Australian Senior Golfer

GREG Norman is donating his services to help with the makeover of the fire ravaged Marysville Golf Club.

The Shark will design an 18-holes layout as part of the redevelopment of the club in partnership with the Victorian government and others. Norman’s design company will be assisted by the bushfire appeal fund and other charities and philanthropists.

Victorian Premier John Brumby announced $1 million in funding for the project on the weekend.

FRED COUPLES has confirmed as a starter for the 2010 Australian Open to be played at The Lakes Golf Club in Sydney.

The popular American will add a huge amount of interest to the tournament and will join John Daly, Greg Norman, Geoff Ogilvy and defending champion Adam Scott in what is shaping as a stellar field.

Let’s hope the 50 year old actually makes it this year after pulling out last year because of a back problem.

Couples is currently enjoying an outstanding maiden season on the US Champions Tour and will help draw the crowds when the championship tees-off at The Lakes from December 2 to 5.

The former US Masters champion will be vying for prize money totalling $1.5 million and for the second successive season the open will be the penultimate leg on the new OneAsia Tour.

Announcing the signing today, NSW Minister for Major Events Kevin Greene said Sydney is synonymous with the Australian Open, a flagship event of our great sporting nation, first played in Sydney in 1904.

“To have one of golf’s most respected players Fred Couples playing this year is an honour for Sydney and this historic tournament.

“Together with Golf Australia we have a vision to transform the Australian Open into the pre-eminent golf tournament on OneAsia ,” Minister Greene said.

Said Couples: “I am very much looking forward to playing in the Australian Open in particular The Lakes Golf Club. I have not been to Sydney for some time and look forward to visiting this magnificent city once again.”

Known the world over as “Boom boom” because of the huge drives he hits with his effortless and much admired swing, Couples will be competing against his 2009 Presidents Cup captain rival – Greg Norman.

Tickets for the Australian Open go on sale from today and can be purchased through Ticketek by phoning 13 28 49.

GREG NORMAN will be back in action this week after more than 12 months away from tournament golf because of a shoulder injury.

The 55 year old Australian golfing legend will play in the 2010 European Masters in Switzerland at the stunning Crans-Sur-Sierre course in the Swiss Alps.

Norman hasn’t played tournament golf since undergoing shoulder surgery last year and his slower than expected recovery forced him to ditch plans to make his comeback at the 2010 British Open.

The Shark last played in the European Masters five years ago.

He finished third at the Swiss Open, the predecessor to the Omega European Masters, in 1980.

Norman has been readying himself for the comeback with some lengthy practice sessions around his home on Jupiter Island, Florida, and last week played a practice round with the latest teenage US golfing sensation, 15 year old Alexis Thompson.

Other Australasians in the field include Brett Rumford, Michael Campbell, Peter O’Malley, Marcus Fraser, Andrew Dodt, Scott Strange, Danny Lee, Marcus Both, Rick Kulacz, Darren Beck, David Gleeson, Scott Hend and Adam Blyth.

British Open winner Louis Oosthuizen, recent tour winner Edoardo Molinari and Miguel Angel Jimenez are among those jockeying for the title.

Australian golf television coverage of the event begins on Fox Sports Thursday 11.30pm.

YOU know the best placed Australian male at a major golf tournament since Geoff Ogilvy won the 2006 US Open?

Here’s a hint. It’s not Messrs Allenby, Ogilvy, Scott or any of the young up and comers threatening to make it big on the world golfing stage.

The answer is that it was the third placing of the now 55 year old Greg Norman at the 2008 British Open.

The Shark was in Sydney on Thursday to help announce the initial lineup for the 2010 Australian Open and also confirmed he would be a starter at the British Open next month at St Andrews.

Norman revealed he was back swinging a club after being given the go ahead by his doctors last Friday and also took the opportunity to gently prod some of his fellow Australian golfers into greater effort.

The former world number one admitted he had not played since last September since undergoing shoulder surgery.

“They had to do pretty much extensive reconstructive surgery on my right shoulder, so it was a bit more than what they anticipated. When I went in for surgery they figured I’d be out playing golf in six weeks,” Norman said.

The golfing great said he had only been able to confirm starting in the British Open last week – more for his attachment to the tournament since first competing at Turnberry in 1977 than for any thoughts of how he will perform with just five weeks preparation.

