GOLF : Norman’s 62 Leaves Field Six Shots Behind at Doral

Jack Nicklaus had birdies on four of the first six holes, then birdied the eighth to share the temporary lead at 12 under par. At Saturday’s end he had shot a 67, but was nine shots behind.

Paul Azinger had started the day tied for the lead. He finished with a 68, but had fallen six shots behind.

That’s because Greg Norman fired a 10-under-par 62 and will take a six-shot lead into today’s final round of the $1.4-million Doral Open.

Norman completed 54 holes six shots lower than anyone in the 31-year history of this tournament.

He has a 195 total, 21 strokes under par. That is three shots better than Tom Kite’s 54-hole effort at the Bob Hope Classic last month when he set a PGA Tour record for 90 holes at 35 under par.

“It’s hard to explain,” Norman said. “It’s the sort of thing that happens when you get in that ‘zone.’ ”

Norman also got some good breaks, saving par from the palm trees on the 18th hole and making birdie after bouncing his approach off a spectator’s hip on the 14th.

He had 10 birdies over 13 holes, beginning with the fourth, and did not make a bogey.

“It was fun to watch,” Azinger said.

And hard to believe.

“I’m tied for the lead after eight,” Nicklaus said. “I don’t make a bogey, and I look up and I’m nine shots behind.”

But 18 holes remain.

“It’s hard to go into the last round with a big lead,” Azinger said. “You feel like you have everything to lose and nothing to gain.”

Still, Azinger said, “he can shoot 72 and win.”