16 July 2011 13:56 GMT

Rickie Fowler is starting to make a move up the leaderboard as the weather continues to play havoc during the third round of the 140^th Open Championship at Royal St George’s.

The charismatic Californian began the round in a tie for 19^th place but had gone up to 14^th by the time the leading duo of Darren Clarke and Lucas Glover reached the first tee.

Fowler began the day at level par and was still on the same mark after playing his first ten holes in 39 shots. He dropped a shot to par on the 417-yard par-4 second but got it back on the 419-yard par-4 fifth before matching par over the next five holes.

The rain was still teeming down as Clarke and Glover left the first tee but that did not stop the bulk of their nearest rivals getting off to a steady start. Both Martin Kaymer and Chad Campbell opened with par-4s and Miguel Angel Jimenez was level through two holes.

The first move was made by joint first-round leader Thomas Bjorn who birdied the second to claim a share of the lead alongside Clarke and Glover on four under par.