“I’ve hit golf balls for two days – about 45 minutes,” he said. ”I can’t hit driver for another three weeks. I’m working my way up through pitching wedge to seven iron. I’ll get to five iron when I get back to the US next week,” he said.

Not much of a preparation for a major he admitted, but he hoped to play four or five tournaments before the Australian Open in December.

Turning to the development of Australian golf, Norman challenged the

current crop of Australian stars to deliver on their potential.

He praised the recent efforts of Adam Scott, Geoff Ogilvy and young gun Jason Day in winning on the US PGA Tour this season, but said it was time for the younger brigade to really step up.

“I think we’ve been on the edge of a golden era for 30 years,” Norman said.

“If you look at the consistency of Australian players, male and female – don’t forget Karrie Webb has been out there flying the flag extremely well for a long period of time – I think we’ve been on that edge.”

“We just need one or two players to step up. Geoff Ogilvy obviously did it with winning the US Open (in 2006) but we need that to continue on through other players, not just put all our eggs in one basket with one player.”

“We have the depth of players to do it out of this country, it’s now up to the players to go out there and do it.”

GREG Norman, Adam Scott and Geoff Ogilvy have just been announced as confirmed starters for the 2010 Australian Open.

The famous trio are the first big name players to confirm their participation in the prestigious tournament which will be played at The Lakes in Sydney from December 2 to 5.

For the second successive year the tournament will form the penultimate leg on the OneAsia Tour and offer a purse of US$1.3 million.

Norman has been in Australia in recent days looking after his various interests and here’s hoping there will be no repeat of the shoulder injury that kept him out of the event last year.

Scott is the defending champion and is back in form – touch wood – after winning the Valero Texas Open on the US PGA Tour a couple of weeks back.

Ogilvy didn’t fare too well at the Open last year at the stunning NSW Golf Club but has often expressed his strong desire to win the event.

Scott won his first Australian title claiming the Australian Open by five shots over compatriot Stuart Appleby after a tense final round.

Winning the 2009 Australian Open was one of the great highlights of my career,” Scott said today.

“Having dreamed of that moment since I was a kid it was a wonderful feeling to have Greg Norman hand me the trophy and to see my name next to the greats in golf is something to cherish.
“I’m sure this year’s Open at The Lakes will be another great event and I will be hoping to have the engraver add my name again to the Stonehaven Cup!”.

Scott’s victory in Texas was his seventh on the PGA Tour and came on a course designed by his hero Norman.

Ogilvy, the 2006 US Open champion, is still in search of his first Australian Open and is particularly looking forward to playing The Lakes course.

“As always I am looking forward to our year ending events in Australia,” he said.

“Returning to Sydney for the Australian Open at The Lakes will have special significance for me. The golf course was remodelled by Mike Clayton with whom I am forming a new golf course design company, Ogilvy Clayton Golf Design. Appreciating Mike’s design skills, I am sure the new layout will provide a fitting test for our national Open.”

Two-time Major winner Norman last lifted the Stonehaven Cup in 1996. Shoulder surgery meant he was unable to compete last year but he is excited about the prospect of returning this December.

“I look forward to my return to Sydney and my participation in the 2010 Australian Open at The Lakes. Both The Lakes as a venue and the Australian Open as a tournament are special to me in that they are both an integral part of my career,” the 55-year-old said.

Other star players will be confirmed over the coming months including a wealth of talent from OneAsia which this year boasts 11 events, offering a total of over US$12 million in prize money.

NSW Minister for Tourism Jodi McKay said tens of thousands of spectators were expected to attend the 2010 Australian Open.

“More than 30,000 visitors came for the Australian Open Golf last year, including significant numbers from overseas and interstate.

“Global golf stars like Greg Norman, defending champion Adam Scott and 2006 US Open Champion Geoff Ogilvy will guarantee another great crowd in 2010.”

The Australian Open was first played in 1904 and has been won by the biggest names in the game, including Gary Player with a record seven wins and Jack Nicklaus with six.

Stephen Pitt, Golf Australia CEO, suggests the new Lakes Golf Course design will be a great test for our national Open.

“The Australian Open is one of the most prestigious titles in world golf and fittingly, Norman, Ogilvy and Scott will lead another very strong field. The course at The Lakes will be a great and unique challenge for the players with some demanding holes mixed with some holes that offer scoring opportunities.”

