Norman: Two-stroke lead
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Heading into the final the final round of the Open holding a two-stroke lead, Greg Norman summed up what his rivals were doubtless thinking about seeing his name at the top of the leaderboard.
"The players are probably saying, 'My God, what is he doing up there,"' said the 53-year-old Australian, after a third round of 72 saw him vault above playing partner KJ Choi at Royal Birkdale.
Norman won the Open in 1986 and 1993 but is strictly a part-timer these days and admits to playing more tennis than golf, especially since his recent marriage to Chris Evert.
He also readily conceded that playing this week had partly been in order to practice ahead of next week's Senior British Open at Troon.
Asked what he would have said if someone had told him two months ago he would be leading the Open after 54 holes, Norman answered: "Oh really?
"I came over here to really practice and get ready for the next couple of weeks. Experiencing the Open this week has tuned me up physically and mentally so I am looking forward to the next two weeks.
"If Troon is like this then I really will be tired!"
The former world number one began the day one stroke behind Choi and was quickly three adrift after taking bogeys at the first and third holes.
Battling winds gusting up to almost 50mph, another shot fell by the wayside at the sixth and, after a birdie on the eighth, a double bogey on the 10th looked set to derail Norman's challenge.
However, he played the last five holes in two-under-par and almost chipped in for another birdie on the 18th.
"I walked to the first tee nervous today but that was a good indicator to me," he added. "I've not felt that nervous in maybe 10 years. I was excited to be there, I wanted to be there. I hope I will walk to the first tee the same way tomorrow.
"I put today in the top three hardest rounds I have ever played in the circumstances. It was just brutal today. It was so hard to start the ball 60-80 yards left or right of your target line. I have never seen the ball react like it did. It was at the mercy of the elements."
Same mindset
After his opening-round 70, Norman said his expectations were "realistically low".
And, ahead of his pairing with defending champion Padraig Harrington, he added: "I am going in with the same mindset.
"I've played well enough to get myself in this position obviously. I'm very content in my mind. It's going to be tough again tomorrow.
"I have to stay focused and in the present. You really don't pay attention to anyone else out there because you are working so hard. You don't know where you are until the end.
"I obviously have a chance but there's a lot of golf to be played. Padraig Harrington has played extremely well the last 36 holes to get himself into this position.
"I was very impressed with KJ Choi today, he is always going to be a force to be reckoned with.
"Physically I'm not tired. Today made me work a little bit harder. You had to concentrate on putts of two feet or 18 inches but I don't feel drained at all.
"Physically I feel very good."
