Greg Norman Fat: Weight Concerning Family

Australian golfer and bareback horse rider, Greg Norman has gone from being the Great White Shark to the Great White Fark since settling down in his new relationship. The big guy is tipping the scales at over 320 pounds, or almost 145 kilograms! Friends and family are concerned that Greg has taken to the easy streets and it has been suggested that the new wife, former tennis ace Chris Evert's kitchen wizardry is to blame.

It is no secret that Chris Evert loves tying on an apron and who else to try out all those delicious recipes on than the person of your dreams. "A little powdered sugar on that Greg?" Says Chris, "Sure darl, love some!" is the standard shark reply and who can blame him?

This now infamous image was captured while Greg was chatting online with some friends from China. You may notice that Greg’s usual trademark broad brim hat has been cast aside and substituted with a fetching Prussian blue wrestling outfit. Those Chinese sure loves a gun show and it looks like Greg has not disappointed with this display of Australian prime beef.

However, all is not well in the Norman camp. Skeptics fear that Greg has given golf away altogether, choosing to spend his time in front of the computer, locked in fierce Sudoku battles against notoriously svelte Asian adversaries.

Aussie Golfing is crossing it’s chubby fingers for you Greg and hope to see you back on the golf course soon!

First Image: Sergio 'Normanitus' Garcia

If you have been following lately, you would be aware that I have been endeavoring to uncover the mystery surrounding Sergio Garcia's shortcomings when its crunch time on the golf course. So far, all the evidence is leaning towards a disease only found in a few professional golfers, i.e. 'Normanitus', a cruel play on the name of the great white Australian, Greg Norman.

I contacted a forensics expert who specializes in adding age to a person by a number of years. This kind of technology is usually reserved for missing person’s cases etc. We sat down, examined images of Mr. Garcia, and submitted them to the computer. Ironically the picture above is what the computer produced without any knowledge whatsoever of Garcia's recent golf game.

This kind of technology does not lie and Sergio is showing more and more symptoms. On the bright side however, it appears Sergio will in fact win the British Open one day and judging by the picture, it will be sometime in the mid eighties.

Does anyone else notice a creepy resemblance to Nicolas Cage?

More information on Normanitus can be found by following this link:

Aussie Golfers on Facebook

All this talk about Michael Phelps and his 8 trillion Facebook 'friends' encouraged me to see which Aussie golfers have jumped on the social networking site Facebook.

- Adam Scott's Facebook has about 1,900 'friends' which is nice. A pretty crappy page, a lot of pictures and a brief bio.

- Greg Normans Facebook is low on friends, I felt like joining just to boost up the dismal numbers. Greg's page is pretty good really, has some good comments a few cool pictures. Oh, Greg has about 370 friends, I'm sure he's had more people over for dinner.

- Aaron Baddeley doesn’t have an individual Facebook page however there are a few fan groups. The most popular describes Aaron as 'sick, plain and simple'. There's a link to his site, a few pics and an advertisement to a dating site which I clicked and found more interesting. Badds has about 170 friends.

- Geoff Ogilvy's Facebook page is also weak. Just over 100 friends, some bizarre heading defaming Mickleson and Woods. One to skip.

- Nick O'Hern, no idea. Locked profile.

- The Rod Pampling Facebook fan page has 20 members.

- Peter Lonard has a fan page with 25 members

- Steve Elkington has a fan page with about 15 members.

The following Aussie golfers don't have Facebook pages which surprised me:

• - Scott Strange
• - Stuart Appleby
• - Brendan Jones
• - Kristie Newton
• - Richard Green
• - Robert Allenby
• - Nikki Garrett
• - Craig Parry
• - Nathan Green
• - Karrie Webb
• - Jon Sender
• - Sarah Kemp
  

Obviously, the names I've searched are a tiny percentage of the top Aussie golfers though I was curious about the more 'popular' ones. I didn't bother linking them either because frankly in good conscience, I wouldn't want to inflict that kind of pain on another human being. I'm so excited to check Myspace for all my Aussie golfing heroes!

