Great Parlay: Norman, Murray and the Open

Why do people view Greg Norman’s golf career in such a negative light? He has won two major championships and lost two others on miracle shots by Larry Mize and Bob Tway.

Would he be a better golfer if he had won only the two majors and never come close in any others? That’s what Curtis Strange and Ben Crenshaw have done and people think they’ve had great careers.

ROB OSBORNE

Redondo Beach

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This letter is in response to the article written by Jim Murray about Greg Norman on June 18. Greg Norman is one of the best players to ever set foot on a golf course, and to show disrespect to such an outstanding talent is inexcusable.

As a 17-year-old golfer about to enter the next level of competition in college, people such as Greg Norman are an inspiration to me, not a disappointment. To take away from all of his accomplishments by calling him “the Titanic of golf” is not as insulting to him as it should be to Murray because it simply shows his ignorance.

When I see Greg Norman play, I see a golfer who is making his best effort on every shot, who time and time again puts himself in a position to win, who is as gracious in victory as defeat.

Golf is a profession of gentlemen; I am disappointed to see that sportswriting is not.

BRANDI L. HARMS

Lake Forest

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Jim Murray’s column on Greg Norman was a splendid piece of journalism that gave the average golfer a chuckle. Norman is one of the best “ball-strikers” of all time. Even he can play like a weekend warrior and have his golf game blow up all over the course. Three cheers for mortality.

MATT KERSTER

Redondo Beach

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This is an especially good week to remember that Jim Healy is missed: He would have enjoyed commenting on Corey Pavin’s first major victory.

CHARLES L. ZETTERBERG

Claremont