Announcer’s Jab Irks Norman

Golfer Greg Norman vented his anger at a public-address announcer at the Kemper Open on Saturday after the announcer made reference to an accident in which President Clinton suffered a knee injury at Norman’s home.

As Norman was about to tee off at the first hole, Bill McGuire introduced Norman by advising the crowd that “incidentally, if you’re ever invited to his home to see his trophies, I would suggest you politely decline.”

Norman took longer than usual to take his tee shot and subsequently told McGuire he wanted to talk to him in the nearby officials’ tent.

“He looked at me with eyes like I’ve never seen before,” McGuire said. “He said, ‘Where do you get off saying something like that?’ ”

McGuire, who has been announcing the first hole for 13 years, said he profusely apologized to Norman.

“He then said, ‘Have you ever had anyone injured in your home?’ ” McGuire said. “Then he walked out.”

McGuire said he was upset over the incident, but received full support later in a meeting with Kemper Open chairman Ben Brundred.

Norman bogeyed three of the first four holes and virtually fell out of contention for the lead.

Clinton fell and injured his knee in Norman’s Florida home March 14.