Norman sets up weekend drama with trip back to '93

Well, yes and no, though Norman is starting to convert more than a few fans into true believers. He could become the oldest major winner by five years, easily beating the late Julius Boros, who was 48. No matter what happens from here, it has made for a hell of a fun run over the first two days at rain-saturated Birkdale. Even Norman appreciates the feel-good gravitas.

By the end of the day, he was being dogged by a fleet of photographers and fans, just like in the old days. His gallery continued to swell when it became apparent he wasn't going to fade.

"I said this to Rocco Mediate the other day," Norman said. "I walked up on the putting green and said, 'Rocco, the best thing to happen to the game of golf was what you did at the U.S. Open.'

"You've got a great player in Tiger Woods and stuff like that, but for everybody to see that you can put yourself into position no matter who you are or what you do or what your qualifications are or how old you are, if you truly want it, you can do it."

As for the latter, Norman said he has not truly been willing to invest the time to stay at a polished level. He hasn't played in the British the past two years. He has so many outside interests with his wine company, golf course design firm, as the new owner of MacGregor Golf and as a newlywed hubbie to tennis star Chris Evert that golf has been whacked with a spinning drop shot.

"My mind still wants to perform well," he said. "I really don't have the physical ability to go out there and hit balls six to eight to 10 hours a day like I used to. But my mind still salivates, I still cherish it, I relish it. "But it's hard for me to keep it going, just wanting to practice. I really don't have the desire to do it day after day after day after day. There's so many other good things in life that I appreciate and enjoy."

Which might, or might not, include being on parade before the world golf press for the first time in a while. Norman brought down the house when he was jokingly asked whether he was trying to make up ground on Evert, who collected 16 more major championships in women's tennis than he has in golf.

"Ah, Jesus," he said, breaking out in that toothy smile. "No, I'm not trying to get caught up. She's also won about 154 tournaments, also. She's won 91 percent of the matches she's ever played. If I won 91 percent of the time I went out there, I'd be pretty good, I would say."

Friday felt like old times in so many ways, Norman had to laugh. He was even asked if, given his admittedly low expectations entering the tournament, if he had made "alternate plans" for the weekend, since few in the media fancied his chances of surviving the cut.

"Boy, I missed you guys," he cracked.

Strickler, who had a front-row view as Norman made every putt he saw, including a combined 40 feet of one-putt efforts on the final three holes to retain the lead, said he wasn't totally shocked that Norman was able to conjure up some new voodoo.

"Not really," the veteran caddie said. "He's got it. Competitive edge, knocking the rough off."

Norman smoked his two playing partners, former Ryder Cupper Robert Karlsson and President's Cup player Woody Austin, who played with Norman back in his prime. Norman was all swagger, no stagger, said Austin, who was quite impressed.

"He was No. 1 in the world," Austin said. "It's like all he has to do is tap into it. He found the old game. He's in great shape, he doesn't look any different from 20 years ago. It's not like he's 60."

However it plays out, Norman pulled off a swashbuckling shot, circa his prime, on the 16th hole after hitting his approach shot into a pot bunker. He had to stand outside the bunker, bend deeply at the knees to reach the ball below in the sand, and splashed it out to 10 feet and saved par.

"I told him the only reason he got it up and down on 16 is because Chrissy is keeping him limber," Austin said.

It has been a busy few months for the newlyweds, who got hitched last month in the Caribbean. Just last week, it was learned via court papers filed in South Florida that Norman cut his ex-wife $103 million in her divorce settlement. Added to the settlement Evert paid her second husband so she could eventually wed Norman, they are a $120 million couple.

Their relationship came at a price in the court of public opinion as well. Evert was married to Andy Mill, Norman's former best friend. To say the least, Mill felt betrayed, telling the Palm Beach Post on the eve of the new couple's wedding three weeks ago, "I'm bummed out because I've been waiting for a phone call to tell me whether I'd be the first-ever best man and bridesmaid at the same event. It hasn't come yet."

Evert, 53, has been at Norman's side all year at various tournaments, though he hasn't played all that much, missing the cut in his three PGA Tour-sanctioned starts before this week. He says he has never been happier and said Evert should be credited with helping keep him sharp, albeit somewhat indirectly.

"I think that all comes down to the individual," Norman said. "What happens with athletes when you get to the mid 40s, late 40s, your body just really doesn't react to the way your mind wants it to react. Your mind is sharp, you still want to do it, you still feel it, you still feel comfortable and relaxed in your hands, but sometimes your lower back and your body won't let you do it.

"I said this to Chris yesterday, the tennis I've been playing has been the best thing for me, because it keeps me loose, it's good on the cardiovascular, it's good on my lower back because it keeps it strong."

In golf terms, Norman self-effacingly called himself an 18- or 20-handicapper as a tennis player and said he's mostly trying to get the ball over the net.

Whether he can hold serve in Saturday's third round -- we all know Norman on the weekend at the majors over the years has ranked among the most compelling figures in golf history -- will make for great watching. We should tune in on a black-and-white TV with a cathode-ray tube and no remote control, just to accentuate the vintage feel.

Norman in the mix again at the world's oldest major? Strickler discreetly inhaled a pair of cigarettes after Norman finished off his second straight throwback round and signed his scorecard.

"If I wasn't smoking before," the caddie smirked, "I'm smoking now."

Old habits die hard. Just ask his boss.