A Fan of the Shark
I have always been a huge fan of Greg Norman. When I was a kid I used to play golf all summer long. Most times I would play at least 18 holes per day. Sometimes I would play as many as 36 holes. I really enjoyed playing the game.
In between rounds a bunch of us would gather around the big screen tv in the club house and watch whatever golf tournaments were on tv. Back then Greg Norman was one of the big names. He was in his prime.
Way Past His Prime
That isn't the case anymore. Greg Norman is way past his prime. So much so, that he is very possibly going to end up in the record books. Right now he is 2 strokes ahead of KJ Choi and Padraig Harrington. Sunday will be the 4th and final round of the 2008 British Open. If Norman pulls this off, he will be in the record books as being the oldest professional golfer to win a major tournament. He is 53 years old.
How Did this Happen?
Well the conditions aren't exactly optimal at the Open this year. Some sources say that the wind gusts are 30+ MPH. If you know anything about the dynamics of golf, then you know these are very tough conditions. You could aim way left to hit a shot, and it would be like you hit it straight.
What do these conditions do? They take the long ball out of the game. It evens the odds and allows the old guys and the not so good guys a fighting chance at winning. Now the not so good guys won't win, because they will miss putts, where the older guys like Norman will do well, because they know how to adapt to conditions. In fact that is what has kept him in this tournament.
Will He Win?
Although, I am rooting for him all the way, this is still uncertain. 18 Holes of Golf is a lot of chances for mistakes. History is also working against Norman. I remember a major he played in when I was a kid where he completely choked. I believe it was the Masters. He had a 6 stroke lead in the final round and blew it. At the time he was the top ranked golfer in the world.
When you are that good, you don't blow a 6 stroke lead. Then again, this was at Augusta. Not exactly the easiest place win a round of golf.
So they can't write him in the record books yet.
Deep down, I believe that this is Norman's time and that he will win. However, that tendency to choke when the pressure is on is what keeps me from saying he definitely will win. So best of luck to the Shark, Greg Norman.
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Contributor's Note
For anyone who is interested in watching the final round of the British Open, Greg Norman will be teeing off with Padraig Harrington at 9:20 A.M., or you can track the leaderboard at ESPN.com. It will air on ABC.
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