And if that new-age rambling sounded familiar, that’s because it was, too. In another of the most unforgettable rounds in major championship golf, Faldo also thrashed Norman on a Saturday en route to winning the 1990 British Open, sending the latter’s career into a 27-month tailspin.

Norman also did more than his share of soul-searching after that one, saying an emotional TV interview with former Australian prime minister Bob Hawke finally helped get him back on track. Whether it was that, or the shorter swing that coach Butch Harmon advocated, Norman beat out the best field in memory to claim the 1993 British Open. He pronounced himself a new man then, too, and began studying Zen and the martial arts.

That long and winding road deposited Norman at yet another fork Saturday night. A reporter described the two paths with one question.

“You’ve won two Opens, but you’ve frittered away five or six great chances when you’ve led going into the final round,” he said to Norman. “Are you going to be able to hang on tomorrow?”

Norman thought for a moment.

“I can’t answer that question now,” he said. “We’ll find out.”

So will the rest of us come Sunday, when the weather is supposed to bring a little bit of everything — rain, wind and glorious sunshine — back into the picture.

Asked whether that would be a factor, Norman’s player partner and defending champion Harrington said, “I have no idea what the forecast is.

“And going by the weather service over here,” he added, “they don’t, either.”

MORE FROM GOLF

Golf Section Front

Nordqvist wins LPGA Tour Championship Out of Bounds: Tiger booed ... at Stanford? Latest golf videos Latest player news, rumors and more Tracking Tiger: News, features and more Tiger's triumphs: Recapping all Woods' wins Vote: When will Tiger win his 15th major? Vote, discuss: Best major of 2009? Special section: Golf on NBC Discuss: Sound off on golf at Newsvine.com Golf Section Front   Add Golf headlines to your news reader: