Age » 54
Career » Norman has 20 PGA Tour victories, 67 international titles, and two major championships. He was the first player to earn more than $10 million on the tour, but he made much more in a variety of business interests that include golf course design, apparel, real estate, winemaking and restaurants.
A qualified success » In semi-retirement last summer and on his honeymoon with tennis legend Chris Evert, whom he married in June, Norman made a shocking run to the lead in the British Open before fading on Sunday. With his third-place finish, Norman qualified for his 23rd Masters, and his first since 2002.
At Augusta » No player has had more Masters heartbreak than Norman, who finished in the top six nine times, but never won. In 1986, his bogey on the 72nd hole left him a stroke behind Jack Nicklaus. In 1987, he missed a 10-footer at No. 18 that would have won, then watched Larry Mize chip in from 45-feet for a playoff victory. In 1996, Norman blew a six-stroke lead in the final round, falling to Nick Faldo.
Recommended Stories
Therapy » “I talk about it with Chrissie a lot. We kind of like to lament a lot of times over what we have and haven’t done. I probably talk more about the Masters than I do anything else,” said Norman. “She went through 13 times getting beaten by Martina [Navratilova] , and if I imagined going through — well, I went 22 times without winning the Masters. So I think I’m a little bit ahead of her on that one.”
Seriously folks » In contrast to his approach to the British Open last year — where he played a largely ceremonial role as a former champion — Norman has practiced hard for Augusta. “I’ve done the same leading up to this tournament as all the 22 other ones I’ve played here,” said Norman. “If it warms up, I think guys my age bracket might do a little bit better. I’d like to be there Sunday, but I’ve got to take my expectations and manage them properly, and just see how it plays out.”
On the bag » Norman’s son, Gregory Jr., will caddie for him at Augusta, as he has done the previous two weeks — at the Champions Tour Cap Cana Championship, where Norman finished 36th, and last week at the PGA’s Shell Houston Open, where Norman played well for three rounds (71-69-70-81).
