It's good to reminisce...

[LeftyHoges]

Well it was great to sit up until 3:45AM this morning watching our 'Great White Shark' throw away yet another major. I realised that I hadn't done this in over 10 years. Couldn't believe it had been that long. Hopefully this won't be the last time for him but I get the feeling otherwise.

Now I know that Porridge's back nine was fantastic, and he won it more than Greg losing it, but I just got the feeling that if Norman could've turned in 36 instead of 38 it would've been a whole different ball game.

Thanks very much Greg, you've done it to Australia all over again...

[Eracer]

Well it was great to sit up until 3:45AM this morning watching our 'Great White Shark' throw away yet another major. I realised that I hadn't done this in over 10 years. Couldn't believe it had been that long. Hopefully this won't be the last time for him but I get the feeling otherwise.

Now I know that Porridge's back nine was fantastic, and he won it more than Greg losing it, but I just got the feeling that if Norman could've turned in 36 instead of 38 it would've been a whole different ball game.

Thanks very much Greg, you've done it to Australia all over again...

What a sad comment. That's like watching Muhammed Ali come out of retirement (Parkinson's and all) to fight Evander Holyfield, stay with him for 11 rounds then lose in the 12th to a decision, and complain that he's disgraced American boxing (again.)

Greg Norman put on a magnificent display of golf, in horrendous conditions.

You should be proud.

[IrishGolfer]

There's a difference between Norman in his prime, as World #1, choking in a Major, and Norman, 53 years old, playing 5-6 tournaments a year and not practicing much leading the Open with 9 holes to go.

IMO he hit a few poor shots on the final day, caused by indecision, probably undermined by not being in the heat of the battle for many years. But his will to win kept him in the day. A lot of his putts caught the hole, if a few more had gone in, it may well have been different. If he choked he would have thrown out a 85. His 77 was probably an average round compared to the field.

I'd say Choi had a much bigger choke than Greg. He missed a lot of shortish putts and should have been more of a factor.

Norman will be kicking himself as he probably thought he will never get that sort of chance again. But when he he sits down over the next few days and honestly asks himself "should I have won against Harrington or Poulter" I think he will probably think no and take the glory of a well played 3rd.

He played magnificent golf over 4 days on a brutal course and outplayed all but 2 players, both in their prime. No disgrace there then.

[mddubya]

I agree, Norman put up a great fight. To play to the level he played at the age of 53 was amazing in any conditions. But place the rounds of golf he played into the conditions he had to play them and it becomes something to remember. His swing looked like it did years ago, not at all like he had basically drug himself out of retirement and dusted off the clubs. Would Australia have preferred to have seen him win, I'm sure so, hell, most of the world was most likely pulling for him. But should they be ashamed of how he played, even if he came up 2 places short? I say not no, but hell no! No offense Lefty, and I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but I'd be far more ashamed of your statement than how Norman played. As I said in another thread, my hat is off to you Mr. Norman, you put up a good fight and made us all proud.

[figjam]

Norman put on a great display for three days and showed that he still has the ability and talent. But alas he also showed that he is still the biggest choker of them all. His play at the start of the round was tentative and lacking in conviction to say the least. And there were a few iron shots that finished 50 yards short of the green. Anybody who can honestly say he didn't choke was watching a different Norman to the one I saw.

Like Lefty said, it was nice to take another stroll down memory lane and watch Norman self destruct in a major whilst having one hand on the trophy. As one who has watched all Normans chokes over the years I was certainly expecting him to gag big time on Sunday and he didn't disappoint. No matter how old he is, or how little he practices, or any other excuse you want to throw up, a choke is a choke is a choke. And when it comes to big time choking, Norman is a class of his own.

[LeftyHoges]

Sorry guys, I realise that what was posted can come across the wrong way. And I was also very careful not to use the word 'choke' as in my opinion he didn't. I'm a links player myself and realise how tough those conditions are. A few 50-50 decisions that don't go your way is not necessarily a choke, just Norman's bad luck (as is now expected).

The 'you've done it to Australia again' comment was made more in jest than anything else. And I'm damn proud of any human being that decided to take on those conditions for two rounds or four. Especially a 53 year old man who has barely played in 3 years. Would've been very easy for any one of them to call it quits after an 85 on the first day.

Greg Norman is THE reason golf exists in Australia from the 1980's onwards and I wouldn't say anything against the man. Fact of the matter is he beat the pants off the other 20 odd Aussies in the field and 140 odd other starters. And in no way did he disgrace himself or the game with how he played and how gracious he was in defeat.

Well done to Greg on a very successful tournament that no one would have predicted him to make the cut let alone be leading after Saturday.

My apologies to Eracer, mddubya and IG and any others on this board if I've offended in any way with my comments. This was meant to be a light-hearted post that definitely did not come out the way I had planned... :( :o

[Eracer]

No apology necessary. I'm glad you enjoyed watching Norman work his magic at Birkdale.

[Nikonut]

it could be a LOT WORSE!




we could be hearing how he lost to a one legged golfer. :real angry: