Australian Senior Golfer

Irish golfer Padraig Harrington has come from nowhere to win the US PGA Championship and end Europe’s 78 year drought in the event.

Harrington rallied from three shots behind Sunday to close with a 4-under 66 at Oakland Hills to win his second major on the trot.

Harrington is only the fourth player to win the British Open and the PGA in the same year and he has won three of the last six majors.

The Irishman won the event by two shots from Spain’s Sergio Garcia and American Ben Curtis with Colombian Camilo Villegas and Swede Henrick Stenson finishing in a tie for fourth.

Aaron Baddeley was the best placed Australian, closing with a final round three over par to finish on six over for the tournament in 13th place, nine shots behind Harrington.

Baddeley played solidly in extremely tough conditions that saw just three players finish under par and he secured his best ever finish at the PGA Championships.

“I was close to being right there this week, just not quite, said Baddeley. “I just didn’t get off to the start I wanted for the final round which was disappointing.”

A dropped shot on the final hole saw him lose his grip on his first top ten finish in the event.

“I bogeyed the last hole to miss the top ten so I am disappointed with that.  I was thinking if I could at least sneak in to the top 10 it would be some sort of consolation prize,” he said.

Stuart Appleby finished one shot behind Baddeley in 15th place with a final round 72. He described the conditions as ‘brutal’ and despite a strong putting performance, last week’s Bridgestone Invitational runner up just couldn’t quite land the shots.

FINAL AUSTRALASIAN SCORES:

WINNER: PADRIAG HARRINGTON (Ireland) – 3, 277

 T13, Aaron Baddeley , +6, 71, 71, 71, 73, 286

T15, Stuart Appleby , +7, 76, 70, 69, 72, 287

T24, Mark Brown , +9, 77, 69, 74, 69, 289

T31, Robert Allenby , +11, 76, 72, 72, 71, 291

T31, Geoff Ogilvy , +11, 73, 74, 74, 70, 291

T39, Steve Elkington , +12, 71, 73, 73, 75, 292

T42, Michael Campbell , +13, 73, 71, 75, 74, 293

T42, John Senden , +13, 76, 72, 72, 73, 293

T68, Peter Lonard , +20, 74, 74, 74, 78, 300

71, Richard Green , +23, 71, 77, 79, 76, 303

 Missed Cut:

Brendan Jones , +9, 71, 78

Adam Scott , +10, 77, 73

Nick O’Hern , +10, 74, 76

Scott Strange , +11, 73, 78

Rod Pampling , +11, 70, 81

Mathew Goggin , +16, 81, 75

When you walk onto a golf course you are only allowed to have 14 clubs, but you can carry around as many demons as you want.

Top golf psychologist Dr Bob Rotella has worked with the likes of recent major winners Padraig Harrington and Trevor Immelman and says it is impossible to overestimate the importance of the mind in golf.

Rotella believes golf is as much about self confidence and trust as it is about physical competence.

Rotella believes golf is as much about self confidence and trust as it is about physical competence

Rotella has written a number of best selling golf books and has distilled much of his teaching into a new book, The Golfer’s Mind, which is intended as an easy reference guide golfers can return to again and again when they need to refresh themselves with advice on the mental game.

ASG will be publishing a series of articles based on The Golfer’s Mind: Play to Play Great.

Firstly, here is a list of ten principles, or what Rotella calls “process goals” to take with you on your next round of golf.

As Rotella says: “If you follow them, you’ll give yourself the best chance to find out how well you can play in that particular round.