John Daly in Australia

Back in 2002, John Daly was invited to play in the 2002 Australian PGA Championships at Coolum, and was reportedly offered $200,000 to sweeten the deal. Evidently it worked and Daly came to Australia and left a few days later in typical Daly style; making headlines.

Here's Daly's Friday afternoon in brief:

* Daly Bogeyed 10 and 11

* Birdied 12

* Triple bogeyed the 13th after his ball went in the water, this led to confusion when Daly disagreed with an officials ruling of where the drop should be. And somewhat set up the rest of the days events

* Bogeyed the 15th

* Double bogeyed the 16th

* Triple bogeyed the 18th

* Threw putter and ball in pond 30 meters away

* Shook hands with playing partners, Australian's Greg Norman and Craig Parry

* Walked home


It was John Daly's third straight week playing in the Asia Pacific and sadly his mother passed away only a week before arriving in Coolum. Tony Roosenberg the tournament promoter said "It's vintage Daly, but I forgive him. It's been a very difficult week for him."

Daly was ordered by the Australian PGA to write apology letters to his playing partners; Norman and Parry and to the official he abused. And was disqualified for not signing his score card. Daly also received a $10,000 fine.

Divers recovered Daly's putter and ball and they remain in the memorabilia section of the Hyatt Regency golf club in Coolum Queensland. Daly donated his bag and clubs to the Australian branch of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Daly also wrote all the letters of apology before he left Australia.

I'd like to see Golf Australia approach John for the 2009 Australian Open.

For more golf scandals, click HERE:

Australian British Open winners

Willie Park senior wearing the Moroccan Leather belt which was awarded to the Open's winners before the claret jug was created in 1872



The world’s first Major, the British Open, also known as The Open, was inaugurated in 1860, organized by the Prestwick club who sought to find a successor to Allan Robertson, the “champion of golf”, who died in 1859. The only way to do that was to organize an individual tournament, which was rarely heard of in those days. Most matches were foursomes or individual money matches.

But, in 1858 the Prestwick club had successfully organized an individual tournament for amateur players and, following the suggestion of Major J O Fairlie, a similar tournament for professionals was arranged. On Wednesday 17 October 1860 8 of Britain’s leading professionals played 3 rounds of Prestwick’s 12-hole links.

The winner was Willie Park senior of the Musselburgh club. He was 2 strokes clear of local Prestwick man Tom Morris senior, who was to become one of the Opens great champions. Morris won the Open 4 times and was succeeded by his son, also named Tom, who won the title on 4 occasions. But his untimely death at 24 not only prevented him from adding to that total, but it robbed the game of one of it’s finest ever players.

The Open did not become open in the true sense of the word until 1861 when, again, organization was left to the Prestwick club. Tom Morris senior the title and he like all early winners was awarded with a Moroccan leather belt donated by the Earl of Eglinton.

The rules stipulated that the winner of the belt 3 years in succession could keep the trophy, and so after young Tom Morris won for the third time in 1870 he was allowed to keep it. The following year, without a trophy to offer, there was no championship until revived in 1872 when young Tom lifted the new silver claret jug which today remains one of the most sought-after trophies in world golf.

Having organized the first 11 events, the Prestwick club was finding it increasingly difficult to organize the event as not only the number of competitors grew, so did the amount of spectators. Consequently, the Royal and Ancient at St. Andrews and the Honorable Company of Edinburgh Golfers at Musselburgh shared the organization and took turns hosting the competitions.

All Open courses are links and in 1894 the competition moved out of Scotland for the first time when Sandwich, in Kent, southern England played host.

The first Open in England started a domination of the championship by 3 men: John H Taylor, James Braid and Henry Vardon. Between them they captured 16 of the next 21 Opens.

It wasn’t until after World War I that the switch in dominance moved from homegrown players to the Americans, and the breakthrough came in 1921 when Jock Hutchison became the first man to take the trophy across the Atlantic.

