Brief stories from the British Open

Brief stories from the third round of the British Open at Carnoustie on Saturday: - Norris keeps cool amid Tiger hysteria - On a day of low scoring, South Africa's Shaun Norris shot a fairly unremarkable round of 69, a two-under-par effort leaving him at the same mark for the championship. But Norris deserves great credit for maintaining his focus given that he was the playing partner for Tiger Woods, who attracted huge crowds at Carnoustie on Saturday. "Absolutely crazy to think so many people can follow a person. There's a couple of holes that people may be standing 15, 20 deep on each side," said Norris, who had been warned of what to expect by those who had already played with the 14-time major winner this week. "I think the best word to describe it all is the way Russell Knox put it, it's like playing with a mythical creature. It doesn't feel real." - Lombard's stunning finish - The fearsome 18th hole at Carnoustie will always be associated with Jean Van de Velde trying to play out of the Barry Burn in 1999 and ending up with a triple-bogey. Zander Lombard showed him exactly how to play it though -- the South African holed his approach for an eagle two, bouncing back from going bogey and then double-bogey at the previous two holes to complete a round of 71. "I said to my caddie walking down the fairway, good drive, let's have a finish for the crowds at least. And lifted that up," said Lombard, who is four-under for the tournament. - Malaysian Green puts marker down - Gavin Green is only the second Malaysian to make the cut at the British Open, but he had his achievement slightly dampened by having to play with a marker in the third round. The 24-year-old, whose caddie is his father, said the option of playing on his own was too terrible to contemplate. "It's better to play with somebody than not play with anybody. It's just so that, okay, he's there," he said after posting a 71 to sit at three-over for the tournament. "There's a playing partner at least. You play alone, you just feel so lonely, you know. It's like you're dead out there," added Green, who also has his mother, grandmothers and an aunt in the gallery this week. For Keir McNicoll, the marker who is Senior PGA Assistant Professional at Carnoustie, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, although he was straight back down to earth after the round had finished -- he had to go back to work at the golf shop. - Locke salvages Scottish pride - Paul Lawrie won the 1999 British Open at Carnoustie, coming off best in a three-way play-off after Frenchman Van de Velde's meltdown at the final hole. He remains the last Scot to win a major, and his influence is still felt at the course and the championship in the shape of his protege, 19-year-old amateur Sam Locke. Not only did the young Scot save his compatriots' blushes in ensuring they had a presence in the final two rounds, but he is also assured of the amateur's silver medal, which a fresh-faced Rory McIlroy won in 2007 when Carnoustie last played host. Locke, who learnt of his making the cut watching television back at home with his parents, can have a later alarm call on Sunday as he posted an impressive one-under-par 70 to be two-over for the tournament.