Norman, on Birdie Binge, Gets Seven in Row

The last time anybody saw so many birdies in a row, it was at a zoo.

Greg Norman birdied seven holes in succession, from No. 2 through No. 8, in the last round of the Mercedes Championships on his way to a 29 on the front nine Sunday at La Costa.

Unfortunately, he shot 38 on the back to finish with a 5-under-par 67. Norman wound up 18th in the 30-player field.

Here’s how Norman got the string of birdies:

--No. 2, 528-yard par-five: sand wedge to one feet. Made putt.

--No. 3, 187-yard par-three: five-iron to 12 feet. Made putt.

--No. 4, 386-yard par-four: pitching wedge to nine feet. Made putt.

--No. 5, 446-yard par-four: five-iron to six feet. Made putt.

--No. 6, 365-yard par-four: sand wedge to six feet. Made putt.

--No. 7, 188-yard par-three: six-iron to four feet. Made putt.

--No. 8, 398-yard par-four: sand wedge to 18 feet. Made putt.

“I hit it close a lot of times,” Norman said. “I wanted to try to make my record of seven in a row.”

The PGA Tour record for consecutive birdies is eight, by Bob Goalby, Fuzzy Zoeller and Dewey Arnette.