The 1920’s and 30’s was a golden age for the American golfers with Jim Barnes, Walter Hagen, Tommy Armour, Gene Sarazen and Denny Shute all capturing the title. And there was also greatest ever amateur golfer, Robert Tyre “Bobby” Jones, who won the Open 3 times between 1926 and 1930. The latter year was a remarkable one for the Georgia lawyer because he won the Opens, as well as the amateur titles, of both Britain and America.

The early post war years belonged to two golfers, Bobby Locke of South Africa and Australia’s Peter Thomson, who won 9 titles between them, with Thomson’s 5 wins being the best haul since the days of Vardon, Braid and Taylor.

American interest declined in the 1950’s but Arnold Palmer set about maintaining the British Open’s stature as the world’s leading golf tournament and his arrival on the scene aroused great interest in the game in general. He also ensured that many top Americans made the trip across the Atlantic every summer. Palmer was awarded with successive titles in 1961 and 1962.

Palmer’s arrival on British shores was also to signal the birth of the next generation of golfing trio’s as he, Gary Player of South Africa and American Jack Nicklaus became great favorites with the British fans. They won 8 British Open titles between them; Player doing so in 3 different decades, the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s. Australia’s Kel Nagle snuck one away from them in 1960.

Britain broke their 18 year drought in 1969 when Tony Jacklin edged out New Zealand lefthander Bob Charles at Lytham. But that was a rare moment of success as the Americans continued to dominate, with Tom Watson winning 5 titles. But the 1980’s saw a switch away from the Americans as first Sandy Lyle, and then Nick Faldo 3 times, put the trophy back in British hands. Spain has also enjoyed glory at the Open thanks to Seve Ballesteros’s 3 titles and of course Greg Norman and Ian Baker-Finch have brought the Claret jug to Australia on 3 occasions between them, the last time was Normans amazing win in 1993.

Australia's Kel Nagle after winning the British Open in 1960

Australians who have won the British Open:

1993 - Greg Norman (Royal St. Georges)
1991 - Ian Baker-Finch (Royal Birkdale)
1986 - Greg Norman (Tunberry)
1965 - Peter Thomson (Royal Birkdale)
1960 - Kel Nagle (St. Andrews)
1958 - Peter Thomson (Royal Lytham and St. Annes)
1956 - Peter Thomson (Royal Liverpool)
1955 - Peter Thomson (St. Andrews)
1954 - Peter Thomson (Royal Birkdale)

The first time there was a cash prize at the Open it was 6 pounds. The first Australian to win the Open, Peter Thomson pocketed 750 pounds in 1954 up to 1,750 pounds in 1965 (his 5th win). Kel Nagle took home 1,250 pounds in 1960. In 1986, Greg Normans first win he collected 70,000 pounds, up to 100,000 in 1993. Baker-Finch won 90,000. In 2008 Ireland's Padraig Harrington, who also won in 2007 netted 750,000 pounds. Golf has come a long way. Australia’s Greg Norman also holds the record for lowest 72 hole total of 267, set at Tunberry in 1986.

For more Australian golf history, click HERE:

Golf Scandal: Greg Norman's Divorce

Australian sporting great and former world number 1 ranked golfer Greg Norman 52 and world’s luckiest flight attendant, Laura Andassy 57 recently called it quits after 25 years of marriage, citing "irreconcilable differences." The Great White however, making the headlines for all the wrong reasons this time with a bitter and public divorce battle in Florida's Martin County Circuit adding fuel to the golf scandal. The settlement sees the vast business empire carved up. Under the divorce deal, Andassy will receive a third of the amassed fortune, which is valued around 300 million dollars. "It's a relief and it's pretty much over and done with," Andassy said before spending the lot on a fancy record player.

The agreement divides the family’s assets including, Norman's Estates Wine Company, the family mansion in Florida's exclusive Jupiter Island estate, the Greg Norman sportswear line and Great White Shark Enterprises, with its golf course design division.

