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Resurgent Norman leads Open after third round

19/07/2008

Greg Norman is in pole position to lift a third Open title as he will go into the final round tomorrow at Royal Birkdale with a two shot lead.

The 53-year-old Australian carded a third round 72 to finish on two-over-par and stay ahead of defending champion Padraig Harrington and KJ Choi who are Norman's closest challengers on four-over-par.

In a day which saw winds up to 40mph, no player was able go below level-par and this meant that the semi-retired Norman, who is only playing his sixth tournament of the year, was still in pole position to claim an incredible victory.

Englishman Simon Wakefield made the biggest surge up the leader-board today as his round of 70 saw him get to five-over and finish at third place.

Wakefield's compatriot Ross Fisher carded a solid round of 71 which sees him in fifth place on seven-over, alongside the 2003 Open champion Ben Curtis (70), American Anthony Kim (71) and Sweden's Alexander Noren (75).

Ian Poulter is a further shot back on eight-over after he carded a disappointing round of 75. He is joined on the same score by Graeme Storm and 20-year-old English amateur Chris Wood.

A number of big names, including last year's runner-up Sergio Garcia, are grouped together on nine-over-par. Former US Open champion Retief Goosen and American duo Jim Furyk and Davis Love are also on nine-over.

Colombian Camilo Villegas, who carded a superb second round 65, and David Duvall who carded 69, both struggled today. Villegas could only manage a 79 today and is on 10-over, while Duval had an 83 which sees him at 15-over.

Paul Casey, Colin Montgomerie, and first round leader Graeme McDowell are all on 12-over, while Lee Westwood is on 17-over and Justin Rose on 18-over.