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Norman threaded his ball through the afternoon conditions and somehow came out clean on the other side. Slim and strong as always, Norman looked as comfortable as anyone who stepped on the course. After getting married in the Bahamas last month to tennis great Chris Evert, Norman said his life had never been in better balance, even if he only competes sparingly these days.
"There is something about this championship that stimulates me," he said.
He isn't the only one. Goosen found his way to four birdies. Weir tossed in an eagle. Ian Poulter of England calmly navigated Birkdale in two-over 72.
"It's easy to let [the weather] get to you on this golf course," said Poulter, adding that the conditions were not as bad as the winter-like blast on a Saturday at Muirfield in 2002. "We all remember that week — it was a lot worse than this. Your tee-off time is your tee-off time. It's the luck of the draw."
By the middle of the afternoon, the winds had calmed and the rain had eased, leaving better scoring opportunities for those with later tee times.
Mediate, who has been thriving since Torrey Pines, was among those who played in the afternoon. He's still riding the vibes from his magic week in San Diego, unwilling to view it as one moment in time.
"I still think I have one of these [in me]," he said of winning a major championship. "Whether it's this week or this month or next year, whatever. I don't feel like I'm on my way out. I feel like it's just starting again."
