Golf: Norman: Garcia should have asked for official

Greg Norman believes Sergio Garcia should have asked for an official to clear up the controversy in the third round of the Holden International.

Garcia was penalised two shots for dropping incorrectly away from a sponsor's sign.

It means the Spaniard is level rather than two shots clear of the field.

Tournament host Norman said: "You can read the rule in a couple of different fashions according to the interpretation from John Paramor.

"I do believe that 90% of players who have taken relief without an official (in such a situation) have all violated the rule.

"The rules of golf are very complex, but when you are in doubt you should get an official and I did ask Sergio whether he wanted one.

"I feel bad personally because he asked me for the ruling and I went through the procedure what I thought was correctly. Thank God he wasn't disqualified.

"The onus goes on the player. We should know our rules - we are professional - and at the end of the day it is the individual's responsibility."

Paramor stated: "I have not found a player yet who is happy to get a two-shot penalty. There's never been one who said 'thank you very much'.

"I know there are a number of players who don't know that rule. Sergio was three feet from being safe."

A hat-trick of birdies from the 10th put Garcia clear - or so he thought - after he and Norman, separated by one overnight, had both picked up shots at the two par-fives on the front nine.

Norman fell back with bogeys at the 14th and 16th and Baddeley's birdies at the 15th and 17th lifted him into second spot and into a head-to-head between the last teenager to win on the European tour (Garcia at the 1999 Irish Open) and the Melbourne youngster who hopes to be the next. Baddeley joined the tour this year.

Italian Open champion Poulter, Europe's Rookie of the Year last season, said of his 65, the round of the day: "I can't play much better than that.

"Eight under is the best I've done on tour, but I had so many other chances that just slipped by. If I play the same I can't see any problem."

The 25-year-old was cheered by a band of old school friends holidaying in Australia, each one wearing a T-shirt reading "Tiger Who? Poulter's Barmy Army".

The group will probably be bigger tomorrow. "There are a few others here who didn't make it today after a good night out," he explained.

Australians Peter Lonard and Jarrod Moseley are on 13 under - Lonard reaching the mark in spectacular fashion by holing-in-one and winning an £18,000 car on the 195-yard 18th.

While Welshman Phil Price was dropping from third to eighth with a 74, Justin Rose's revitalised career continued to blossom when he charged through the field to nine under with a seven-under-par 66.