Picking the right strategy around Royal Birkdale today might be an important factor in who wins the Claret Jug.

Go aggressive or play the percentages?

Ken Brown explains why strategy matters so much.

After a little regroup, Cameron Young hits his third from 176 yards at the last.

Uh-oh. He leans left. It finds the bunker just to the right of the green.

He'll do well to make bogey now. He's played beautifully all day, this is a little sad to see.

Game over for Bryson DeChambeau?

Twenty feet proves too much for the two-time major champion at the ninth and his run of eight successive pars come to an end with a dropped shot.

He's five back with just nine to play.

Kim Si-woo has no idea what Cameron Young's up to on the 18th.

The South Korean holds his composure on the par-three seventh as he rolls in a putt from five feet to share a lead at the top of the leaderboard.

Kim's been pretty handy on the back nine over the past few days, but of course the pressure is likely to be turned up considerably over the next couple of hours.

Cameron Young is weighing up his options from the sand on 18. He has 187 yards left.

He's going to go for it. Oh my! His ball cannons off the lip and ricochets right and into the rough.

Could be hugely damaging for his chances of victory.

Sam Burns ends a run of three straight bogeys with a comfortable par at the par-three seventh.

Ryan Fox was straight up and walking after his birdie putt, knowing it wasn't close.

Image source, Getty Images

It only seems like a few seconds ago Tommy Fleetwood was rolling in a birdie on the eighth to get him within two of the lead.

Now he's made bogeys on the last two holes and the Southport native finds himself four behind with eight holes left to play.

It's go time Tommy...

The back nine features the two par fives at Royal Birkdale - 14th and 17th - so scoring opportunities are there.

Intimidatingly though, it also includes the first, second and fourth hardest holes on the course today.

Drama incoming.

Oh no! Tommy Fleetwood's third isn't great and he leaves himself nine feet for par on the 10th. He can't make it though as the groans from the home fans tell you that it's a bogey.

That's back-to-back bogeys for the home hope and could that be his chances slipping away?

We've already mentioned how Rory McIlroy fared today - England's Jordan Smith was playing alongside the Masters champion and made it round in 69 today for a finishing score of three under par.

He'll beat his previous best Open finish, having never been inside the top 40 before.

Cameron Young stands over the biggest tee shot of his life on 18.

He finds the bunker! It's never easy is it...

Huge shot for Cameron Young.

Goes for the bump and run up the 17th green. Lovely effort. Three feet for birdie.

Makes it! Young ties the lead on -10. A three at the last would give him a closing 62. He couldn't surely, could he?

Andrew Murray
Former European Tour winner on BBC Radio 5 Live

Ten under would be a fantastic total to set.

It's getting tricky out here, with some difficult pin positions and the pressure is going to get to everyone.

Cameron Young could post a score and then pray.

Image source, Getty Images

Sam Burns plays one of his best shots of the round to date, his chip leaving him a tap-in - but it's only for a bogey.

Burns was one under through three holes today, but three consecutive bogeys mean he is now one of the chasers rather than the one being chased.

Tommy Fleetwood is well wide of the 10th fairway, but recovers nicely enough to drop just short of the green with his second - avoiding that dangerous bunker and with a front flag that's a decent play.

Kat Downes
BBC Radio 5 Live commentator at Royal Birkdale

Bryson DeChambeau is fighting to keep himself in the tournament.

Seven foot for par on the fifth. Ten foot for par on the sixth. And another clutch par save for him at the eighth.

He's keeping himself in this tournament by his fingernails.

Out of the bunker and a gnarly six feet to save par for Bryson DeChambeau.

In it goes. No clenched fist this time, just an acknowledgement wave to the crowds.

He's not going anywhere, and he's still in this.

Ludvig Aberg is shooting himself out of contention. After a bogey on three, he drops another at the par-three seventh and he's well back at four under.

Lucas Herbert is two shots better off but this group needs something special now.

Everybody has just hit reverse at Royal Birkdale right now. It's actually one of Scottie Scheffler's better putts too here as he hits it from eight feet, and that at least saves a shot after his rare wide off the tee.

He's still not too far away from the lead though as most of the leaders are just struggling now as the wind picks up slightly and the pressure really starts to increase.

Ben Croucher
BBC Sport journalist at Royal Birkdale

Remember before the tournament started and all the chatter was about whether the final round would be moved in case it clashed with England playing in the World Cup final?

With the leaderboard as tight as it gets, is it too early to be talking about a play-off?

It'd be played over three holes, and given the fact the tee times were slightly delayed earlier today, that could well run the football close?

When the drama is like this, who wouldn't want more?

Hit the thumbs - would you take a play-off even if it meant missing the start of the World Cup final?