Norman takes two-shot lead

Updated 19.52 Sat Jul 19 2008

Greg Norman has a two-stroke lead to defend going into the final round of The Open at Royal Birkdale.

The 53-year-old Australian, who won the Claret Jug in 1986 and 1993, carded a two-over-par third round of 72, leaving him two shots ahead of KJ Choi and the defending champion Padraig Harrington.

Norman carded a two-over-par third round of 72

Norman dropped shots at the first, third and sixth holes and had a double-bogey six at the tenth.

But birdies at the eighth, 14th and 17th holes kept him at the top of the leaderboard.

Choi, who held the lead on one under par after two rounds, carded a five-over-par 75, which included double bogeys at the sixth and tenth.

Harrington showed little sign of his recent wrist injury as he scored 72, including four birdies.

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