Norman Gets Record, Lead in Australia

Greg Norman shot a course-record 63 today and grabbed the lead at the halfway mark of the $625,000 Daikyo Palm Meadows Cup golf tournament.

Norman completed his 9-under-par round with a spectacular eagle at the 18th hole and led by one shot over American Curtis Strange.

The Australian had a 36-hole total of 129, 15 under par, and said he is aiming to break the all-time low tournament score of 29-under-par 255 set by Englishman Peter Tupling in the 1980 Nigerian Open at Lagos.

Norman’s round included the eagle, nine birdies and two bogeys.

Strange, the defending champion and two-time U.S. Open champion, carded a 64 for 130, and Australian Rodger Davis, whose 64 Thursday was the course record for less than 24 hours, had a second-round 67 for 131.

Norman said he could not recall the last time he was 15 under par after two rounds of such a big tournament.

“Yesterday I played well; today I putted well,” Norman said.

He said he will be shooting for the record.

“Every golfer loves a challenge,” he said.

Strange said he is looking forward to a birdie shoot-out with Norman over the final two days of the tournament.

“This is exciting,” Strange said. “This is what people come to see--and don’t think we don’t get caught up in it too. I want to have a head-to-head battle with Greg.”

The spectacular scoring over the par-72, 7,008-yard Palm Meadows resort course produced an Australian record low cut of 142, 2-under-par.

Among those missing the cut were West German star Bernhard Langer and Australian Open and PGA champion Peter Senior.