GREG NORMAN is excited at the prospect of returning to Royal Melbourne as captain of the International team to try and wrest the Presidents Cup from old friend and rival Fred Couples next year.

PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem has just announced both Norman and Couples would be returning as team captains of the 2011 cup in Melbourne, scene of the International team’s only outright victory.

The two captains actually faced off against each other as players during that match in 1998 and of course Couples turned the personal tables when he lead the US team to a victory over Norman’s team in San Francisco last year.

As first-time captains at The Presidents Cup 2009, Couples and Norman each led strong teams as they competed in front of record crowds at Harding Park Golf Course.

The U.S. Team retained the Cup, winning for the sixth time, by a score of 19-1/2 to 14-1/2. That event marked the first time in The Presidents Cup history that both captains were former participants in The Presidents Cup.

“I’ve always said that some of my best memories in golf were playing in and winning The Presidents Cup in Australia in 1998,”  Norman said today. “And then after the incredible experience of serving as captain of the 2009 event, that went to the top of my list.

“So to have the opportunity to be International Team captain once more and to return to Royal Melbourne to do so, it’s beyond words how thrilled I am.

“Freddie and I are great friends, so to have him on the other side as captain on the other side makes it all the better. I think it will be a joy to go to my home country and a golf club that I’m a member and try to finally win the Cup back after 13 years. It will be an honor.”

Couples said serving as US Team captain last year was “one of the best weeks of my life”.

“I knew as soon as the last putt dropped on Sunday in San Francisco that I would do this again in a heartbeat if I were fortunate enough to be asked,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to returning to Royal Melbourne, this time as a captain, and to have Greg Norman again as the International Team captain, in his home country, is going to be great for all of us involved, for the fans and for The Presidents Cup itself.”

TOM WATSON’S heart stopping performance at the British Open this year has led to the Royal & Ancient rethinking its age exemption rules.

The 60-year-old five-time Open champion finished runner-up this year but would have lost his exemption status because of the R&A’s age rules.

But golf’s governing body said yesterday it had amended one of its rules so that former champions who finish in the top 10 in the previous five Opens get a five-year exemption, regardless of age.

“We have introduced this exemption as a direct response to seeing two of our great Open champions (Watson and Greg Norman), both in their 50s, challenging to win our championship these last two years,” R&A chief executive Peter Dawson said on Monday.

“We rightly reduced the age of exemption for past champions from 65 to 60 two years ago and our intention was never to remove players still at the top of their game from competing in the Open.”

The R & A had not contemplated a 59-year-old leading the Open Championship going into the back nine on the final day.

Two time championship winner Norman, who turns 55 in February, will have five years to secure a top ten finish and extend his exemption. The Shark tied for third at the 2008 Open.

The Open will celebrate its 150th Anniversary when it returns to St Andrews next year.

IN a blow to fans and organisers, Greg Norman has officially pulled out of the Australian Open in Sydney following a slower than expected recovery from shoulder surgery.

Golf Australia announced today the two-time British Open winner was advised by his doctors not to play competitive golf again this year following arthroscopic surgery in September.

Norman, a five time winner of the Open, has been at the forefront of marketing for the event, to be played at the NSW Golf Club at La Perouse from December 3-6.

His withdrawal comes on top of news that current champion Tim Clarke will not be recontesting the title. He’ll be playing in a lucrative event in hometown South Africa along with Australian Open refugee Robert Allenby.

On the flipside, a supposed “miracle” recovery by crowd drawcard John Daly has seen him back in the event and organisers were quick to point out the quality of the field remaining.

Norman will also miss his signature event, The Shark Shootout, to be held in Florida the week following the Open.

The Shark has been going through something of a rough personal trot of late, announcing the break-up of his 15-month marriage to tennis legend Chris Evert at about the same time as he underwent his shoulder surgery.

Golf Australia CEO Stephen Pitt said he was disappointed Norman could not attend the Open and wished him well in his recovery from surgery.

“Naturally we’re disappointed that Greg will not be able to join us,” Pitt said.

“We wish him well in his recovery and look forward to seeing him back in the Australian Open field in 2010.”

“While the championship will undoubtedly miss the magnetism of Greg it will mean some of the spotlight will return to the outstanding Australian depth in the field.”

The 2009 championship will herald the return of two-time Australian Open champion Aaron Baddeley for the first time since 2007.