The Golfer’s Mind 10 Mental Game Goals

1. I will trust myself and my swing on every shot. I don’t have absolute control of where the ball goes. I do have absolute control of whether I trust myself.
2. I will execute my pre-shot routine on every shot.
3. I will stay in the present moment. I won’t speculate in the middle of the round about what my score will be, or where I’ll stand in the tournament. I’ll stop worrying about not breaking 90, or 70. I will refrain from critiquing or analysing the shots I’ve taken. I will focus on each shot as it comes, and that will be the only shot I care about. When it’s over, I’ll see how I did.
4. I will refuse to allow anything that happens on the golf course today to bother me or upset me. I will accept bad breaks and mistakes, and be tough in adversity. I am going to be in a good mood and a great state of mind for the entire round today. I’ll enjoy playing.
5. I will trust my instincts and be decisive and committed.
6. I will get looser and freer and more confident as the round progresses, resisting the urge to get tighter, more careful, and doubtful.
7. I will love my wedge and my putter today.
8. I will let the ball go to my target on every shot. (And in other words firstly have a specific target to aim at)
9. I will maintain a constant ideal level of intensity on every shot.
10. I will play to play great, not play not to play poorly.

The Golfer’s Mind, Play to Play Great, by Dr Rob Rotella with Bob Cullen, is available in the Australian Senior Golfer Bookshop. Also check out Rotella’s other books including Golf Is Not a Game of Perfect, Putting Out of Your Mind and Your 15th Club: The Inner Secret to Great Golf.

See The Golfer’s Mind here for US $16.29 (Hardcover) plus postage or less for used.

Stuart Appleby was back in form at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational at the weekend and is one of 16 Australasians lining up for the final major of the year, the US PGA Championship.

Appleby was just centimetres short of forcing a play off with eventual winner Vijay Singh but had to settle for a tie for second place with England’s Lee Westwood.

 The Australian’s birdie attempt at the 18th stopped achingly short but his strong finish on the last three holes has backed up his recent comments that he felt a form reversal was near.

“It’s the best tournament I’ve had this year,” Appleby said. “I think if I can keep playing like this, that’s sort of what I’ll keep doing. It’s just a matter of maintaining my swing and maintaining my thoughts mentally. I’m very sure good things will come from it.”

Vijay Singh holds the record for post 40 year old PGA Tour wins ahead of Sam Snead

For 45 year old Vijay Singh the win was his 20th since turning 40. Singh holds the record for post 40 PGA Tour wins with Sam Snead in second place with 17.

Speaking of age, Peter Lonard claimed he was feeling his after turning 41 on July 17.

Earlier in the tournament, Lonard was asked if he was feeling fit now.

“Yeah, I feel good, apart from being old. I’m ready to go,” he told the media.

Lonard managed to stall the march of time long enough to shoot a final round four under 66 that included four birdies and no bogeys.  The laconic Australian pocketed about $200,000 for his sixth placing and he will also line up for the PGA Championship.

US PGA Championship

THERE are 16 Australasian PGA Tour players teeing off in the US PGA Championship at Oakland Hills Country Club starting Thursday. The line-up is: (AM tee times round one) Robert Allenby, Peter Lonard, Richard Green, Rod Pampling, Mark Brown, Aaron Baddeley, Geoff Ogilvy, Nick O’Hern (PM tee times round one) Mathew Goggin, Adam Scott, Brendan Jones, Michael Campbell, Stuart Appleby, Steve Elkington, John Senden and Scott Strange.

The Foxtel pay TV network will cover the championship. Each round will be shown live for about six hours from 3am on Friday and Saturday with replays each afternoon and for eight hours on Sunday and Monday from 1am.

Greg Norman fourth in US Senior Open

Greg Norman has finished fourth at the 29th US Senior Open, his third consecutive top five finish since his inspiring British Open performance.

Norman carded an even par-70 in the final round at Colorado Springs.

Eduardo Romero won the tournament with a final round three-over 73 to become the second Argentine golfer to win the trophy. . He beat American Fred Funk (75) by four strokes and Norman by six. 

Funk, who began the day two strokes back, saw his bid to become the fifth straight come-from-behind winner disappear with a triple-bogey on the 13th hole.

The likelihood of Norman returning to confront Augusta National for the US Masters next year has confirmed even further with new bride Chris Evert expressing her interest.

“I’ve never been to the Masters before, but it would be great,” Evert said. “I’ve watched it every year on TV and it’s great. I’ve watched a lot of golf on TV lately, but never gotten to go to the Masters tournament.”

