Just when we thought it was safe to go back in the water, golf's "Great White Shark" has bared his teeth again. Amazingly, Greg Norman is just one shot off K J Choi’s clubhouse lead of 139 in The Open Championship.
At the age of 53 and after a countdown to Royal Birkdale in which he spent more time playing tennis with new wife Chris Evert than working on his game, Norman has turned back the clock these past two days.
A closing par putt from 20 feet gave the Australian, Champion at this event in 1986 and 1993, a second successive level par 70, which would have given him the lead on level par had Choi not surged through late in the day with a stunning 67.
The 37 year old Korean, with seven wins the most successful Asian player in US PGA Tour history, will now try to become their first Major Champion, but, having followed an opening 72 with bogey at the first on Friday, that seemed unlikely early on.
However, birdies on the third and 13th got him back in contention before he picked up further shots on the final two holes in fading light.
It was a superb fightback from the World Number 11, but the winner in the shock stakes was Norman. He now has an opportunity to become comfortably the oldest winner of any Major, surpassing American Julius Boros who was 48 when he lifted the 1968 US PGA title.
While still determined to keep his expectations low - he put them at "almost nil" entering the week - former World Number One Norman is still a golfer with dreams.
"My mind still wants to perform well," he said.
"I really don't have the physically ability to go out there and hit balls six to eight to ten hours a day like I used to, but my mind still salivates.
"I still cherish it, I relish it. When I come back from a good practice session I feel great.”
He added: “My expectations are still realistically low, and I have to be that way, too, because I can't sit here and say, okay, it's great, I'm playing well and I'm doing it. Well, I am playing well, I am doing it, but I still haven't been there for a long time.
“You work hard to get yourself into position, and I've just got to keep the same mind set going to the first tee tomorrow and every shot that I'm going to hit tomorrow. That's all I can do.”
Choi, who made his debut at The Open at Royal Birkdale in 1998, said: “This was probably the best round that I have ever played at The Open, everything worked the way I wanted to.
“The key thing right now is to maintain my body condition and to try to finish it out. My swing is very good this week …very powerful and simple. I feel good.
“If I win this, it will be tremendous back home in Korea. I know a lot of people are praying for me. I like links courses as when I stand on the tee box, I can see everything. It comes well into my eye.”
Columbia’s Camilo Villegas has also caused a shock with his display. A dazzling finish of five successive birdies gave the 26 year old - not even in the event until American Kenny Perry turned down his spot two weeks ago - a five under par 65.
He said: "When you get on the first tee you never think about a score. You just think about every single shot because you don't know when the weather is going to get like it was yesterday.
"I bogeyed the first two holes (to be eight over), but somehow my caddie just told me to keep battling, keep grinding. I obviously played unbelievable and I'm very excited to be right in it.”
In keeping with the thrilling success stories, American David Duval, the 2001 Champion who has since slumped to 1,087th and even stopped playing for a while, shot a 69 to sit two over par.
He was joined in fourth place by Rocco Mediate, the US Open runner-up, as well as Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell, Jim Furyk, Robert Allenby and Alexander Noren.
Harrington birdied the 15th, eagled the 17th with a putt from 35 feet and birdied the last from nine feet.
Round in 68 he said: "I would have to think I am over the wrist problem now and I'm delighted with my position. You just want to be there with nine to play."
