Norman two ahead in British Open golf

(CNN) -- Greg Norman of Australia leads the British Open by two strokes after Saturday's third round at Royal Birkdale.

Norman shot a two-over-par 72 for a two-over aggregate of 212.

Defending champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland, who had a 72, and KJ Choi of South Korea, with a 75, shared second place on 214.

The 53-year-old Norman , who won the title in 1986 and 1993, can rewrite the golfing record books by completing the hat-trick on Sunday.

He would end Old Tom Morris's distinction of being the oldest man to win the British Open, after 141 years, and he would also be the oldest player to claim a major title by five years.

"I'll be honest, I walked to the first tee nervous today and that was a good indicator for me," Norman said.

"I hadn't felt that way for ten years, maybe even longer. I was excited about being there, I wanted to be there and that was the perfect indicator to say to myself 'okay, you want to be here for a reason.'

"I hope I walk to the first tee feeling the same way tomorrow. I'm pretty sure I'm going to be because it's a little different situation, and I hope I can keep it going."

Norman rated Saturday's performance as one of three hardest rounds he has ever played.

"I've played under tougher weather conditions, but under the circumstances, the third round of a major championship and on the Royal Birkdale golf course, it was just brutal today.

"It was so hard to start the ball 60 or 80 yards right or left of your target line because the wind was so strong.

"Once the ball got above the sand dune line it was at the mercy of the elements. It was incredible to watch, to see the golf ball react like it was reacting."

Norman had come to Birkdale intending to use the tournament as a warm-up for the British Seniors Open.

"I've obviously got a chance tomorrow. But there's a lot of golf to be played, 18 holes to play around here.

"Padraig Harrington obviously played well today to get himself in the position he's in and I was very impressed with KJ Choi today.

"He could have been a couple of shots better and he's also going to be a force to be reckoned with tomorrow."

Englishman Simon Wakefield, whose uncle Bob Taylor was a distinguished England cricketer, was a stroke behind Harrington and Choi, after being one of only four players to match par.

Four players are on seven over - 2003 Open champion Ben Curtis, England's Ross Fisher, rising US star Anthony Kim and Swedish newcomer Alexander Noren.

Defending champion Harrington, who did not know until just before the start of the tournament if he would be fit enough to take part because of a wrist injury, said: "It's going to be a day for watching others whereas last year the only person that I focused on was me because I had to go forward to have a chance of winning."

The Irishman had to come from six strokes behind at Carnoustie last year before defeating Sergio Garcia in a playoff.

Virtually unknown Wakefield said: "Patience was the key, it was very windy out there. It feels like I've run a marathon.

"I don't want to get ahead of myself. I was very nervous this morning. I'm not going to think about anything, I'm just going to go and play golf."

With the wind again creating testing conditions, tees on the sixth, 11th and 16th were moved forward, reducing the length of the course by a total of 159 yards and several holes were repositioned to easier spots.

Gusts of up to 45 miles per hour (72 kilometers per hour), meant that a possible suspension of play was often likely.

Choi started the day one ahead and four opening pars sent him three in front.

Norman, attracting a big gallery, started shakily, bogeying the first and third holes.

A wayward drive by Choi at the sixth led to a double bogey and after another stroke went at the eighth there was a four-way tie for the lead with the South Korean, Norman, Harrington and American Jim Furyk.

Harrington double-bogeyed the 12th where his tee-shot found deep rough on a mound overlooking the green, while Furyk took a double bogey six at the 10th followed by a bogey at the next.

Wakefield was safely in the clubhouse after posting a par-70 thanks to three birdies on the back nine.

Choi and Norman both came to grief with double bogeys at the tough 10th, but Choi birdied the 13th.

Norman picked up a stroke at the par-three 14th and when Choi bogeyed the par-five 16th, Norman had the outright lead, which he clung onto over the final two holes.

Harrington birdied 15 and 17 to share second spot with Choi.

US veteran Davis Love, Sweden's Henrik Stenson and 2003 Open champion Ben Curtis were the only players to match Wakefield's 70.

The 2002 champion Ernie Els carded a four-over 74 putting him at 13 over for the tournament.

"It's been a frustrating week on the greens and when you're not making putts it's more frustrating," he said. "I had a good back nine but let it slip at the end again," said the South African.

World No. 2 Phil Mickelson also failed to make an impression, a 76 leaving him level with Els.

Pre-tournament favorite Sergio Garcia shot 74 for a total of 219 but insisted he was not out of the hunt.

"I'm really disappointed. I fought really hard but didn't get anything out of it," he said.