After three rounds of the 137^th British Open at Royal Birkdale… leading by two shots is none other than GREG NORMAN!  WHAT?  Is TIGER watching this? 

 It was truly an amazing performance by one the games great players today as the winds blew everyone into higher scores.  Greg managed the elements as good as anyone to remain at 2 over for the tournament and a two shot lead over Choi and Herrington.  The winds blew at 35 miles per hour all day with several of the back nine holes being severe cross winds. Two over, in my opinion was equivalent to shooting a round at five under par today. 

  During the 1985 Kapalua Invitational, we played in winds of over 40 miles per hour.  I remember hitting a 10 foot putt directly into the teeth of the wind that lipped out and then watched the wind get this ball rolling back toward me to then pass me and end up off the front of the green with a 40 foot chip coming back.  So, I have played in competitions where it has blown like this and the hardest part is staying steady over the putts without getting so firm in grip pressure that you disconnect from the feel of your instrument.  So, when you see the players struggling on the greens, think of what it would be like if as you were ready to stroke and your buddy walked behind you and gave you a light shove on your back or shoulder.  Wind gusts over 20 mph can cause you to loose your balance.  Unless you are a wide base low to the ground posture putter like what we see with Padriag Herrington.   So, it doesn’t surprise me to see him again on top of the leaderboard at the British Open.  Norman has also putted excellent in the windy conditions, judging “the wind-break” extremely well.  Yes the wind break.  When winds are gusting that hard and the greens are drying out and stemping at speeds of 10 or higher, you can have as much as 6 inches of wind-break on a 20’ putt.  

Yes, these players are that good that there higher faculties are sensing and intuitively feeling what adjustments are required to create the shots that they want to execute.  For those that embrace the challenge (like Norman), will continue to enjoy the experience that “Mother Nature” and the spirit of “Old Tom Morris” bring to tomorrows final round.  Will it be history with the oldest winner to ever win a major championship?   Or will it be the first Korean to win the Claret Jug?  A repeat for Ireland?  Or a come from behind early posting for a first timer?  What’s your prediction?  Blog in and shore your comments and opinions!  It’s all good!

 Happy golfing,

Brad Brewer

Greg Norman, David Duval...Rocco Mediate... what?  And we thought with Tiger out that we wouldn’t have a story!?! 

The story this weekend will be how the young and "very experienced" deal with golf's toughest challenge of winning the oldest Championship at Royal Birkdale, The Open, as referred to by all but the USA. 

I applaude Greg Norman’s attitude in his interviews of which I have witnessed so far.  To recap, Greg said he has "no expectations" and what he proposes to do over the weekend is stay focused on being calm and relaxed and not to get caught up in the hype.

We can all learn something from Greg's thoughts.  When we have expectations we can expect to be disappointed.  When we commit to our intentions we are able to grow toward our ideal with astute awareness of staying in the moment and creating what we want, one shot at a time. 

How cool (not mocking the weather over there) would it be to see Choi, Villegas or Allenby bust through the terror barrier and winning their first major.  Certainly a Duval comeback would be so well received.  And then there is the story of Rocco post the amazing battle to the sudden death match against Tiger at the US Open, where both deserved to win!  Or how 'bout history made with The Shark winning at 53 years young?  It is all good!!!