-par for his third round.

BOGEY! Ian Poulter (+5) cards a four-over 75 for his third round. A birdie at the ninth permeated bogeys at four, six, eight, 16 and 18.

DOUBLE BOGEY! Angel Cabrera (+1) ends up shooting a double at the 16th and goes over par for the championship.

BIRDIE! Lee Westwood (-3) taps in his short birdie putt for the outright lead.

Woods (-2) scrambled for his par at the 14th, meaning Westwood's lead stands at just one shot. Could be vital.

LEADER: Lee Westwood (-3)

So close! Adam Scott (E) nearly drops a long birdie putt on the 18th, which would have seen him tie the clubhouse lead with Hunter Mahan (-1). That's a very good round of 69 for the Australian, who could well be parading around his living room in a Green Jacket while holding a Claret Jug next week. That's what I'd do if I was good enough to win them...

Ooof! Westwood (-3) watches as a long birdie putt grazes the edge of the hole and runs past a bit, leaving him a knee-jangling eight-footer.

No mistake coming back for Westy! He saves par to remain one shot in front of Woods (-2), who makes it six pars in a row.

BIRDIE! Cabrera (E) is back to level par with a four at the par-five 17th.

Woods (-2) lands his approach to the 16th green bang on target. Westwood (-3) is errant off the tee, however, and finds himself in the thick, gnawing rough.

Oh dear, Westwood (-3) shoves at his recovery shot and only squirts it out of the tall grass. His ball hits an upslope leading to the green and rolls back down, past where he started from. He just needs to limit the damage here, shots are going but it's now a matter of how many.

Ohhh, so very nearly a birdie there for Woods (-2). He remains two-under.

BOGEY! If there is any such thing as a 'good bogey' then it's this from Westwood (-2). He was in a world of trouble, but escapes with just the one dropped shot. Anything you can get your hands on is vital at this stage.

TIED FOR THE LEAD: Lee Westwood and Tiger Woods (-3)

Ryan Moore (+1) posts 72 to leave himself three shots of the current leaders.

Horror show from Jimenez (E) at 16 as he tries to dig his way out of the greenside trap. His first effort fails miserably, but his second is better. He'll be travelling backwards after this hole's done.

Westwood (-2), with a fairway metal on 17, finishes short of the green but will have a nice wedge in to set up a birdie opportunity.

Zach Johnson (+1) finishes his round with two bogeys and no birdies, getting round in 73 to leave himself three shots off the lead. That's actually a pretty solid round of golf, he's by no means out of this one.

Woods (-2) found the bunker with his second shot at the par-five 17th, used his third shot to get it back in play. His fourth had left him work to do to save par.

Westwood (-2) is on the green and looking for a birdie. Can he strike to take the lead once again? Or will he be given the lead by Woods?

Stenson (E) finds the fairway with his tee shot at the 17th. Jimenez (+2), who ended up carding a double bogey at 16, is also on the short grass.

BIRDIE! Yes! It's there for Westwood (-3), who has the fans on their feet with a brilliant birdie at the 17th! He'll have at least a two-shot lead heading to the 18th!

BOGEY! It will indeed be a two-shot lead, as Woods (-2) makes no mistake with his putt coming back. Just the one shot dropped. It's been a rollercoaster couple of holes for this grouping!

Stenson (E) has found trouble with his second shot at the 17th, he'll play from the rough. Jimenez (+2) is in decent shape, he needs something to finish here. It's been a right old struggle for the Spaniard.

Dustin Johnson (+3) posts 76 for his third round. He'll start his final round in contention for his first Major.

A typo there, Dustin is chasing his first Major, of course.

Woods (-1) finds the green at 18, as does Westwood (-3). Two birdie putts coming up.

Martin Laird (+9) never truly recovered from that catastrophic nine at the third. He is in with 81, leaving him well off the pace on nine-over-par.

BOGEY! The slide continues for Jimenez (+3), who drops his third shot in two holes at the 17th. He's six-over for today's round.

OUTRIGHT LEAD! Lee Westwood (-3) posts a one-under round of 70 to take the lead at the Open Championship with one round left to play.

Tiger Woods (-1) gets around in 72 to join Hunter Mahan (-1) in the clubhouse on one-under-par for the championship. Tiger is most definitely on the prowl at Muirfield.

Just Stenson (E) and Jimenez (+3) left out on the course. The Swede is two-over for his second round and hanging in there. However, I think today has seen the end of the Spaniard's challenge. His glass or six of rioja tonight will be consolation drinks.

Miguel Angel Jimenez (+3) posts a six-over 77 for his third round. A disappointing day for the popular Spaniard.

BOGEY! Henrik Stenson (+1) drops a shot at the last to fall over-par for the week. A sour note to end on for the Swede, but he's not out of this yet.

So Lee Westwood will tee it up in the final group of the Open Championship, looking for his first Major victory at the age of 40. He's made sacrifices this year by moving his family out to America, but it's back home where he could be making his breakthrough. He's threatened a couple of times before, is this his year?

LEADERBOARD: (-3) Westwood; (-1) Mahan, Woods; (E) Stenson, Scott; (+1) Z Johnson, Cabrera, Moore; (+2) Molinari, Mickelson; (+3) Garcia, Donaldson, Matsuyama, Day, D. Johnson, Jimenez, Snedeker; (+4) Cabrera-Bello; (+5) Kaymer, Wagner, Sterne, Poulter, Els, Leonard; (+6) Bradley, Bjorn, Kuchar, Willett, McDowell, Schwartzel, Clarke, Spieth, Katayama; (+7) Hamilton, Lawrie, Cauley, Duke, Tiley, Bourdy, Wiesberger, Pettersson, Lehman, Watson, Simpson, English; (+8) Choi, Weekley, Yang, De la Riva, Jaidee; (+9) Gallacher, Ogilvy, Couples, Fitzpatrick, Coetzee, Jacobson, Fernandez-Castano, Grace, O'Meara, Laird, Brown, Ramsay; (+10) Senior, Lowry, Blixt, Fraser, Cink; (+11) Wright, Teater, Clark, Henley, DeLaet, Mullen; (+12) Dufner, Fisher, Harrington, Curtis, Wood; (+13) Ilonen, Kim, Van Pelt; (+14) Streelman; (+15) Kapur, Lyle

Thanks for joining us today, make sure you come back tomorrow for an exciting final day at Muirfield. There's history to be made...