GREG NORMAN has had a bit of advice lately for Tiger Woods and the American’s plans to renew his pursuit of 18 majors.
Basically, it was: You’re dreaming.
Asked if the 14 time major winner could recapture his previous form, the Shark said no.
“The older he gets the younger the other players get, it’s harder for him,” Norman said of the 40 year old Woods.
“Quite honestly to compete at that higher level your body doesn’t allow you to do it. You’re mind wants to but at the end of the day it is very, very difficult to match these kids in their 20’s and you’re in your 40’s.
“At the end of the day you’ve just got to look at your options, what you’ve got today, be a realist to yourself. At the end of the day you’ve got a lot of life ahead of you so you’ve got to make the right decisions going forward.”
To be quite honest, we think 61 year old Norman is being a bit tough on poor old Tiger.
Woods was meant to make a big comeback on the US PGA TOUR a couple of weeks back at the season opening Safeway Open but pulled out at the last minute saying his game wasn’t ready.
He’s still preparing for that latest comeback.
We checked the record and the oldest player to win a major was Julius Boros, who won the 1968 PGA Championship at 48 years, four months and 18 days old. Jack Nicklaus, current holder of the 18 major record, won the 1986 Masters at 46 years, two months and 23 days old.
We also seem to recall Norman himself was not going too badly at a British Open just a few years back.
Then there’s Tom Watson who went so close to blowing everyone out of the water at the 2009 Open Championship.
Aged nearly 60 Watson led after the second and third rounds but eventually lost in a four-hole playoff to Stewart Cink.
The 8 time major winner had a chance to win the tournament with par on the 72nd hole, but missed an eight-foot putt.
Norman hasn’t been behaving like the staid 61 year old of yesteryear himself lately, stripping off his shirt to hit a bucket of balls – then posting the effort on Instagram, as you do.
So he played with his shirt off. Why are you acting like such a friggin church lady about it? Who cares? Besides, Norman is giving Woods some good advice, and I don’t think that advice is undone by you pointing out an exception from, like, 1968. Besides, it wasn’t advice meant for you, Brian (you’re not an athlete, you’re just a guy who observes them), so there’s no need for you to take it personally. ;)