Norman’s lawyers filed the following petitions:

"The wife did not teach the husband to swing a golf club"

"The wife did not teach the husband to win.

"All of those teachings were the product of diligent hard work by the husband prior to this marriage."

And regarding Norman's contribution to raising the couple's two children: "were extraordinary and far exceeded the contributions of the wife".

Norman also claimed that she's been spending wildly since the divorce proceedings started and Andassy claiming that he is trying to "starve her out" of her house, cutting off her credit cards, changing the locks on their home and firing the housekeeper. It got so nasty that Norman threatened to sue her for defamation. With Norman countering that he's spent $725,000 in legal fees.

When the couple first announced plans for divorce in June 2006, it seemed amicable, but the Great White Shark knows there's more fish in the sea. Things really became heated after photos of Norman and 52-year-old former tennis ace Chris Evert holding hands in Sydney were published.

In December 2006, Evert herself had to pay out more than $7 million in a divorce settlement with husband of 18 years Andy Mill. Evert retained custody of their three teenage sons.

Evert and Norman have been acquaintances for over 25 years, supporting each others charity events and becoming good friends. Norman saying, "We like to be with each other, "We enjoy each others company immensely. We share a very common bond with a lot of things in life."

Adding to the golf scandal, Evert' s ex Andy Mill went on record at the time saying Norman stole his wife “Greg Norman at one time was my best friend and a year-and-a-half ago I would have taken a bullet for this guy” “But I didn't realize he was the one who was going to pull the trigger.”

Norman and Evert were married in June 2008 in the Bahama's, the fuss practically shutting down the island with a dusk ceremony on a private beach on Paradise Island at The One and Only Ocean Club Hotel. The media was expecting a hoard of celebrities to attend including Pauly Shore, Corey Feldman, Lassie and Radar from MASH. None of whom actually made it, much to the disappointment of the paparazzi.



For more golf scandals, click HERE:

Australian Open Championships

All the past winners and venue. The 2008 Australian Open will be held at The Royal Sydney Golf Course.

