Golf Roundup : Norman Wins, Says He Won’t Be Back

Australia’s Greg Norman won the World Match Play Tournament Sunday for the third time, defeating Scotland’s Sandy Lyle, 2 and 1, at Wentworth, England, then blasted fans and said he would not compete again in the tournament.

Norman, the Match Play champion in 1980 and 1983, opened a commanding early lead, then held off a late challenge from Lyle before winning the match at the 35th hole when Lyle made a disastrous tee shot and conceded.

After his victory, Norman said he would not play the tournament again because of the hostile reception he received from the pro-Lyle British fans.

“I was very disappointed with the attitude of the fans,” he said. “I know Sandy is their favorite, but there is no need to make noises and movements in the middle of my backswing.”

He said some fans banged the metal supports as he was about to tee off at the ninth, and on other occasions the fans clapped when he missed vital putts.

Norman also had a run-in with the crowd at the U.S. Open in New York.

“I was treated badly at the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills in June, but really that was one bad heckler,” Norman said. “Today, I had 90% of the crowd against me.

“The whole thing took me by surprise. There is no excuse for it. It’s the first time it has ever happened to me in Britain and I don’t feel as though I have won a tournament--I feel that I have won a battle.

“I am going to draw the line and not come back to defend my title.”

Fred Wadsworth, a Columbus, Ga., native who had to qualify on Monday to get into the $350,000 Southern Open tournament, shot a 3-under-par 67 at Columbus, Ga., to capture the $63,000 first prize by two shots.

The 24-year-old Wadsworth finished with a 72-hole total of 269, 11 under par, to edge third-round leader Jim Thorpe, George Archer, John Cook and defending champion Tim Simpson.