I have just sourced some new software through the Australian Senior Golfer Bookshop and was more than pleasantly surprised at the big savings involved.

I bought some well known Windows software that, including shipping, cost me just over half of the price available locally.

And as well as saving me almost $50, the software was delivered to my door from the US in just six days.

I knew the same big savings were available on the huge range of golf books available through the ASG Bookshop and the purchase spurred me to make some actual price comparisons. What I found confirmed the great prices available.

But first, the Australian Senior Golfer Bookshop is an offshoot of Amazon.com and all sales and delivery are handled through their system based in the US.

People scanning through the titles and the prices quoted often can’t believe they are factual, which is understandable when you see books that you would be paying over $40 dollars for in an Australian bookshop advertised for around $10. But it’s true.

Add to that the fact that there are usually second hand books in good as new condition available in most titles, sometimes for just a few dollars. From my experience these second hand books are in top condition and if there are any imperfections or wear and tear this is clearly stated.

There are two things to bear in mind when browsing the cheap golf books in the ASG shop. The initial price you will see is usually in US dollars, (at time of writing add about AUD 55 cents per US $10) and you also pay for postage and handling.

The usual shipping cost for books from the US to Australia is around $11.

…you could pay around $22 for a new golf book delivered to your door that would cost you around $45 in an Australian bookshop

So in this example you could pay around $21 for a new book delivered to your door as opposed to $45 in an Australian bookshop, or add around $4 to $8 extra for delivery from a local online store.

Cheap Software

In my own software example, I was after the well known antivirus software Windows OneCare. The price for a direct download from Microsoft is $99.95 and that’s about the best price you will see in Australian stores. (I did see OneCare advertised during a major retailer’s sale for around $90 a few months back).

Through the ASG Bookshop it was on sale for $19.99. Shipping and handling was $35.98 (much higher than for book postage for some reason) but still a total of just $55.97, and it was delivered to my door before 9am six days later. No contest as far as I’m concerned.

Book Price Comparison

The first two popular golf book titles I tried to compare I had to abandon because they just weren’t readily available on the Australian online stores.

I settled on Tiger Woods How I Play Golf.

From the ASG Bookshop, in Hardcover, this title is listed as AUD $14.98 plus $11 shipping and handling. Total = $25.98

Angus & Robertson

Same title in Hardcover was $62.99 plus $3.50 delivery (site says it “Usually ships in 10 days”.) Total = $66.49

Collins

Same title, in Paperback, $45 plus $6.95, ships in 10 to 15 days. Total = $51.95

Dymocks

Same title, again in paperback, $45, postage to Sydney Metro area $6.50, $7.95 elsewhere in Australia.

Total = $51.50

Booktopia

Paperback edition $40.50 plus $6.50 postage. (Title “needs to be ordered from overseas supplier and can take up to 10 days”).

Total = $47

In my local shopping centre Angus & Robertson the Tiger Woods How I Play Golf in paperback was $45.

So the same hardback edition best price found available locally was a whopping $40.51 extra. Even most paperback editions found were still around twice the price.

That’s why it is well worth checking out the Australian Senior Golfer Bookshop and seeing for yourself.

There is the added benefit over a physical bookshop that you not only get a full product description, but there are also often editorial book reviews as well as customer reviews.

Australian veteran golfer Greg Norman is odds on to return to the scene of the crime and resume his troubled relationship with the US Masters in April next year.

Norman qualified for Augusta National when he turned back the clock to finish tied third at the British Open last month.

But he turned down an invitation to this year’s final major, the US PGA Championship next week, and had kept tight lipped about Augusta.

But lining up for the US Senior Open in Colorado Springs this week and with the competitive juices flowing, he said: “I feel great that I’ve played my way into Augusta….so I can look forward to that come April, play myself into [shape].”

Settling in to married life with new bride Chris Evert, Norman must feel confident about taking on the old dear again.

