Published: September 09, 2006 10:58 pm            

Rub of the Green: The Bard never played golf

TERRE HAUTE — If William Shakespeare were still alive, searching for a leading man for one of his famous tragedies such as “Julius Caesar,” “Othello” or “Hamlet,” Greg Norman would undoubtedly be a perfect fit for a leading man’s role.

No other golfer of the modern era has had defeat snatched away from what seemed to be a perfunctory victory so many times as the Shark. Norman’s prowess on golf courses throughout the world can’t be ignored as his once, number one ranking would attest, but then his opponents lined up to administer a number of heartbreaking defeats that would have made a lesser man deposit his golf clubs in the nearest lake.

It didn’t matter whether it was a PGA regular tour event or a major championship, it seemed as though the deck was always stacked against the broad shouldered Aussie.

It was in the PGA Championship that Bob Tway short sided himself in a deep greenside bunker. Norman was safely on the green when Tway banged his sand shot into the cup and when Norman missed a 30 foot putt the championship belonged to Tway.

In sudden death at The Masters with Larry Mize some 20 yards short of the green in two and Norman putting for a birdie, it appeared the Shark would have two putts for the win, but Mize’s pitch and run found the center of the cup. Once again the Shark had his pocket picked when he was unable to sink his 25 footer.

It was in Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Classic that Greg had the tournament won — almost. Robert Gamez came to the 72nd hole needing a bird to tie for the championship. He did a bit better than make birdie on the par four when his seven-iron second shot from 175 yards flew into the cup on the fly and the title was his. Gamez high-fived his caddy after the shot with too much gusto and injured his hand. The injury hampered his golf game for several years after the incident.

In another PGA tournament David Frost found himself 200 yards from the final green in a bunker with low hanging tree limbs in front of him with 180 yards of water to carry, just to reach a bunker some twenty yards short of the green. Frost needed to scramble out a par to tie The Shark and force a playoff.

The TV announcers figured Frost had only a 20 per cent chance of making it over the menacing water, especially since he had to hit a low shot to avoid the overhanging tree branches. Anyone in his right mind would put his money on The Shark, right? Wrong is the correct answer as Frost made it across the water to the bunker and then player a long sand shot that scooted like a mouse heading for his hole. Result: a birdie three and no trophy for Mr. Norman.

At another PGA Championship at Inverness Country Club in Toledo (OH), Paul Azinger birdied the 71st hole to finish in a tie with Norman. The Zinger took home the Wanamaker Trophy when Norman three putted from about 25 feet above the cup during the overtime. He left his first putt some four feet short even though the putt was downhill on super slick greens. He then lipped out his putt.

Perhaps the bitterest defeat for Greg was the 1996 Masters. After chewing up the August National course for three days, The Shark stood on the first tee of the final round with a six shot lead and basically only one man to beat. Unfortunately, that man was Nick Faldo, a bulldog type competitor who could display the tenacity of a snapping turtle.

When Norman’s swing seemed to desert him, it was Faldo there to take full advantage. By the start of the second nine The Shark’s teeth had disappeared. Faldo continued to play subpar golf for the championship as Norman was left to ponder what could have been. He had confided that The Masters was at the top of the list of tournaments he most coveted.

Along the way, there were a couple of British Open wins that Greg did not allow to escape, but overall he remains a sympathetic figure earning the dubious title of “The player who comes close, but gets no cigar.” Bolstering that tag is the fact that he finished second at least twice in each of the four majors, once when Indiana’s own Fuzzy Zoeller beat him in a playoff for the U.S. Open. Since Norman, with his stylish, aggressive play, has always been a gallery favorite; it’s too bad that golf fans don’t have the opportunity to see him in action in tournaments more often here in the states. This stems from a PGA rule that stipulates a golfer must agree to play a required number of tournaments on the tour in order to receive full playing privileges. Since Norman fails to meet those regulations, he plays his golf elsewhere.

Greg, however, doesn’t suffer financially. He can travel by airplane, yacht or helicopter when he chooses to get from point A to point B. He owns all of them.

Several years ago, I watched as a youngster about 11 years old followed The Shark around a course. I thought it was odd that the young man was walking “inside the ropes,” something that ordinarily would not be allowed. Later the announcer explained that the young fellow was there at the request of the “Make a Wish Foundation.” It seemed that the youngster had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and his wish was to watch Norman play in a tournament. When Greg blasted out of a bunker and holed a three foot putt on the final hole, the tournament was his.

At the awards ceremony, The Shark dedicated his win to the young cancer victim, and then presented him with the championship trophy. In his acceptance speech he alluded to the fact that in his estimation it’s not the winners of tournaments who are heroes, but the real heroes are those who battle to overcome dreaded diseases such as the young boy who had shadowed him during the tourney just completed. I’ve never seen another professional golfer emulate Norman’s graciousness.

After his heartbreaking defeat in that 1996 Masters, The Shark went to the press tent and answered every question put to him by the golf writers. Few if any of today’s superstars would ever be present in the press tent if the same circumstances befell them.

It was also Norman who suggested a format for the pros that would include number of tournaments that would be open to contestants from all over the world. The PGA promptly shot down his idea and later, came up with World Golf Championships as though the idea was that of the PGA brass.

At any rate, Greg Norman has always contributed greatly to professional golf around the globe. Not only has his play been spectacular, but also he has distinguished himself as a generous and caring human being.

* * *

In the recent 12th Annual H.O.T. Open played at Oak Ridge Golf Course the team of Scott Kirkpatrick, Sherrie Kirkpatrick, Sam Smith and Lowell Smith finished in a tie with the Treadway team composed of Dave, Bob and Jon Treadway. Placing third were Scott Smith, Wendy Norris, Mike Mangrum and Mike Shake.

-- Long wins — Congratulations to Dale Long on his recent win in the Casey Amateur. The Illinois tourney has been a favorite of local golfers since 1951.

Long is a former Terre Haute South swinger who was capable of firing even par rounds while still a junior high school student. He also helped the Braves to the IHSAA finals during his days at South. Nice playing, Dale.

-- Tip of the week — To achieve better shots, be sure that the arm farthest from the ball is completely relaxed before beginning the backswing. All that arm is going to do is fold and stay close to your side during the swing. Tension in your trailing arm can lead to disaster.

Keep your head down and your shoestrings tied. We’ll be back.



Bob Arnett can be reached by e-mail at subob@aol.com or by mail at the Tribune-Star, P.O. Box 149, Terre Haute, IN 47808.

        

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