Norman scrapes in

ADELAIDE -- Australian Paul Gow shot a two-under-par 70 yesterday to take a one-shot lead into the third round of the Australian Open golf tournament as big-name players scraped into weekend play.

Presidents Cup competitors Greg Norman and Fred Couples were nearly spectators for the final two rounds after blustery conditions at Royal Adelaide sent scores soaring and left only three players -- Gow and fellow Australians Rodney Pampling and Peter Senior -- under par.

Norman, playing his first 72-hole tournament since coming back from shoulder surgery, shot a 10-over-par 82 yesterday while Couples, who clinched the trophy for the United States in a win over Vijay Singh in the last Presidents Cup two years ago, shot a second consecutive 76.

Norman and Couples, who will both play at Royal Melbourne in the Presidents Cup starting next week, finished with two-round totals of 152 -- right on the eight-over cut.

Norman said his shoulder did not bother him.

England's Justin Rose, bidding to make his first cut in his ninth attempt at a professional tournament, shot an 81 -- including a double-bogey six on the 18th -- to finish at 153, one away from qualifying.

As an amateur, Rose finished tied for fourth in this year's British Open.

Countryman Nick Faldo, taking advice from Australian golf legend Norman von Nida, overcame his first round troubles to shoot a three-under par 69, the best of the day. Faldo had an early start and finished his round before the wind picked up.

After a disappointing first round 77 Faldo said he was given advice by Von Nida, who won the Australian Open in 1950, 1952 and 1953.

"I practised what he told me last night and it was like a new day today," Faldo said.

Faldo bogeyed the toughest hole at Royal Adelaide -- the par-four 15th -- for his only blemish on his card, finishing with birdies at 17 and 18. -- Sapa-AP