He will be forever remembered for his infamous final-round meltdown in 1996 when he blew a six-stroke lead to finish second behind his long-time nemesis Nick Faldo.

Norman, having played the British Open, Senior British Open and now in the midst of the US Senior Open, says he has realised this month that his competitive nature is as strong as ever.

“I have been disappointed in my two finishes the past two weeks, which is a very good sign,” he said.

“It’s is one of the toughest decisions I’ve had to make in golf, turning down the PGA,” the 53 year old said.

Meanwhile, Norman has confirmed he will play in the Johnnie Walker Classic at The Vines course in Perth next February.

Tiger Woods for Australian Open? 

But Norman won’t be a starter at the Australian Open at Royal Sydney this year because of a clash with his own event, the Shark Shootout in the US.

However, he will remain in the sights of Golf Australia, with the big announcement this week that the Aussie Open will remain in Sydney till 2015.

Golf Australia has already begun moves to lure a number of internationals – including  Rocco Mediate, Mike Weir and Retief Goosen – to join the likes of Adam Scott, Geoff Ogilvy and defending champion Craig Parry to the event this year.
Golf Australia’s tournament boss Trever Herden said that while several of the world’s leading players would be approached to play this year, even Tiger Woods remained a possibility in the future despite a $4 million appearance fee.
“Tiger cannot play this year because of his injury but I’m sure he’d love to return to Australia and play the Open,” Herden said.
“We now have substantial backing and we are seeing the Open as an investment so it’s not out of the question we would invite him to play.
“We will now be chasing players like Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia  and Vijay Singh.”

Scott Strange leads Aussies at World Golf Championship

 First timer Scott Strange leads a solid Aussie contingent after the first round of the WGC Bridgestone Invitational in Akron Ohio, just two shots behind leader Retief Goosen.

Strange, playing in his first ever World Golf Championship event finished the day at the top of the Aussie pile with a solid two under par 68 and is tied for sixth place in a group of 14 players including Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk and Rocco Mediate.

“I played great,” said a delighted Strange after the round.  “I struck the ball nicely after about the third hole on. The golf course is there to be played a certain way and I just played it the way I could. I could have holed a few more putts and had a couple less but at the end of the day two under is a good score.”

One shot behind Strange is fellow first timer Brendan Jones, Rod Pampling, Peter Lonard and Adam Scott who are in a tie for 20th place.

2002 Champion Craig Parry, Nick O’Hern and Stuart Appleby all finished their rounds at even par with Appleby making an incredible comeback after blowing out to five over at the turn.

Two time World Golf Championship winner Geoff Ogilvy was satisfied with his one over par but could have finished even, except for missing a short putt for birdie at the last.

NSW golfer Rick Oliver has won the Australian Senior Order of Merit with an exceptional year of consistent golf.

Oliver posted an amazing record of 11 Top 10 finishes from 12 starts and takes the 2007-2008 title despite not winning an individual event.

He also finished tied for 11th in the Australian Seniors and was placed in the Top 5 in six events.

Runner-up in the AUSOOM was Denis Dale (NSW), who won the competition in 2005-06 and 2006-07. Dale also had a consistent year without winning a title finishing in the Top 10 in seven of the 10 events contested.

Third place went to Victorian Ross Percy. Percy contested eleven events and was placed in the Top 10 in six, including a fourth place in the 2008 Australian Seniors Championship.

New South Wales senior Tony Gresham won the Senior Order of Merit Medal for golfers aged 65 years and older. Gresham finished ahead of the West Australian pair of Alex Cleave and Mal Roberts.

Players will receive their medals as part of the presentations for the 2008 Australian Senior Matchplay Championships to be held at Barwon Heads from September 21-26.

The Men’s Senior Order of Merit is open to golfers aged 55 plus and runs annually from August 1, through to July 31 the following year.

