Sat Jul 19 09:58:01 2008

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Wind winning at Royal Birkdale

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Southport, England (Sports Network) - Heavy winds, some measured at over 30 miles per hour, have wreaked havoc with Saturday's third round of the British Open Championship.

As the final pairing of leader K.J. Choi and 53-year-old two-time winner Greg Norman tee off at 9:40 a.m. (et), breezes were forecast to reach almost 50 miler per hour.

With more than half the field in the clubhouse already, only 2003 champion Ben Curtis, Henrik Stenson and Davis Love III were able to manage even-par 70s.

"When you've got a full-bloodied three-iron, which I can hit 215 yards, and it goes 169 yards as it did at the second hole, that shows you how strong the wind is," said Simon Khan, who managed a one-over 71 on Saturday. "It's a good three-club wind and it's hard to judge."

Phil Mickelson struggled to a six-over 76. Lee Westwood shot a 78 and Sean O'Hair ballooned to a 10-over 80.

Ernie Els won the 2002 claret jug at Muirfield when Saturday's third round featured some of the worst conditions in recent major championship history. Tiger Woods shot an 81 on that fateful day.

Els posted a four-over 74 on Saturday, but the South African believes Royal Birkdale is still fair.

"If they'd cut the greens short, we wouldn't be playing today. The balls didn't move, so they've done a good job," said Els.

The Big Easy finished earlier in the round and did not see the problems that moved in after the leaders teed off on Saturday.

Anthony Kim, a two-time winner this season, complained that he could not keep his ball marked at 10. It rolled off the green after he marked it, but rules officials determined the course still to be playable, and ABC reported questions also arriving about the fairness of No. 8.

It was at Royal Birkdale 10 years ago when high winds caused the suspension of play since balls would not stay on the putting surfaces.