1904 Hon. M Scott The Australian GC
1905 D G Soutar Royal Melbourne GC
1906 C Clark Royal Sydney GC
1907 Hon. M Scott Royal Melbourne GC
1908 C Pearce The Australian GC
1909 C Felstead Royal Melbourne GC
1910 C Clark Royal Adelaide GC
1911 C Clark Royal Sydney GC
1912 I H Whitton Royal Melbourne GC
1913 I H Whitton Royal Melbourne GC
1920 J H Kirkwood The Australian GC
1921 A Le Fevre Royal Melbourne GC
1922 C Campbell Royal Sydney GC
1923 T E Howard Royal Adelaide GC
1924 A Russell Royal Melbourne GC
1925 F Popplewell The Australian GC
1926 I H Whitton Royal Adelaide GC
1927 R Stewart Royal Melbourne GC
1928 F Popplewell Royal Sydney GC
1929 I H Whitton Royal Adelaide GC
1930 F P Eyre Metropolitan GC
1931 I H Whitton The Australian GC
1932 M J Ryan Royal Adelaide GC
1933 M L Kelly Royal Melbourne GC
1934 W J Bolger Royal Sydney GC
1935 F W McMahon Royal Adelaide GC
1936 G Sarazen Metropolitan GC
1937 G W Naismith The Australian GC
1938 J B Ferrier Royal Adelaide GC
1939 J B Ferrier Royal Melbourne GC
1946 H H A Pickworth Royal Sydney GC
1947 H H A Pickworth Royal Queensland GC
1948 H H A Pickworth Kingston Heath GC
1949 E J Cremin The Australian GC
1950 N G Von Nida Kooyonga GC
1951 P W Thomson Metropolitan GC
1952 N G Von Nida Lake Karrinyup CC
1953 N G Von Nida Royal Melbourne GC
1954 H H A Pickworth Kooyonga GC
1955 A D Locke Gailes GC
1956 B S Crampton Royal Sydney GC
1957 F Phillips Kingston Heath GC
1958 G J Player Kooyonga GC
1959 K D G Nagle The Australian GC
1960 B W Devlin Lake Karrinyup CC
1961 F Phillips Victoria GC
1962 G J Player Royal Adelaide GC
1963 G J Player Royal Melbourne GC
1964 J W Nicklaus The Lakes GC
1965 G J Player Kooyonga GC
1966 A D Palmer Royal Queensland GC
1967 P W Thomson Commonwealth GC
1968 J W Nicklaus Lake Karrinyup CC
1969 G J Player Royal Sydney GC
1970 G J Player Kingston Heath GC
1971 J W Nicklaus Royal Hobart GC
1972 P W Thomson Kooyonga GC
1973 J C Snead Royal Queensland GC
1974 G J Player Karrinyup CC
1975 J W Nicklaus The Australian GC
1976 J W Nicklaus The Australian GC
1977 A D Graham The Australian GC
1978 J W Nicklaus The Australian GC
1979 J Newton Metropolitan GC
1980 G J Norman The Lakes GC
1981 W C Rogers Victoria GC
1982 R A Shearer The Australian GC
1983 P R Fowler Kingston Heath GC
1984 T S Watson Royal Melbourne GC
1985 G J Norman Royal Melbourne GC
1986 R M Davis Metropolitan GC
1987 G J Norman Royal Melbourne GC
1988 M J Calcavecchia Royal Sydney GC
1989 P A C Senior Kingston Heath GC
1990 J P Morse The Australian GC
1991 W G Riley Royal Melbourne GC
1992 S J Elkington The Lakes GC
1993 B J Faxon Metropolitan GC
1994 R M Allenby Royal Sydney GC
1995 G J Norman Kingston Heath GC
1996 G J Norman The Australian GC
1997 L J Westwood Metropolitan GC
1998 G J Chalmers Royal Adelaide GC
1999 A J Baddeley Royal Sydney GC
2000 A J Baddeley Kingston Heath GC
2001 S. Appleby The Grand GC
2002 S. Allan Victoria GC
2003 P. Lonard Moonah Links
2004 P. Lonard The Australian GC
2005 R M Allenby Moonah Links
2006 J. Senden Royal Sydney GC
2007 C. Parry The Australian GC

Australian Masters at Huntingdale

The Australian Masters at Huntingdale has become an iconic event on the Australian golf calender since it began in 1979.

Total prize money for the Masters is A$1.5 million, with the winner receiving A$270,000 and presented with the gold jacket which has become a notable tradition in Australian golf.

The Australian Masters at Huntingdale is played over 72 sandy holes, with a course length of 6,383m. The tournament is co-sanctioned by Australasian and European tours.

Greg Norman has won the event 6 times in 1981, '83, '84, '87, '89 and '90.

The list of internationals that have competed in the event include:

* Tiger Woods
* Jack Nicklaus
* Nick Faldo
* Bernhard Langer (winner 1985)
* Mark O'Meara (winner 1986)
* Colin Montgomerie (winner 2001)
* Sergio Garcia

Below is the full list of champions:

2007 - Aaron Baddeley
2006 - Justin Rose
2005 - Robert Allenby
2004 - Richard Green
2003 - Robert Allenby
2002 - Peter Lonard
2001 - Colin Montgomerie
2000 - Michael Campbell
1999 - Craig Spence
1998 - Bradley Hughes
1997 - Peter Lonard
1996 - Craig Parry
1995 - Peter Senior
1994 - Craig Parry
1993 - Bradley Hughes
1992 - Craig Parry
1991 - Peter Senior
1990 - Greg Norman
1989 - Greg Norman
1988 - Ian Baker-Finch
1987 - Greg Norman
1986 - Mark O’Meara
1985 - Bernhard Langer
1984 - Greg Norman
1983 - Greg Norman
1982 - Graham Marsh
1981 - Greg Norman
1980 - Gene Littler
1979 - Barry Vivian

The 2008 Australian Masters commence on the 27-30 November at Huntingdale GC Victoria Australia.