Top 10 players on the Order of Merit

1. Rick Oliver   NSW   1426 points

2. Denis Dale   NSW   1241 points

3. Ross Percy   VIC   1212 points

4. Brian Sams   NSW   1104 points

5. Nigel Goodall   WA   1090 points

6. Stefan Albinski   NSW   1010

7. Grahame MacDonald   QLD   961

8. John Beaumont   SA   936

9. Ross Bockman   NSW   780

10. Tony Gresham   NSW   742

For full details see the Australian Senior Order of Merit website at www.ausoom.com

With his new bride watching from the sidelines at the British Open, an Old Grey Shark has captivated the sporting world.

But whilst the 53 year old veteran Australian golfer didn’t win, Greg Norman did strike a major blow for older golfers everywhere and provide a massive incentive and inspiration to keep on swinging.

Of course it was a huge disappointment that he failed to capitalise on his third round lead – at least he lost to an Irishman named Paddy – but his achievement should be congratulated and celebrated.

As Norman said after his loss: “I can walk away from here being disappointed, but I can walk away from here with my head held high because I hung in there.”

As was endlessly repeated during the tournament, the 53 year old had put himself in a position to be the oldest ever major winner.

It would have been an historic and hugely popular win – as you could imagine, here at Australian Senior Golfer we were amongst those salivating at the prospect – but not to be.

What Greg Norman did prove, especially with the whole package of the British Open lead, the Bahamas wedding to Chirs Evert and the dignified defeat, is that there is life after 50.

To those of us around or over that age it comes as no surprise or shock. The older you get – apart from maybe a few creaks, pains and physical limitations – you still largely feel the same as you did as a teenager. The “old” people are always those people just over the horizon. But try telling that to the “younger” generation.

A lot of people seemed genuinely surprised that at his “advanced” age Norman was up and around on his own, let alone in danger of winning one of the most coveted prizes in golf for the third time.

What does often change as you get older are your priorities.

“….a lot of people should take stock, no matter how old you are, if you really want to chase something and chase a dream, you can go do it.” Greg Norman

As Norman said:” Quite honestly, I’m sure I surprised a lot of people. But at the same time, immediately I think about it now, what happens if I won. What happens if I won, then I might have had to be out here playing more golf, and maybe that’s what I didn’t want to do anyway.”

Norman is due to play in the upcoming Senior British Open and the Senior US Open and has made no commitments after that. His third placing means, among other things, an automatic invitation to the US Masters next year. Now that would be interesting.

Commenting on the physical aspects of his age on his golf, Norman said: “I made the comment in the pressroom a couple days ago that the only thing that would have been different was my shot-making ability. That would have been the only thing different. Even Judy Rankin said that watching me play, as she did for the last couple days on ABC television back in the States, that there wasn’t a whole lot wrong with my game. I’ve still got the components in there.”

On his performance generally he said: “I think it’s a great indicator for every player out there, whether you’re just coming on the Tour for the first year or you’re turning 40 or in your 50s. The game of golf is there to be played, and if you go in there with the right attitude and keep yourself physically fit, you can put yourself in that position no matter what.

“If I’m a young kid, looking now and seeing a guy at 53 years old leading the British Open and I’m only 18, I’m going to say, boy, I’ve got a lot of years left in my career. I think it’s great, I really do.”

And as a final inspiration: “I’ve said this before, I think at the end of the day, a lot of people should take stock, no matter how old you are, if you really want to chase something and chase a dream, you can go do it. Even though there’s failure at the end of it for me, I still put myself in position to really show a lot of other people that you can go do something if you really want it.”

Update: Greg Norman finished in a tie for fifth in the Senior British Open at Troon in Scotland, four shots behind eventual champion Bruce Vaughan, who beat fellow American John Cook in a play-off.

Greg Norman’s new lease of (golfing) life

Greg Norman’s Open Honeymoon

On a miserable cold and wet day at Nudgee Golf Club, Queensland professional Neil Wall has taken out the 2008 Queensland Senior Open in a dramatic playoff against Kiwi Stuart Reese.

Due to the poor weather, the third and final round was cancelled, reducing the Championship to 36 holes.
Playing the par three, 9th hole in the sudden death playoff, Wall left himself about 10 metres from the hole, while the Kiwi Reese hit a superb shot to approximately four metres.

