The Open: Norman Stutters As Elements Take Their Toll

Greg Norman suffered early setbacks in his challenge for the Open title with three bogeys in his first six holes. It was a start nearly matched by the overnight leader, KJ Choi, who double bogeyed the sixth to drop back to one over par.

The Korean still led the field, though, with Padraig Harrington one shot further back after battling through the outward nine in par. The advantage, however, lay with those in the clubhouse, with winds gusting up to 35mph making conditions at Royal Birkdale "the toughest so far", according to Phillip Archer, the first man through 18 holes today.

Archer shot an eight-over-par 78, contributing to a 17-over total of 227 for three rounds. The Warrington-based player was later joined on that tally by Lee Westwood and Austria's Martin Wiegele, both of whom shot 78s.

"It was the toughest day so far," said Archer. "Staying steady over the ball was the hardest bit - the ball is oscillating as you address it and you're scared to put the putter down in case the ball moves."

With the players struggling to cope with the blustery conditions, scores close to par were a notable achievement. Henrik Stenson carded a level-par 70, a round that might have been even better were it not for a double-bogey six at the 16th, to take the clubhouse lead in the early afternoon at eight over.

Davis Love III also shot a more than respectable 70 to finish the day nine over par, where he was joined by Steve Stricker. Ben Curtis had started at a remarkable pace and was three under for the day at the turn, his round including an eagle at the par-four third. Bogeys at 11, 12 and 13 dented his hopes, but the former champion recovered to card a 70, one shot ahead of Stenson, and a score that looked better and better as the afternoon wore on.

Colin Montgomerie failed to make any headway, dropping a further four shots to finish the day at 12 over. But his struggles paled next to Thomas Aiken - the South African began the day in contention at six over, but an eight at 11 and a six at the 12th, combined with a series of bogeys on the outward nine, saw him 11-over for the day after 12 holes.

David Duval, who had overturned years of disastrous form to shoot a 73 in his first round and a 69 yesterday, began his round today with a nightmare triple-bogey seven at the first, followed by a bogey five at the second to drop back to six over par.