Norman to Tempt Fate Again

By THOMAS BONK

April 6, 2000 12 AM PT

AUGUSTA, Ga. —

For anyone interested in reunions, we give you Greg Norman and the Masters. Yes, Norman is making his 20th appearance here, which brings up an important question. How is the most famous walking train wreck in Masters history going to celebrate?

Actually, Norman has a few options.

While blowing out the candles on his congratulatory cake, he could catch his hair on fire.

He could knock a ball into Rae’s Creek and be bitten by a water moccasin.

He could buy dinner for Jean Van de Velde to thank him for being the only golfer on earth to crash more majestically, thus taking the spotlight.

It’s Norman Time again at Augusta National, which ought to be the unhappiest place on earth for the platinum-haired guy who shows up every year at the Masters with his million-dollar smile and his 10-cent chance of winning.

Of course, that’s only the way it has turned out. Norman has had enough chances to win here to fill an official Greg Norman signature hat, then celebrate with an official Greg Norman signature wine and then go off to enjoy a holiday at an official Greg Norman signature course.

If golf were fair, which it isn’t, Norman would have won two or three of the green jackets he wants so badly he would probably trade a couple of Ferraris for, if he only knew how many he had.

That’s the story with Norman these days. To what degree is his business empire concerned with golf course design and clothes and wine and selling golf clubs, and how much is concerned with competing to win in major golf championships? In other words, how far does the Corporate Greg go? We might find out this week. Chances are that once Norman rolled down Magnolia Lane, Corporate Greg already had hopped out of the car.

Norman figures he has only a few more opportunities to win the Masters and he has focused his steely blue eyes on doing just that.

It’s not as though Norman hasn’t gone this way before, you know.

He was just as tough in 1987 when Larry Mize, who used to put up numbers on the Masters scoreboard as a kid, chipped in to beat him in a playoff.

He was just as focused in 1986 when he shot a 70 on the last day and Jack Nicklaus just happened to shoot a 65 and win.

He was just as well-intentioned in 1996 when he had a six-shot lead on the last day and shot a 78 to lose to Nick Faldo by five shots.

He was just as firm in 1999 when he was tied for the lead with five holes to play, but made two bogeys on his way in and finished third.

The strangest part about the whole Norman-Masters disaster scenario is that he doesn’t have a single bad thing to say about this place. Tiger Woods finds this astounding. He said he can’t imagine how Norman feels, coming back each year to the place where he has had his heart ripped out so many times. Tiger isn’t sure he could do it.

How Norman feels is sort of peaceful. You have to admit that Norman doesn’t really have to establish his credentials as one of the greatest players of his generation.

Nicklaus made Norman his successor-in-waiting years ago--before Woods snagged that unofficial honor from Norman. Maybe Nicklaus can let Norman try on one of his green jackets, just in case Norman never gets to know how it feels on his own. After all, Nicklaus has six of those jackets.

Norman even says he enjoyed what happened last year. In fact, he says he really doesn’t think about all the bad things that have happened to him at Augusta National.

Now this part is perfectly understandable. He simply doesn’t have enough time to think about all that stuff. The list is too long.

As it turns out, Norman holds no grudges about anything. He remembers the good shots, the good holes, the positive energy. He says he doesn’t want the negative stuff to creep in and “pollute” his mind.

Also sound strategy. Pollution is bad. Besides, there are plenty of people around who are experts in negative pollution, if that’s what it is. Some consider it something else, such as simply following Norman’s exploits at the Masters.

This is one difficult tournament to win, all right. For Norman, it has been one impossible tournament to win.

Maybe that will change, maybe this week. Maybe 20 will be the charm. That would be nice, because if there was ever a player who has paid his dues, it is Greg Norman. In fact, by now, he is probably owed money.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

The Elusive Green Jacket

GREG NORMAN AT AUGUSTA

1981: 4th

1982: T-36th

1983: T-30th

1984: T-25th

1985: T-47th

1986: T-2nd*

1987: T-2nd**

1988: T-5th

1989: T-3rd