SOUTHPORT (Reuters) - Greg Norman, bidding to become the oldest British Open champion, defied his 53 years to finish one stroke behind leader KJ Choi of South Korea after Friday's second round.

World number 11 Choi rolled in a 25-foot birdie putt at the last to shoot a 67 for a one-under tally of 139, one ahead of Australian Norman (70) after a day of intermittent rain and winds much lighter than Thursday's 50-kph (30-mph) blasts.

Colombian Camilo Villegas, chosen in 2006 as one of People Magazine's 'hottest bachelors', produced his own version of sexy golf as five consecutive birdies to the 18th gave him a thrilling 65 and third place on 141.

Choi recovered from a first-hole bogey with four birdies including 20-foot efforts on the 13th and 18th.

The seven-times U.S. PGA Tour winner said he was grateful to have six-times major champion Nick Faldo's former caddie Andy Prodger on his bag at Royal Birkdale.

"Being with Andy is important for me," Choi told reporters after producing his lowest round at the British Open. "He is like my big brother, and my uncle at times.

"He makes me feel relaxed. If I'm feeling the pressure he will say something that makes me laugh," added the Korean who is aiming to become the first Asian male to win a major.

Former world number one Norman was also grinning after treating the crowd to the kind of golf that won him the coveted Claret Jug in 1986 and 1993.

The Australian got the fans on his side from the start, ramming in a 45-foot birdie putt at the opening hole.

Norman, attempting to surpass the record of Tom Morris senior who was 46 when he won the 1867 edition, made a double-bogey six at the sixth after an errant drive.

But he rallied with two birdies in succession, from 25 and 15 feet. The veteran, who married tennis great Chris Evert in the Bahamas last month, then strung together eight consecutive pars including a superb sand save at the 16th.

GREENSIDE BUNKER

With his feet outside a greenside bunker and the ball inside, Norman splashed out perfectly to six feet and holed out for his par four.

"It was a very awkward lie," he said. "My biggest fear was blading it into the face of the bunker or over the green or leaving it in the bunker."

Norman played the long 17th poorly, taking five strokes to reach the green before notching his eighth single putt of the round by rolling in a bogey effort from 10 feet.

Pumped up and in his element, he received another rapturous reception from the crowd when he sank a 20-footer for his par four from the fringe of the 18th green.

"The course was a bit easier to get at today," Norman said. "If you kept the ball in play you could get it on the green pretty comfortably.

"The feeling is phenomenal, there's no question about it. The support here has been great."

Villegas came close to a spectacular eagle at the last when his wild slash from out of the rough hit the pin.

The ball eventually came to rest 25 feet from the hole and he stroked in a curling putt to gather his eighth birdie.

Villegas needed 34 putts in his opening 76 but was infinitely better on the greens on Friday, taking only 23.

"I had an awful putting round yesterday and an unbelievable putting round today," he said. "I hit a pitching wedge 176 yards at the last.

"That tells you how funky it is to play golf here. Somehow it hit the pin."

In joint fourth on 142 were several players including holder Padraig Harrington, former world number one David Duval, former number two Jim Furyk and U.S. Open runner-up Rocco Mediate.

Harrington finished in style, eagling the 17th with a 35-foot putt and holing a five-footer to birdie the last.

(Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)

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