Adam Scott, who finished well in the Singapore Open last week and hopefully has been bolstered by his Presidents Cup appearance, will also be back after missing last year through injury.

Other top ranked players in the Australian Open field include Australians Geoff Ogilvy, Michael Sim, Mathew Goggin, Stuart Appleby, John Senden, Marc Leishman and Americans John Daly, Steve Marino, Kevin Stadler and there are also a host of young, exciting players competing in what is the first Australian event on the new OneAsia Tour.

GREG NORMAN congratulates Tiger Woods after he delivered the knockout blow that secured the Presidents Cup for the US team.

Woods’ 6&5 win over South Korean Yang Yong-Eun gave the Americans an unbeatable lead with 17.5 points.

Woods completed a perfect 5-0 week at the Harding Park Golf Course in San Francisco.

The Internationals were always going to struggle going into the final day with a three point deficit. They needed eight points to win and were never leading in more than six of the 12 singles matches simultaneously.

The Presidents Cup, which pits the best of US golf against the rest of the world (excluding Europe) will now move to Melbourne in two years time.

In eight outings Melbourne in 1998 has been the scene of the only Internationals victory.  

The full results today were:

USA 19.5 Internationals 14.5
Sunday Singles: USA 7 Internationals 5
Stewart Cink (USA) bt Adam Scott (AUS) 4&3
Hunter Mahan (USA) bt Camilo Villegas (COL) 2&1
Anthony Kim (USA) bt Robert Allenby (AUS) 5&3
Sean O’Hair (USA) bt Ernie Els (RSA) 6&4
Tiger Woods (USA) bt Yang Yong-Eun (KOR) 6&5
Mike Weir (CAN) v Justin Leonard (USA) halved
Geoff Ogilvy (AUS) bt Steve Stricker (USA) 2&1
Ryo Ishikawa (JPN) bt Kenny Perry (USA) 2&1
Tim Clark (RSA) bt Zach Johnson (USA) 4&3
Angel Cabrera (ARG) bt Jim Furyk (USA) 4&3
Vijay Singh (FIJ) v Lucas Glover (USA) halved
Phil Mickelson (USA) bt Retief Goosen (RSA) 2&1

GREG NORMAN’S Internationals are just one point behind the Americans after the first day of the Presidents Cup in San Francisco.

The Internationals were looking good early – apart from a whitewash from the Tiger Woods/Steve Stricker pairing – but the Americans stepped up on the back nine and looked like they would dominate the results.

Justin Leonard just needed to sink a sitter that was the last putt of the day to give the Americans another full point win and a big advantage.

But with Norman, US Captain Fred Couples, their teams, families and a big crowd watching on the 18th, his putt lipped out, leaving the final standing at a slim 3.5 points to 2.5 points.

The Americans groaned but the Internationals managed to stifle their glee.

After a topsy turvy day, that final draw in the Foursomes format will give Norman’s team some needed momentum going into the second day. The Internationals have often struggled in the foursomes matches of the cup.

The standout team of the day were Woods and Stricker, who notched five birdies in the first nine holes and ended up beating Geoff Igilvy and Japanese star Ryo Ishikawa Geoff Ogilvy 6&4.

Phil Mickelson and Anthony Kim delivered America’s first point when they posted a 3&2 victory over Canadian Mike Weir and South African Tim Clark. Their late run included birdies on the last four holes.
The somewhat controversial selection of the International team, Australian Adam Scott, repaid the faith shown in him by Norman when he and South African Ernie Els earned the Internationals’ first point with a 2&1 victory over Hunter Mahan and Sean O’Hair.
“It’s an important win,” Scott said. “Things were looking good early on, but some matches turned around so we needed this one.”
Woods and Stricker were the only American team never to trail in a match, and the Internationals were in the lead in four out of six at one point before momentum began to shift.
Australia’s Robert Allenby was also in good form and he and Fijian Vijay Singh delivered another crucial point for the Internationals as they battled to a 1up victory over Lucas Glover and Stewart Cink – the reigning US Open and British Open champions.
Americans Jim Furyk and Justin Leonard were 3 down at one stage but rallied and looked to have the match against PGA Championship winner Yang Yong-Eun from South Korea and South African Retief Goosen in the bag. Leonard’s missed putt put them square.
Americans Kenny Perry and Zach Johnson defeated Argentine Angel Cabrera and Colombian Camilo Villegas 2up.