Norman ... playing in the Champions Tour third major

YOU PROBABLY wouldn’t put your house on Greg Norman winning his first US Champions Tour major this weekend but the Shark’s addition to the 2012 Senior Players Championship field is certainly a highlight.

The 57 year old hasn’t had a start on the tour since 2009 but his record in his 11 appearances isn’t too shabby at all.

In fact, in his eight senior major championship appearances he has finished outside 6th spot just once. His best was third at the 2005 Senior British Open and he has finished in fourth spot three times at the US Senior Open.

Despite the fact his attention is mostly on business these days and he’d seemingly rather do just about anything than practice (as opposed to play) golf, the competitive spirit still burns brightly in the two-time British Open winner.

“I don’t think your competitive juices ever go away,” Norman said this week at the Fox Chapel Golf Club in Pittsburgh, where the Champions Tour is staging the third of its five majors this year.

“Do I have the passion to play? I enjoy playing. I don’t enjoy practising. There’s a big difference now.”

“When I go out to play, I don’t go out to try and shoot 65 because everybody expects you to shoot 65, even in a practice round or playing with your friends.

“When I go out to play now, I just go out to play, to have fun and not to worry about my score.”

The golf psychologists say not worrying about your score is the best way to win, so he could have a secret weapon there. Norman will also be playing in the Senior British Open this year as well as the European Masters in what is a sparse schedule.

Australia’s other entrant in Pittsburgh is Peter Senior, who has done everything bar win on the Champions Tour.

The two Aussies will face a host of iconic golfing names including defending champion Fred Couples, who last year joined Jack Nicklaus and Raymond Floyd as the only players to win both the Players Championship and the Senior Players. Norman of course has his chance this year to emulate that feat.

“I don’t have a target score in mind,” Norman said. “Whatever game I brought here is the game I’ve got.”

The tournament also marks the return from injury of Tom Watson. Some of the other contenders include Bernhard Langer, Tom Lehman, Michael Allen and recent tour winner Mark Calcavecchia.

2012 Senior Players Championship Australian TV Coverage

The Senior Players is being telecast live on ESPN2

1st Round, Friday, Live: 3am – 5.30am, Repeat: 2pm – 4pm; 2nd Round, Live: 3am – 5.30am, Repeat: 2.30pm – 4pm; 3rd Round, Live: 4.30am – 7am; 4th Round, Live: Monday, 4.30am – 7am. (This was the published schedule as of Thursday. Check guides for repeats.)