After taking relief from casual water, Wall was left with a difficult putt across the green. The putt never left its track and subsequently found the bottom of the hole. When Reese missed his shorter putt, Wall was declared the Champion.

With unseasonal rain which drenched the course overnight and all morning, officials were forced to suspend play when two of the greens became unplayable at approximately 11:00am. When it became obvious that the round couldn’t be completed, Wall and Reese who were tied after 36 holes were forced out to decide the Championship. It was an exciting finish to an otherwise bleak day at Nudgee.

The leading amateur, finishing in equal 10th position was Nudgee member Grahame MacDonald who carded rounds of 73 (+2) and 74 (+3) for a five over par (+5) total. He was just one in front of fellow Nudgee member Kevin Yeo.

The Queensland Senior Open marks the start of the PGA’s Senior Tour which will continue over the next 5 weeks, with 15 events and $164,000 on offer for the professionals. The Senior Open also kicked off the PGA’s Living Choice Senior Series with the next event being the Living Choice Pro Am held at Twin Waters on Tuesday 29th July.

Amateur Age Division Winners

The following amateur age division winners were awarded:
Winner – 50-54 Years: Alan Davies (Nudgee) – 74.75 – 149
Runner Up: Robert Watson (Virginia) – 76.74 – 150
Winner – 55-59 Years: Kevin Yeo (Nudgee) – 74.74 – 148
Runner Up: Ross Percy (Cobram Barooga) – 75.74 – 149
Winner – 60-64 Years: Ian Read (Indooroopilly) – 73.79 – 152
Runner Up: Ron Woodward (Woodford) 77.76 – 153 OCB
Winner – 65-69 Years: Norm Way (Gailes) – 76.73 – 149
Runner Up: Patrick Giles (Goonawarra) – 81.80 – 161
Winner – 70 Years & Over: Geoff Everett (The Lakes) 76.75 – 151
Overall Nett Winner: Mark Bell (Proserpine) 66.69 – 135
Overall Nett Runner up: Alan Wong (Oxley) – 68.71 – 139

Australian Senior Order of Merit

 For the amateurs in the field, the event signalled the end of the 2007/ 2008 Australian Senior Amateur Order of Merit.  

 TOP 10 POSITIONS – SENIOR AMATEUR 55+
 1    147   MACDONALD Grahame (Nudgee)   (QLD)   73-74   
 2    148   YEO Kevin (Nudgee)   (QLD)   74-74   
 3    149   PERCY Ross (Cobram Barooga)   (VIC)   75-74   
 3    149   WAY Norm (Gailes)   (QLD)   76-73   
 5    151   EVERETT Geoff (The Lakes)   (NSW)   76-75   
 6    152   MAHER Michael (Royal Queensland)   (QLD)    78-74   
 6    152   READ Ian (Indooroopilly)   (QLD)   73-79   
 8    153   BROWN Lindsay (Keperra)   (QLD)   78-75   
 8    153   BURKE Geoff (Keperra)   (QLD)   74-79   
 8    153   MORRISON Dave (Coolangatta Tweed)   (QLD)   74-79   

The 2008 Queensland Mid Amateur Golf Championship will return to Caloundra’s Club Pelican in September and this year there will be a new division for the 44 to 54 age group.

The tournament is open to male golfers aged 30 to 54 with a maximum handicap of 15.4 and takes to the Greg Norman designed Club Pelican Golf Course from September 7 to 9.

The Mid-Amateur concept has grown in popularity since it was first held in 2005.  

A large part of this is due to the tournament’s family friendly attitude with many players bringing their families to Caloundra to make a holiday occasion of the week’s golfing activities. 

The new Caloundra Tourism Upper Mid-Amateur division has been introduced this year for players aged between 44 and 54 years following feedback received from players who have attended previous tournaments.

Another new initiative this year is the Footjoy Club Teams event for teams of three players from the same club – the best two nett scores each day counting towards the team’s total.

