For the second straight day, the 41-year-old Australian increased his lead by two shots in what he calls his favorite tournament on his favorite golf course.

Playing like the No. 1-ranked player in the world that he is, Norman crafted a windblown 1-under-par 71 in the third round. He's at 13-under-par 203 entering today's final examination.

Norman leads two-time Masters champion Nick Faldo of England by a whopping six shots and Phil Mickelson, the 25-year-old Californian, by seven. Three other golfers are a distant nine shots back.

"I've got a lot of work to do; I've got 18 tough holes,'' Norman said.

Norman plans to play today as if "everybody's even,'' he said. "That's the best way to approach the game. There is no lead. I just have to shoot a score.''

A two-time British Open champion, Norman has been the 54-hole leader in major championships six times. He won only once, at the 1986 British Open at the Turnberry Golf Links in Scotland. He had a four-shot lead going into the final round there.

The only time Norman led the Masters entering the final round was 10 years ago. He shot a 70 in the final round, but a pushed approach shot on the 72nd hole cost him a bogey and a chance to take Jack Nicklaus into sudden death.

"I don't live in the past,'' Norman said. "I don't dwell on it. People made some good shots to win those tournaments.''

In 14 Masters appearances, Norman has finished second twice and was the third-place finisher twice.

"I'm going to enjoy tomorrow,'' Norman said. "Irrespective of what happens, I'm going to enjoy every step I take. It's one of those deals where I've got a chance to win the Masters. I've been there before and there is no better feeling than having a chance of winning a major championship. I'm going to enjoy the moment.

"I'm going to go to the first tee tomorrow as relaxed and comfortable as I have been since the first day.''

"Who knows what's in store for tomorrow?'' Faldo asked. "If I shoot a 65 or 66, it could get me in the right direction.''

"For someone to catch him, it's going to take a 63 or 64,'' Mickelson said. "I don't know if that's possible on this golf course right now.''

Coming into this Masters, Norman had the eighth-best lifetime 18-hole scoring average in the tournament at 72.04 in 56 rounds. The seven golfers ahead of him all have green jackets.

In an interview on Tuesday, Norman said, "I don't feel like it has to be cast in stone that I have to win the Masters. We all would like to have things we've never had. I'd like to have all the majors. You just have to chase that elusive rainbow and that pot of gold at the end of it. If you get it one day, you feel a great sense of satisfaction.''

The last time Norman had a six-shot lead after 54 holes in a PGA Tour event, he won the 1994 Doral-Ryder Open by four shots. That was the last time anyone in a tour event led by as many as six shots after 54 holes. For the record, Norman shot a 70 to complete a 23-under-par 265 at Doral that year.

If Norman does win today, he would become just the fifth golfer in Masters history to lead outright from wire-to-wire. Raymond Floyd in 1976 was the last golfer to do it.

Floyd was also the last golfer to carry as big a lead into the final round as Norman has today. Floyd led by eight and ended up winning by that same margin, tying the tournament record of 17-under-par 271 that year. Norman would need a 68 today to match that mark, once thought untouchable.

Indeed, with the blustery winds on Saturday, combined with fast fairways and firm greens, there were only two sub-70 scores (by Waldorf and Masters rookie David Duval).

"The difference today was a four-letter word - wind,'' Norman said. "It was gusting to 20, 25 mph. Sometimes you had to hit when the wind was in a lull. I'm very happy with a 71. It's the equivalent of shooting in the 60s. I know there weren't many in the 60s on this golf course and I'm sure there won't be many tomorrow.''

"Anything is possible,'' Mickelson said of the prospects of catching Norman. "I don't want to rule out the improbable. As well as he's playing, when he makes a mistake, he recovers. After what happened at No. 12 today, he made birdie on No. 13. That could have been disastrous at No. 12.''

Norman's 8-iron shot on the par-3 12th hit a pocket of wind and dove into Rae's Creek. Norman dropped 81 yards from the pin, knocked his third shot 10 feet from the hole and ran that in.

"I hit a good shot on No. 12 but when it got caught up in the wind I said 'take your medicine' '' Norman said. "I said just try to make 4. It could have been a lot worse.''

He followed with the birdie at 13 and birdies at Nos. 15 and 16.

Masters rookie Scott McCarron, South African David Frost and Waldorf have less than realistic chances of catching the man known as the Great White Shark. That trio is nine shots back. Only one time in history, in 1956, has anyone won the Masters from nine shots back. Jack Burke did it that year.

The only trouble Norman has had with the Augusta National this week has come on the third and fourth holes, which he bogeyed in both the second and third rounds. His only other bogey in the tournament came on No. 12 on Saturday when he visited Rae's Creek.



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