Greg Norman, attempting to become the oldest winner of a major, defied his 53 years to finish one stroke behind leader KJ Choi of South Korea after the British Open second round on Friday. World number 11 Choi rolled in a 25-foot birdie putt at the last to shoot a 67 for a one-under tally of 139, ahead of Australian Norman (70) after a day of intermittent rain and winds much lighter than Thursday's 50-kph blasts. Colombian Camilo Villegas, chosen in 2006 as one of People Magazine's ‘hottest bachelors', produced his own version of sexy golf as five consecutive birdies to the 18th gave him a thrilling 65 and third place on 141. Choi recovered from a first-hole bogey with four birdies including 20-foot efforts on the 13th and 18th. The seven-time US PGA Tour winner said he was grateful to have six-time major champion Nick Faldo's former caddie Andy Prodger on his bag at Royal Birkdale. “Being with Andy is important for me,” Choi told reporters after producing his lowest round at the British Open. “He is like my big brother, and my uncle at times. He makes me feel relaxed. If I'm feeling the pressure he will say something that makes me laugh,” added the Korean who is aiming to become the first Asian male to win a major. Former world number one Norman was also grinning after treating the crowd to the kind of golf that won him the coveted Claret Jug in 1986 and 1993. The Australian got the fans on his side from the start, ramming in a 45-foot birdie putt at the opening hole. Norman, bidding to surpass the record of American Julius Boros who was 48 when he won the 1968 US PGA Championship, made a double-bogey six at the sixth after an errant drive. But he rallied with two birdies in succession, from 25 and 15 feet. The veteran then strung together eight consecutive pars including a superb sand save at the 16th. With his feet outside a greenside bunker and the ball inside, Norman splashed out perfectly to six feet and holed out for his par four. Norman played the long 17th poorly, taking five strokes to reach the green before notching his eighth single putt of the round by rolling in a bogey effort from 10 feet. Pumped up and in his element, he received another rapturous reception from the crowd when he sank a 20-footer for his par four from the fringe of the 18th green. Villegas came close to a spectacular eagle at the last when his wild slash from out of the rough hit the pin. The ball eventually came to rest 25 feet from the hole and he stroked in a curling putt to gather his eighth birdie. In joint fourth on 142 were several players including holder Padraig Harrington, former world number one David Duval, former number two Jim Furyk and US Open runner-up Rocco Mediate. Harrington finished in style, eagling the 17th with a 35-foot putt and holing a five-footer to birdie the last. The most notable casualties of the cut, made at 149, were Vijay Singh, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Geoff Ogilvy and Angel Cabrera. Johnson ahead Sweden's Richard S. Johnson aced the 14th hole on his way to a 63 that gave him a one-stroke lead Thursday over South Africa's Pappas brothers at the US Bank Championship. Deane and Brenden Pappas could have become the first brothers to share the lead at a PGA event, but Johnson birdied from about 10 feet on the 18th hole to edge ahead. Defending champion Joe Ogilvie and Jesper Parnevik were in a group of ten tied at 66. Kenny Perry, who won the tournament in 2003, shot 67. Kim fires 9-under 63 Christina Kim had a 9-under 63 to take a one-stroke lead Thursday at the State Farm Classic, a tournament she just missed winning last year. Last year Kim birdied 18 to momentarily tie Sherri Steinhauer at 16 under, but the veteran Steinhauer matched Kim on the last hole to win. The field was stacked with low scores in the first round Thursday, including a 67 from Michelle Wie. South Korean Yoo Sun-young finished a stroke behind Kim at 64.