“The team’s event came about after the popularity of the Titleist 2 Man Teams Event which in the past has attracted teams from Titleist, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and of course Queensland,” said Golf Queensland’s Golf Operations Manager Scott Wagstaff.

“It is always closely followed, even by those not involved and this year there will be an opportunity for many more to be involved in a club team’s event, which just adds a bit more of excitement to the three days.”

The Queensland Mid-Amateur Championship kicks off on Sunday 7 September and concludes on Tuesday 9 September. Many players stay on site at the Crowne Plaza, which continues to be a great supporter of the event.

A welcome cocktail party held on the evening of Monday 8 September makes a welcome return after proving to be a highlight of last year’s event.

Tournament entries are open till August 25.

For further information and entry forms, visit www.golfqueensland.org.au

We wrote about Greg Norman’s new lease of life back in May and he was certainly showing it during the first round of the British Open at Royal Birkdale.

As one television commentator untidily put it: “Norman has been up in Scotland practising with his new wife.”

I think if the commentator had his chance over he would rephrase that slightly, but at least we all know what he meant in general terms.

Back in May, Norman was playing in a couple of USPGA and Champions Tour events and talking about how his relationships with then fiancée Chris Evert and son Gregory had given him a new vigour for golf and life.

“I’ve been a bit absent for a while, about five years now,” Norman said at the time. “I haven’t really focused a lot of attention on wanting to get out there and play, and now I feel I just want to get out there.”

He was certainly getting “out there” at Royal Birkdale and was looking right at home on the big stage – his first major in three years.

Still, Norman wasn’t getting carried away about his overall chances after finishing on par and one shot behind co-leaders Robert Allenby (great to see him doing well), US Open star Rocco Mediate and Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell.

Norman was sharing second spot with Adam Scott, who had led all the way before succumbing to two late bogies. (Let’s hope Adam doesn’t let the slip get to him and comes back and fully realises his huge potential.)

At 53, Norman admitted no one was more surprised than he over his great start in what were very difficult but improving conditions. (The wind and rain made it absolutely atrocious when Craig Parry led the tournament off earlier in the day.)

“It probably surprised me as much as anyone,” Norman said. “I don’t play that much, and I don’t practice that much. I probably practice more tennis than I do golf.

“But at the same time there’s something about this event that stimulates you. The feeling you get coming down 18 after five and a half hours of golf and the way people receive you. You don’t get that anywhere else in the world. It is a phenomenal experience and you have a little more juice that you normally would.”

Norman credits his marriage to tennis great Chris Evert in the Bahamas last month with rebalancing his life in a way that has spin-off benefits for his golf.

“I wouldn’t say getting married to Chrissy has revitalised my golf game, I think it has just revitalised my life,” he said.

Norman was full of praise for the set-up of the course and acknowledged he and the other later starters had enjoyed by far the best of the conditions.

“I wouldn’t say getting married to Chrissy has revitalised my golf game, I think it has just revitalised my life,” he said.

Norman was full of praise for the set-up of the course and acknowledged he and the other later starters had enjoyed by far the best of the conditions.

“I think it’s the best Open I’ve ever played in. The course has been set up the fairest and toughest I’ve ever seen. It’s very balanced and gives the opportunity to someone like me to get a good score on the board,” he said.

“These conditions are an equaliser. Maybe some of these young players have not experienced it before.”

“When somebody asked me the toughest conditions I’d played in and said Turnberry 1986. Some of these kids might not have been born then.”
Norman did not play in the last two Opens through injury and admitted he had no wish to return to a full competitive schedule.

“The mind still wants to play but the body doesn’t want to practise,” he said.

“It’s gone through enough pain and surgery and I just don’t want to do it any more. I still enjoy playing but I don’t enjoy standing on the range for four hours a day.”

“The other side of my life is fantastic. I have the most beautiful balance I have ever had. When it was golf, golf, golf everything else was second. Now golf is second behind everything else.”

Greg Norman’s new lease of (golfing) life