Norman rolls back the years to thrill Birkdale galleries

WINNING the affection of the galleries and the admiration of his fellow competitors, Greg Norman kept the leader, KJ Choi, in his sights at the halfway mark of the 137th Open yesterday thanks to a mastery of links golf based on more than 30 years of experience.

When Tim Finchem, the commissioner of the US PGA Tour, suggested Tiger Woods' absence from golf while recuperating from a knee operation would hand other golfers an opportunity to step up to the plate this summer, he could hardly have envisaged a laid-back 53-year-old multi-millionaire emerging from the shadows to occupy centre stage at Royal Birkdale.

In terms of charisma, if not the number of majors won, there was a time when the swashbuckling Australian commanded the media attention in golf which Woods enjoys today. Walking into the press area after carding 70 for 140, one behind Choi, Norman inherited the crowd who usually turn up for the world No 1. "Seeing this press room full is pretty good," he smiled.

Although, for years, Norman has been a businessman who played a little golf rather than a golfer with business interests, he thinks the difference in emphasis on how he's approached this major compared to his heyday in the Eighties and Nineties goes a long way to explaining his return to prominence.

His recent marriage to former Wimbledon champion Chris Evert and enthusiasm for tennis has also proved a boon. On the 16th, when he found an awkward lie, his playing partner, Woody Austin, quipped: "You ought to thank Chris for the way you can stretch out on that shot…"

The champion golfer at Royal St George's in 1993 and Turnberry in 1986, the engaging Australian is striving to become the first fifty-something winner of a major. As far as creaking Open champions are concerned, Old Tom Morris in 1867 was a relatively fresh 46 at Prestwick while, in more modern times, Roberto de Vicenzo was 44 when he lifted the Claret Jug at Hoylake.

Without a Tour win since 1997 or a top-ten finish in the majors since the 1999 PGA Championship, Norman's rise to prominence here has cast shafts of sunlight across an otherwise grey and largely foreboding scene on Merseyside. Although Choi is the only player under par, the veteran is the story of the tournament going into the week-end action as he chases his 30th top-ten finish in the majors. Always an insightful interviewee, Norman was asked if he was on the outside looking in could he understand the interest in his revival? "Yes," he replied. "I could easily see that, if I was out of the picture looking back in."

Norman reckons that the example set by Rocco Mediate, 45, when he finished runner-up to Woods at the US Open, was good news for the game. With Mediate, 73 for 142, keeping up the good work in Lancashire, Norman thinks the veterans are doing their bit. "It shows there's a lot of resolve in this game," he added.

Not having made a cut this year on the PGA Tour, where he's played three times, but twice finished in the top 20 on the European Tour, Norman's astonishing 36 holes at Birkdale is attributed by the man himself to lowered levels of expectation.

"There's probably less pressure on me than anybody else out here because I'm going to say, hey, just have fun with it," he said. "A lot of the veteran reporters in here know I wouldn't have been saying those words 25 years ago…"

With age comes perspective and Norman doesn't rate the severity of the weather conditions here this week in his top five perfect storms in golf. "There are shots here you draw on from past experience," he reflected. Adding to the expertise is caddy Linn Strickler, who says he's lived "58 well-worn years".

While Choi is a relative novice on the links, by comparison, the Korean got the hang of the seaside game at Carnoustie last summer when he finished eighth behind Padraig Harrington. After dropping a stroke at the first, the 37-year-old played flawless golf over the remaining 17 holes. His 4, 3 finish for 67 and 139 meant Choi will play with Norman in the last group this afternoon.

With help from Andy Prodger, the Perth-based caddie he compares to a calming uncle, Choi relishes the Open. "I feel very comfortable playing on a links," he beamed. In the annals of remarkable comebacks, it was tricky to separate the performances of David Duval and Norman. In another torrid season on the PGA Tour, Duval has missed ten cuts and recorded a season high of 60th.

The champion golfer at Lytham in 2001, Duval, 36, has been in a trough almost ever since. Disappointed with the view from the exclusive balcony occupied by major winners, the golfer lost his way and has not won in Europe or the USA since. However, Duval yesterday carded four birdies in an impressive 69 for 142 and a share of fourth.

A stroke ahead of Camilo Villegas, 26, who signed for the low score of the tournament, 65, for 141 in thrilling style – he finished with five consecutive birdies – Norman recalled a practice round with the Colombian earlier this week. With the same long hitting skills and long flowing locks which once characterised his own play, it's little wonder Norman has been impressed by the South America. "His attitude and demeanour on the golf course are just great," he said. "He hasn't won a major, but he's talked about it and wants to be there. That finish was very, very good for him."

Although it would be stretching a point to say Villegas is present at Birkdale because of the support given by the R&A to help grow the game in Colombia, Duncan Weir, the director of golf development for the game's international governing body, was thrilled to see Villegas challenge for the Claret Jug.

"It's fair to say Camilo was well on his way as a golfer before we got involved in supporting the game in Colombia," said the Scot. "But, as an amateur, he would have played in team events which received R&A backing. We've also funded a public driving range in Bogota. I was excited to see Camilo doing so well because we've always believed our work would come full circle and a player, one day, would challenge at an Open."

Weir also reported how Manuel de la Rosa, the president of the Colombian golf federation, was present at Birkdale to watch Villegas in action and was doubtless doing his best to ensure the golfer again makes front-page news in the newspaper he runs in Bogota.

Harrington, 68 for 142, continued the stout defence of his title thanks to an ebullient finish which included two birdies and an eagle in the last four holes. Graeme McDowell, the Scottish Open champion, 73 for the same two under mark, ensured there were two Irishmen in the top five.

Although there are plenty of more youthful contenders, including Villegas, Peter Alliss, for one, wouldn't be in the least surprised to watch the Shark claim another Claret Jug. "His form is excellent, his mood is good and he's as fit as flea," observed the broadcaster. "I certainly wouldn't bet against him."