ESPN Commentary

SOUTHPORT, England -- Well, just as we all predicted, Greg Norman is in perfect position to win the British Open after three rounds. Of course, it was 1993 when we predicted it.

Only 18 holes (and, OK, maybe a playoff) separate Norman and arguably the nuttiest majors victory of all time. If he wins, he'd become the oldest majors champion ever -- and not just by a little, but by five years.

But there's still a few slices of pizza left in the Open box. There are 18 players within 7 strokes of Norman, who has been known to suffer oxygen loss in his playing career.

I'm pulling for him. But that's my heart talking. The local oddsmakers say otherwise.

Greg Norman (2-over-par). Odds: 4/1

The last time Norman led a major after 54 holes was 1996, when he held a seemingly insurmountable 6-stroke advantage at the Masters. Then he went out and melted like a square of butter in a frying pan. It was the biggest collapse in PGA Tour history.

Now he has a 2-stroke lead over K.J. Choi and defending champion Padraig Harrington, followed by a casting call of other contenders.

"The players are probably saying, 'My God, what's he doing up there?"' Norman said.

There's no logical reason why the 53-year-old Norman, who last won British Opens in 1986 and 1993, is atop the famed canary-yellow leaderboard. Then again, there wasn't any logical reason why Rocco Mediate lasted 91 holes against Tiger Woods in the recent U.S. Open.

Sometimes you don't ask why. This is one of those times.

Padraig Harrington (4-over-par). Odds: 5/2

Harrington is a delightful Irishman who talks like he just inhaled a cheek full of helium. The R&A should be thrilled that his name is on the Claret Jug. He's a class act.

There will be no shortage of Harrington fans and followers here Sunday. He arrived at Royal Birkdale with an injured wrist, but you wouldn't know it now. He'll be in the last twosome of the tournament and is more than capable of becoming the first European player to go Jug-to-Jug since 1906.

"Obviously I don't know what to think at this stage," Harrington said.

That's not exactly true. He's thinking two-peat. He's also hoping the winds keep pounding this place like a sledgehammer.

"Yeah, if it was high winds it would probably give me the best chance of winning, yes," he said.

K.J. Choi (4-over-par). Odds: 4/1

Choi finished 41st at the 2008 Masters and missed the cut at Torrey Pines. But no way does he do a fade here.

"Nobody knows what will happen [Sunday], but I feel very comfortable on the course," Choi said.

Simon Wakefield (5-over-par). Odds: 20/1

I'm going to be honest with you: Wakefield could have hit me in the mouth with a 9-iron and I wouldn't have known who he was. Never heard of him. But that was before he shot a where'd-that-come-from 70 and sprinted up the leaderboard. If he does it again he'll be the Open champion.

I'm not ruling him out (see Ben Curtis in 2003, Todd Hamilton in 2004), much in the way I'm not ruling out anybody within 6 shots of the lead.

"Anybody's got a chance to win a golf tournament," said Norman, referring to Wakefield.

"Come [Sunday], who knows?" Wakefield said.

Reminded that he could be the British Open champion by Sunday's end, Wakefield was asked, "How does that sound?"

"Bizarre, to be honest," he said.

He's got a point.

Wakefield was admittedly nervous Saturday. Couldn't eat much breakfast. Wait until he walks to the No. 1 tee Sunday.

Par or better. Odds: 20/1

The rain is supposed to stop by Royal Birkdale in the morning and go home to watch the rest of the tournament on the telly. The wind, however, is here to stay. We're looking at gusts of close to 40 mph in the afternoon and a little less at night.

What does it mean? Well, there were three sub-par rounds Thursday, 13 on Friday and goose egg on Saturday. Somebody is going to go red numbers on Sunday, maybe more than a few.

Sergio Garcia (9-over-par). Odds: 25/1

I'm not a Sergio guy. I was, but he lost me last year at Carnoustie when he partly blamed a slow rake job of a greenside bunker at No. 18 for his Open loss in regulation. The delay unsettled him, he said.

A binky for Sergio, please.

I'd want Garcia on my Ryder Cup team, but I don't trust him in majors. I think Birkdale and the weather are in his head.

"I felt like I needed no more than 2-over to have a chance," said Garcia, who shot 4-over Saturday. "I could've done that, but things didn't happen."

Ross Fisher (7-over-par). Odds: 20/1

See: Wakefield.

Actually, Fisher won the European Open not long ago, but this is only his second British Open (he missed the cut at Carnoustie in '07).

"I'm in good form, good spirits," he said. "Confidence is high."

That makes one of us.

Anthony Kim (7-over par). Odds: 16/1

Here's why Kim will either deliver the golf goods, or implode, during Round 4.

"I will be more aggressive [Sunday]," he said. "There is no reason why I can't hit a driver and make five or six birdies and make a run."

The other 9-overs. Odds: Davis Love III (80/1). Steve Stricker (66/1). Retief Goosen (33/1). Jim Furyk (33/1).

If Saturday's weather were going to be Sunday's weather, I'd say they'd be in the mix. But make up 7 strokes and jump over 14 other players? Doubtful.

Of the bunch, I'd take the flier on Furyk.

Ben Curtis (7-over-par). Odds: 25/1

Your 2003 British Open champion shot 70 on Saturday, which was like a 65 or 64 any other day on Birkdale. That gave him a three-round total of 217 and, at the time, 19th place on the leaderboard.

Then he did his postround interviews, maybe had a bite to eat, went back to his lodging, perhaps sat on the couch and watched the BBC. By doing absolutely nothing, he moved up to a tie for fifth place by day's end.

"If I had a chance of winning a major, this would be it," he said.

One more reason to think a Curtis victory wouldn't be a complete shocker.

"Obviously I'm a better player than I was then," Curtis said. "I know I can get hot."

Alexander Noren (7-over-par). Odds: 33/1

Move along. Nothing to see here.

Chris Wood (8-over-par). Odds: 100/1

The low amateur so far. He's playing in his first Open, but seems to be thinking pro.

Question: "But you're not far away from the lead of an Open Championship, which is quite an achievement."

Wood: "Yes, I suppose it is. But I won't get to keep a penny of the prize money."

That's the spirit!

The other 8-overs. Odds: Rocco Mediate (50/1). Henrik Stenson (25/1). Robert Allenby (25/1). Ian Poulter (33/1). Graeme Storm (80/1).

If you have to pick one out of this group, go with Stenson. Allenby would be the runner-up.

(Columnist is not responsible for any wagering losses. Columnist is openly rooting for Mr. Evert.)

Gene Wojciechowski is the senior national columnist for ESPN.com. You can contact him at gene.wojciechowski@espn3.com.