Norman Increases Lead to Four Strokes; Nicklaus Still in the Hunt in PGA

Greg Norman, his lead expanded to four strokes despite a little lapse, took note that Jack Nicklaus was still challenging at the halfway point of the 68th PGA National Championship.

And Nicklaus, after shooting a three-under-par 68, said: “Obviously, I’m in very good position. There aren’t that many fellows ahead of me.”

But Norman, the dominant figure in golf since losing to Nicklaus by a stroke in the Masters at Augusta, Ga., in April, had a quick response.

“I gave him Augusta,” Norman said. “I don’t really want to give him the PGA Championship.”

Norman put more daylight--two more strokes for the total of four--between himself and the rest of the field Friday.

Norman stretched his lead with a second-round 68 that produced a 36-hole total of 133, nine shots under par on the Inverness course that, he said, is beginning to regain some of its teeth.

Payne Stewart and PGA Tour rookie Mike Hulbert moved into a tie for second place at 137.

Stewart birdied the final hole for a 67, and Hulbert shot a 68.

Nicklaus was tied at 138 with Peter Jacobsen and Jim Thorpe. Jacobsen had a 70, and Thorpe shot a 67.

Norman, an Australian, did it Friday--just as he has done all summer--with a flourish and a flair. When it seemed he was ready to back off a bit, open the gates to potential contenders, Norman put on a blitz that produced three birdies on the last three holes.

It came after Norman had faltered briefly.

He three-putted from the fringe and made a bogey on the 11th hole. It was his first of the week.

He missed a five-foot birdie putt on the 13th, then let an approach drift into a bunker on the 14th and made another bogey.

On the 15th, with his lead down to one shot, he let another approach get away. It found the deep rough behind the green, and a bogey seemed likely.

Norman chipped it in the hole, using the blade of his sand wedge to strike the ball, for a birdie instead. He one-putted the next three holes, finishing birdie-birdie.

Norman was the only one of the seven leaders who played in the more difficult conditions of the afternoon--brisk breezes and a couple of brief, heavy showers.

“I played very solid again,” said Norman, who shot a 65 in the opening round.

“I had two or three more loose shots than I did in the 65, but I played well, drove the ball well, putted well.

“I’m enjoying myself out there. I know I’m playing well, and I’m comfortable on the golf course, comfortable over the ball,” said Norman, who won the British Open after challenging for both the Masters and the U.S. Open.

Seve Ballesteros of Spain, Bernhard Langer of West Germany, Fuzzy Zoeller, Raymond Floyd and John Mahaffey were among those who failed to qualify for the final two rounds today and Sunday.

Ballesteros, winner of five of his last six starts in Europe, had a 76 for a total of 150; Langer had a 74 for a 147; Floyd had a 71 for a 147; Zoeller had a 75 for a 148, and Mahaffey had a 78 for a 149.

Arnold Palmer, 56, still chasing the one major title that has eluded him, also missed with a 77 that left him at 152.

Tom Watson, needing this title to become only the fifth man to complete a career sweep of golf’s Big Four titles, improved with a 69 but was eight shot backs at 141.