SOUTHPORT, England -- The first day you could call an aberration. The second a day a waltz down memory lane. Now, however, it gets serious. Even a man as content and accomplished as Greg Norman cannot help but dream.
Can he really pull this off?
Conventional wisdom and a dose of common sense suggest the task is impossible. Debating England's aversion to ice might make for a better discussion than the ridiculous notion of Norman's contending again.
The man has more scar tissue in major championships than any player, dead or alive, with playoff losses in each of the four Grand Slam events being just the beginning. But here he is, after a second straight 70 at Royal Birkdale, a shot out of the lead at the Open Championship through 36 holes.
At age 53.
Nine years removed from the last time he threatened at a major championship.
Eleven years after his last PGA Tour victory.
Seemingly a lifetime after Tiger Woods replaced him as the game's biggest and greatest attraction.
"Greg has played very little golf," said Jack Nicklaus, who made an appearance Friday at Royal Birkdale and knows a thing or two about being in contention in majors when he wasn't supposed to be. "The only thing I'd relate it to is 1986 when I won the Masters. I hadn't played any golf, either. But I remembered how to play when I needed to down the stretch. And he'll remember how to play when or if he gets into position to do so."
History lesson: That Masters was just one of many majors Norman had a chance to win and didn't. He held the third-round lead, seemingly fell out of contention as Nicklaus made his historic charge, then birdied four straight holes at Augusta National to tie the Golden Bear heading to the 18th hole.
That's where he sprayed his approach shot in the gallery and made a bogey, allowing Nicklaus to claim his 18th and final major championship.
You know all the other carnage, including the chip-ins by Bob Tway and Larry Mize, the implosion that cleared the way for Nick Faldo. In all, there were eight runner-up finishes in majors.
And we're supposed to think he can put all that behind him and go on to victory at a time when he is less prepared that at any point since early in his career? No way.
Norman is five years older than Julius Boros was when he won the PGA Championship at age 48 in 1968. And he's seven years older than Tom Morris Sr. was in 1867 when he became the oldest to capture the Open Championship.
One thing that portends trouble is Norman's inability to make a birdie on the back nine Friday. He has made just one in two days on the home nine, and that is where both the par-5 scoring chances are located. He managed to bogey the par-5 17th in the second round -- and it was a good bogey at that.
Yet Norman has been remarkably steady this week -- five birdies, three bogeys and a double being the only marks on his card. He has putted beautifully despite a lack of preparation caused by his myriad business interests and his recent marriage to tennis legend Chris Evert. And with Woods out to recuperate from knee surgery and a slew of other players with their own question marks chasing the lead, perhaps the notion of Norman's winning his third Claret Jug increases.
Then again, tournament leader K.J. Choi is no slouch. And past major winners, Jim Furyk and Padraig Harrington are in close pursuit.
"I'm not surprised [by Norman]," said Furyk, who is just two strokes out of the lead. "I think he's competed well over here. He's an Open champion. I think the surprising part, if any, is that he hasn't competed that much this year and for the last few years. Obviously, if he made a concerted effort and was playing a lot more, it wouldn't surprise me a bit, and I'm not surprised but I think it's quite an accomplishment being that he hasn't played a lot of tournament golf in the last few years and he is able to come out here like he hasn't missed a beat."
Norman admitted he came to Royal Birkdale with absolutely no expectations. Those expectations did not rise much after his opening 70. And he tried to act as though they would not go up any higher after holding the lead for a time Friday.
But if nothing else, Norman is a competitor. He remains fiercely committed to his business interests, and you know starting in the final group Saturday will provide a jolt of adrenaline. How could it not? To be teeing off on golf's grandest stage in its oldest championship?
"It's fantastic," said fellow Australian Adam Scott, who has been mentored by Norman. "He's probably the most experienced player at this point in contention and he certainly knows how to get it done on these types of courses … I know he doesn't play much, but when you're as good as he is, you know how to get the ball around no matter how you're playing. He's obviously playing well and it's easy for him just now. He's still the Australian hero."
Perhaps, but it is hard to believe this is easy for Norman. Even at the top of his powers, it was never easy. But he does have a few things going for him.
If the weather forecast holds true, it will be difficult for any of the early starters Saturday to make a big move or surpass him by a great margin. More wind and rain are in the forecast, and although that won't make it a breeze for Norman, he is better off trying to shoot par than trying to make a ton of birdies.
Then there is his history. Both of Norman's Open titles came with at least one day of cruel weather. If the man proved anything over the years, it is that he knows how to strike a golf ball.
"Norman played two of the greatest rounds I've ever seen at the British Open," said five-time champion Tom Watson. "I'm not sure which was more impressive -- the 63 at Turnberry [in the second round in 1986] or the 64 at Sandwich [Royal St. George's final round in 1993]. Both were posted on very windy days. You just don't see guys control the golf ball like that in those kind of conditions."
But that was a long time ago. This can't happen, right?
http://www.abspo.com
http://www.gfspo.com
http://www.zjspo.com