For more articles on Australian Golf History

Australian PGA Championship

The Australian PGA Championship grew out of the Australian Open championship. After the final round of the Open, the professionals in the field would compete for their own purse.

Whilst there is evidence of this occurring in 1904 the first year the Australian Open was played with Carnegie Clark taking the title, it is generally accepted that 1905 was in fact the first Australian Professional’s Championship.


(From the left: (back row) Charles Campbell, Carnegie Clark, unknown (second row) unknown, Dan Soutar, Rowley Banks, R.S. (Dick) Banks (front) J Victor East.

The founding father of the Professional Golfers’ Association in Australia, Dan Soutar won the event by defeating Gilies Martin 4 & 3 at Royal Melbourne.

The years 1905 to 1925 are sometimes considered “unofficial” in terms of the PGA Championship, but only because there is no reference in the PGA Board minutes until that time. Also, up until 1963 the event was decided as Match Play.

The winner receives the Joe Kirkwood Cup, named after legendary Australian golfer Joe Kirkwood Sr.

Year, Winner and Venue:

1897 James Scott: Geelong and Melbourne (Unofficial)
1905 Dan Soutar: Royal Melbourne
1906 Dan Soutar: Royal Sydney
1907 Dan Soutar: Royal Melbourne
1908 Carnegie Clark: The Australian
1909 Carnegie Clark: Oakleigh
1910 Dan Soutar: Glenelg
1911 Charles Campbell: Royal Sydney
1912 Unknown
1913 Carnegie Clark: Oakleigh
1914-1919 World War I. Did not play
1920 Unknown: Concord
1921 Arthur Le Fevre
1922 Charles Campbell: Royal Sydney
1923 Fred Popplewell: Royal Adelaide
1924 Tom Howard: Royal Melbourne
1925 Tom Howard: The Australian
1926 Frank (Happy) Eyre: The Australian
1927-1928 Unknown
1929 Rufus Stewart: Royal Adelaide
1930 Jock Robertson: Metropolitan
1931 John Donald Spence: The Australian
1932 Fergus McMahon: Royal Adelaide
1933 Sam Richardson: Royal Melbourne
1934 Lou Kelly: Royal Sydney
1935 Sam Richardson: Royal Adelaide
1936 William Clifford: Oakleigh
1937 Eric Cremin: The Australian
1938 Eric Cremin: Royal Adelaide
1939 Ted Naismith: Royal Melbourne
1940-1945 World War II. Did not play
1946 Norman Von Nida: Manly
1947 Ossie Pickworth: Royal Melbourne
1948 Norman Von Nida: Royal Hobart
1949 Kel Nagle: Royal Perth
1950 Norman von Nida: The Lakes
1951 Norman von Nida: Metropolitan
1952 William C. Holder: Roseville
1953 Ossie Pickworth: Royal Melbourne
1954 Kel Nagle: Royal Sydney
1955 Ossie Pickworth: Indooroopilly
1956 Les Wilson: St Michaels
1957 Gary Player: Huntingdale
1958 Kel Nagle: Kooyonga
1959 Kel Nagle: New South Wales
1960 John Sullivan: Royal Fremantle
1961 Allan Murray: Rossdale
1962 Bill Dunk: Rossdale
1963 Colin Johnston: Oatlands
1964 Colin Johnston: Monash
1965 Kel Nagle: Riversdale
1966 Bill Dunk: Royal Sydney
1967 Peter Thomson: Metropolitan
1968 Kel Nagle: Metropolitan
1969 Bruce Devlin: Royal Canberra
1970 Bruce Devlin: Surfers Paradise
1971 Bill Dunk: Surfers Paradise
1972 Randall Vines: The Lakes
1973 Randall Vines: Bonnie Doon
1974 Bill Dunk: Liverpool
1975 Vic Bennetts: Burleigh Heads
1976 Bill Dunk: Rosebud
1977 Mike Cahill: Yarra Yarra
1978 Hale Irwin: Royal Melbourne
1979 Stewart Ginn: Royal Melbourne
1980 Sam Torrence: Royal Melbourne
1981 Seve Ballesteros: Royal Melbourne
1982 Graham Marsh: Royal Melbourne
1983 Bob Shearer: Royal Melbourne
1984 Greg Norman: Monash
1985 Greg Norman: Castle Hill
1986 Michael Harwood; Castle Hill
1987 Roger Mackan: The Lakes
1988 Wayne Grady: Riverside Oaks
1989 Peter Senior: Riverside Oaks
1990 Brett Ogle: Riverside Oaks
1991 Wayne Grady: Concord
1992 Craig Parry: Concord
1993 Ian Baker-Finch: Concord
1994 Andrew Coltart: New South Wales
1995 Not played
1996 Phil Tataurangi: New South Wales
1997 Andrew Coltart: New South Wales
1998 David Howell: New South Wales
1999 Greg Turner: Victoria
2000 Robert Allenby: Royal Queensland
2001 Robert Allenby: Royal Queensland
2002 Peter Lonard, Jarrod Moseley: Hyatt Coolum
2003 Peter Senior: Hyatt Coolum
2004 Peter Lonard: Hyatt Coolum
2005 Robert Allenby: Hyatt Coolum
2006 Nick O'Hern: Hyatt Coolum
2007 Peter Lonard: Hyatt Coolum


