Hall Of Famer - Greg Norman

Gregg Norman was born in Mt. Isa, Queensland, Australia, in 1955; in 2001, he has his golfing career on display in the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Golf ran in the Norman family as Greggs mother was a golf champion at the Virginia Golf Club, you could say it was in his blood.

Norman or as he was dubbed in 1981 “Great White Shark” has an impressive 88 international victories under his belt, two of them were The British Open. Greg spent an unimaginable 330 weeks on top of the world golf rankings as number one in the world in the 1980’s and early 1990.

Turning professional in 1976 Greg wasted no time in winning at The West Lakes Classic. He goes on to stack up impressive wins along the European Tour including the money leader in 1982. Norman wins the Austrailian open five times in his career.

Not only does Norman stack up win after win, at the same time he stacks up a pile of cash, he is the first golfer to exceed 10 million. Winning the PGA Tour 20 times, received the Arnold Palmer Award in 1986, 1990 and again in 1995. In addition, the Vardon Trophy 3 times in his career among many other victories and awards to many to mention.

As many victories as Norman has he may be best known for some of his crushing defeats. As his exploits in the winner’s circle he has had many near misses and just plain out and out loses. Perhaps one of his more famous blunders was in Augusta in 1996 taking a 6-stroke lead into the final round and lost to Nick Faldo having a 67 to Norman’s 78.

Greg is not alone in this category of meltdowns he stands tall with fellow golfers, Ken Venturi with an 80 in the final round of the 1956 Masters. In 2011, Rory Mcllory also in the final round puts a black mark on his career with an 80 for the round.

Turning 50 Greg put the brakes on tournament play and kept away from the Senior Tour due to injuries. Like all great players you can’t’ keep them down seven years after not playing in many matches Greg finishes sixth in the Senior PGA Championship in 2008. Greg finished only three points behind the leader Jay Haas.

I know where I watch Greg Norman and it is on television as he shows all of us how to do, anything involving golf and getting to the flag in the shortest amount of strokes as possible. Strategies, styles how to hold your body, how to swing, Greg is a great teacher, for never have meeting the man.

Having Greg Normans story told in the World Golf Hall of Fame among all the other greats of the game I am sure will take a lot of space. He has had and is still having an amazing career and has come a long way from his humble beginnings.