The sun finally came out at the British Open on Saturday, but the wind off the Irish Sea sure picked up.

Gusts howling at more than 30 mph made conditions especially challenging in the third round at Royal Birkdale, already soaked by plenty of rain the first two days. K.J. Choi of South Korea went out as the leader with a 1-under 139 _ the only golfer under par. Two-time Open winner Greg Norman was surprisingly in contention at age 53, just one stroke off the lead.

Sean O'Hair felt the course's wrath, closing with a quadruple-bogey 9 and a triple-bogey 7 for a 10-over 80. David Duval, who teed off three strokes behind Choi, knocked his second shot into the tall, tangly grass right of the green and had to take a penalty drop. He wound up with a triple-bogey and quickly fell off the leaderboard.

"This is a cold, ball-goes-nowhere wind," said Heath Slocum, who shot 74.

Phil Mickelson's cap blew off in the middle of the 15th fairway. A course worker retrieved it for Lefty, who was 6 over for the day with two holes still to play.

"We've got our work cut out today," said Graeme McDowell, another of those trying to make up a three-shot deficit on Choi. "This is going to be a real challenge."

But it was possible to go low.

Ben Curtis, the 2003 Open champion, got on the leaderboard with a 3-under 31 on the front side, including an eagle 2 at the third hole. The American turned away in disgust after hitting the shot, but the wind blew it back on line _ and right into the cup.

Retief Goosen, trying to bounce back from a disappointing round Friday, made the turn with a 33. Among the early starters, Davis Love III and Henrik Stenson both shot even-par 70.

Even with Tiger Woods on the couch back in the States, recovering from a year-ending knee surgery, there were still plenty of reasons to pay attention this weekend:

_Choi was playing in the final group Saturday for the second year in a row at the Open. At Carnoustie, he trailed Sergio Garcia by two strokes at the midway point and wound up eighth.

_Norman was trying to become the oldest player to win a major championship, just three weeks after his marriage to tennis great Chris Evert. The Shark started with back-to-back rounds of 70.

_Defending champion Padraig Harrington, who hurt his wrist a week ago and thought he might have to withdraw, shot a 68 Friday and was in contention to become the first European to repeat in a century.

_Camilo Villegas was finally showing a game worthy of all the hype over his buff looks, stylish clothing and unique way of reading putts. "Spider-Man" closed the second round with five straight birdies and signed for a 65 _ the best round of the week so far _ that left him two strokes behind Choi.

Tiger who?