For more Australian golfing history

Golf Avatars: Greg Norman

An avatar is a small multi-purpose image that appears when you post to the golf forums, on MSN messenger, blog posts and much more. Simply 'right click' over the avatar code box and copy and paste the address into your golf forum profile page. For a complete bio on golfer Greg Norman, Click here:


Australia's Greg Norman golf avatar GIF:


http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f248/golfaustralia/normangif.gif





https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTRo2NNTwjqu_sY_nIbx_AvZVH0ANXiQLhGxkbcU8qymcu0uWTS7dzWwhq9O3FIw_tFlD6FDMK987G4ZzIZ8iWhPasp-WI30_dRD00-Kru4wrlT6TZkkVRwjl2kbVaj6Ep7-zPE05dSQI/s200/greg_norman_golf_avtar_3.jpg






https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheyYVKMJiApFgn4PuQrXWqtX9cfgx2G_aeHF7srVoE_eRSv-fXvcz7f9XBNuYoYXigCk-OO5zcClrIKJ9-7jXg655UqKj4fxwUrH8LNCvzTRI6G_dS5sEZjeXQPATYDwLwzBQ9GL9fEpU/s200/gre_norman_golf_avatar_4.jpg






https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHbDyd8hRK3KjzxcUM6keulpDGhKKPwuZnlYk7-qsUkHwiOxEbzCupyMUD-EyRMEYL5DrnxpdtcULPGzupgOwukVSSfN4G0Lw5wEtUifWzGqj39za1zwarRn3t_FsmF8nSY9Z-EE2XTOc/s200/greg_norman_golf_avatar_2.jpg






https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj-93hNvSqjAHECWp44pbp4L9Vxg1CWBVS2VoWJpgK7X_mzmm5qiQzNKU2qPx5Eh1N8VCUVhzhsDoddEb8WuV4MI6RYEQnjJE0AFu6SJVD6rdtwlr43jt_wHLRdx27pshwuv4CWmYbjFM/s200/greg_norman_golf_avatar_1.jpg





For more golf avatars and GIFs click here:

Australian Golfer Bio: Greg Norman

Name: Gregory John Norman
DOB: Feb 10th 1955
From: Mt. Isa Queensland Australia
Height: 6ft 0in
Turned Pro: 1976
Currently: Living in Hope Sound, Florida USA
Nickname: 'The Great White Shark'

