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Norman Turns Back Clock

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 18, 2008

SOUTHPORT, England - A blissful newlywed, Greg Norman believes he's finally got the proper perspective on life.

His golf game looks pretty good, too.

Cheered on by his wife of a month, former tennis star Chris Evert, the 53-year-old Norman plugged away for an even-par 70 in the opening round of the British Open, leaving him one stroke off the lead Thursday.

Go ahead. Pinch yourself.

The Shark is again contending at a major championship, even though most other weeks he's likely to spend more time on the tennis court than he does on the golf course.

"I've got to keep my expectations realistically low, to be honest with you. I haven't played a lot of golf," said Norman, who had the good fortune of teeing off in the afternoon, after the rain had stopped and the wind tapered off a bit. "It's just like riding a bike. But even riding a bike sometimes after a long time, you're a little wobbly."

Norman sure looked steady in the opening round, walking off the course with one of just six rounds at par or better. Of course, he's not about to start clearing out space in the suitcase for the claret jug, knowing that while plenty of tournaments are lost Thursday, none has ever been won the first day.

Five years ago at Royal St. George's, Norman opened with a 2-under 69 but soared to a 79 the following day, ruining any hopes of winning a third Open title.

Quitting Best Strategy For Lyle, Beem

Royal Birkdale was so punishing for the opening round of the British Open that two major champions didn't even bother to finish.

Sandy Lyle won the 1985 British Open and was making his 33rd start in golf's oldest championship. The 50-year-old Scot played only 10 holes in the rain and wind before he called it quits. He was 11 over par.

"It's just a difficult, difficult golf course," Lyle said after walking off the course. "I was out of whack with my golf game and I think it was best to call it a day."

Former PGA champion Rich Beem, already worn out from a busy summer schedule that included qualifying for this championship, was 12 over at the turn when he decided he was better off not playing.

"I'm fine," Beem said when reached on his cell phone. "I've played a lot of golf and I'm fried. If I had continued, I don't think I would have broken 90. I said very gracefully to the guys on the ninth green, 'I'm sorry, but I can't continue.' It was ugly."

Harrington, Wrist Survive First Round

Nursing an injured right wrist, Padraig Harrington woke up Thursday wondering whether it might be too painful to swing a golf club, let alone make a strong defense of his British Open title.

When he walked off the 18th green after surviving the battering wind and rain at Royal Birkdale, the Irishman was convinced that even a bogey-bogey finish for a 4-over 74 in the opening round put him in contention again.

"The finish tainted it a bit, but I have to focus on the positives," Harrington said. "There are 54 holes to go and the wrist should get better."

Slocum Starts

Heath Slocum figured his best chance of playing his first British Open was if defending champion Padraig Harrington could not play because of his injured wrist.

"When I saw him hitting full shots on the practice range, I knew he was OK," Slocum said.

So he retreated to the clubhouse, the putting green and family dining, bracing for a long day. The first tee time was 6:30 a.m., and the last group went off at 4:31 p.m. Slocum couldn't afford to leave the property.

Imagine his surprise when an R&A official tapped him on the back at 9:15 a.m. to tell him that Toru Taniguchi had withdrawn.

"I was a little bit stunned," Slocum said. "And I was pretty excited."

He opened with a 73.

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