Great White Shark in two minds at Birkdale

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

SOUTHPORT (Reuters) - The prospect of winning a third major at the age of 53 has left Greg Norman facing a dilemma at the British Open.

The surprise early second-round leader, Norman knows he has to strike a delicate balance between maintaining his relaxed approach at Royal Birkdale and upping his intensity going into the weekend.

"I've got to stop trying to get caught up in the moment of it all and just keep myself very subdued and very relaxed and go with it," the Australian told reporters after shooting a level-par 70 on Friday.

"I've just got to take it in my stride knowing I've got myself in a position where I have to really be a little bit more careful on things and a little bit more relaxed on things. I know I've got to make a big effort to do that.

"If I get into position come Sunday afternoon then I'll probably start thinking about winning a little bit more," added Norman, who moved one stroke clear on level-par 140 in his bid to become the oldest British Open champion.

"Hopefully I'll be able to pull off the shots and be able to do that."

A winner of 78 tournaments in 13 countries, he certainly knows how to seal the deal down the stretch but, as a part-time golfer, he also accepts he is out of practice.

"My expectations were almost nil coming in, to tell you the truth," said Norman, who married former tennis great Chris Evert in the Bahamas last month.

WEDDING PREPARATION

"I hadn't played a lot of golf and I was trying to work on my game as much as I could. Obviously we had a lot of preparation getting ready for the wedding.

"We had a great time over there so the least of my worries was getting out there practicing and hitting golf balls and getting ready for the British Open. For the last month my mind has been really elsewhere and justifiably so.

"My expectations are still realistically low and I have to be that way because I can't sit here and say: 'Okay, it's great, I'm playing well and I'm doing it'. I am playing well and I am doing it but I haven't been there for a long time."

British Open champion at Turnberry in 1986 and Royal St George's in 1993, Norman believes he will face the least amount of pressure of all the contenders in the last two rounds.

"There will be more pressure tomorrow and Sunday," said the player widely known as the 'Great White Shark'.

"But there's probably less pressure on me than on anybody out there because although I'm in the position I am, I'm going to go out there and say: 'Hey, just go and have fun with it'.