Greg Norman, the high-flying Australian golf star, blew in to Washington recently for a two-week stay, trailing obnoxiousness and venom behind him. At the Kemper Open, held in suburban Maryland, the starter on the first tee introduced him thus: “Of all the golfers in the world, the following player is number one. But if he invites you over to his house to see his trophies, I’d advise you to respectfully decline.”
This was a typical inside Washington joke, an allusion to President Clinton’s having twisted his ankle on a visit to Norman’s Florida estate earlier this year. A starter at a PGA tournament will sometimes use a light remark like this to make things more interesting for the gallery.
But after Norman fanned his drive into the right rough, he marched over to the starter, jabbed his finger in his chest, and screamed at him for several minutes, threatening to complain to the tournament chairman (which he did) and never to return to the Kemper. He left the gentleman — a club volunteer – – bewildered and shaken.
Out on the course, it got worse. On the 16th hole, a fan of Norman’s called out some encouragement to him: “Chum’s in the water!” (Norman’s nickname is ” The Great White Shark”; chum is shark bait.) Norman raised his middle finger to him. And after putting out for birdie, he did it again (perhaps fearing that his fan had missed it).
These gestures were witnessed — and verified — by numerous bystanders, including reporters. Yet at the U.S. Open the next week, Norman lied about it, saying that he “was going to give the guy the finger, but I thought about it and then just went up with the fist. I’ve watched what President Clinton does when he’s mad. Most people will point their finger when they get angry. He uses his fist. Watch him, and you’ll see what I mean.”
Norman did some more watching of Clinton at the White House, where he took a tour. The president invited him into the Oval Office for a little chat — just two buds who flout the rules and live merrily on. They deserve each other.
