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Journalism of Courage
Greg Norman stood on the verge of one of the most remarkable achievements in sport after brushing aside howling, gale-force winds to grab the third-round lead at the 137th British Open on Saturday.
The Australian, trying to rewrite the record books by becoming golf’s oldest major champion at the age of 53, battled his way to a 72 and a two-over tally of 212 on a day when most of the field were blown off course by gusts of 72-kph.
Sharing second place on 214 were Norman’s playing partner and overnight leader KJ Choi of South Korea (75) and champion Padraig Harrington (72).
One stroke further adrift at a blowy Royal Birkdale was British journeyman Simon Wakefield, who equalled the day’s best round with a level-par 70.
Anything close to par was a brilliant score on this day. While the sun finally came out after two gloomy days, the wind off the Irish Sea really picked up, holding up shots and sending them flying off line. One player, Anthony Kim, saw his ball blow off the green after he had marked it ready for a putt.
“It was probably about as tough as you can play out there,” said 2003 Open winner Ben Curtis, who was thrilled to get off the course with a even par 70 and a share of the clubhouse lead — at seven-over 217.
David Duval felt Birkdale’s wrath. The 2001 Open champion quickly fell out of contention with an ugly 10-over 44 on the front side, going from three shots off the lead to 10.
Choi began the day as the only player under par through 36 holes, but a double-bogey on the massive sixth hole put him in the same company as everyone else.