Greg played Rugby, Aussie Rules and Cricket as a child in Queensland and was regarded as an outstanding player, Greg was also a keen surfer. He began playing golf at 15 and within his first year was playing to a scratch handicap. His mother was also a fine golfer with a single-figure handicap. The story goes, His interest in the game started with an unusual offer to his mother that he caddy for her during a regular mid-week game. Following the round, he asked if he could borrow her clubs and set out on his own. The rest is history. Norman’s professional golf career began as Charlie Earp's trainee in the Royal Queensland Golf Club pro shop, earning an amazing $A28/week. Interestingly, Norman has earned more than $1 million five times on the U.S. PGA Tour, including three Arnold Palmer Awards as the Tour's leading money winner in 1986, '89 and '94. He was also the first person in Tour history to surpass $10 million in career earnings.

His first professional win, also his first year as a professional golfer, was the 1976 West Lakes Classic at The Grange in Adelaide, South Australia. He joined the European Tour in 1977. In 1982 he was that tour's leading money winner. The following year, he joined the U.S. PGA Tour. His crowning achievements are his British Open Championships in 1986 at Turnberry in Scotland and '93 at Royal St. George's in Kent. In '86 Norman shot a tournament record tying 63 to seal a five-shot victory over Gordon Brand and in '93 Norman trailed by one stroke entering the final day and closed with 64 to defeat Nick Faldo by two.

Greg Norman was one of the most accomplished golfers of the 1980s and '90s, a golfer with great achievements but Norman also gained a reputation for falling short of expectations.

Norman first came to worldwide prominence when he narrowly missed catching Jack Nicklaus at the 1986 Masters. He pushed his approach shot to the 72nd green into the stands, the first of what would be numerous narrow defeats, unlucky breaks and unfortunate collapses. Bob Tway holed a bunker shot at the 1986 PGA to snatch the win away from Norman; Larry Mize holed a long chip shot in a playoff at the 1987 Masters to deny Norman again. Perhaps most famously, Norman blew a 6-shot lead entering the final round to lose the 1996 Masters to Nick Faldo by 5 strokes. Along with his 2 British Open titles, Norman has won tournaments, including 20 U.S. PGA Tour titles and has collected many accolades including:

* 5-time Byron Nelson Award winner for the lowest adjusted scoring average (1988, '90, '93, '94 and '95)
* Awarded by the PGA Tour; 3-time Vardon Trophy winner for the lowest adjusted scoring average (1989, '90, '94)
* Awarded by the PGA of America; 3-time Arnold Palmer Award winner (1986, '90, '95)
* In 1995, Norman won the Jack Nicklaus Award, for PGA Tour Player of the Year.
* 4-time member, International team, Presidents Cup
* Member, World Golf Hall of Fame

In 2008, at the age of 53, Norman made an unlikely run at a third British Open title, holding the third round lead before finishing tied for third.

It was in 1981 that Norman was originally labeled the "Great White Shark" by a newspaper reporter during the Masters Tournament. Since then he has created a multinational corporation, Great White Shark Enterprises, where Norman serves as Chairman and CEO. The business comprises several companies and divisions including Contact Golf Course Design, Contact Turf Company, Medalist Golf Developments, Contact Interactive, Contact Production Company, merchandising and licensing. Norman's wealth is estimated in the hundreds of millions of U.S dollars.

Norman's first wife, Laura Andrassy an American Flight Attendant; were married July 1, 1981, and have two children, Morgan-Leigh and Gregory. In June of 2008 Norman and former tennis ace and world number 1, American Chris Evert were married in the Bahamas.
Norman's passions off the golf course are still the same as they were when he was a boy in Australia - fishing, hunting, scuba diving and almost any other outdoor activity.

For more information on Greg Norman, as well as a selection of golf avatars, icons and graphics, click HERE: