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A short story from Greg Norman, one of the finest golfers of the late 20th century, highlights the extraordinary natural ability that helped the Australian to two Open Championship victories and 331 weeks as the world’s top-ranked player.
A relative latecomer to the game, Norman was close to celebrating his 16th birthday when he first tried his hand at golf, playing the last four holes at Virginia Golf Club in Brisbane after caddying for his mother.
Instantly hooked, he soon started attending junior clinics at the club. What followed was truly remarkable.
“I was given a 27 handicap. My first official score was 108 and, from there, in 18 months I got down to scratch,” Norman explained. “And not so long after that, in a period of less than five years, I actually won my first professional golf event, which was the West Lakes Classic in Adelaide in November of 1976.”
Norman’s stunning early progress showed he was a player of rare skill, yet he nevertheless recognised he would need to work incredibly hard to make an impact at the very highest level.
If his innate talents played a significant role in his subsequent Open triumphs and wider career accomplishments, it is clear Norman’s devotion to his craft was no less important.
To view the full longform article on the dedication of Greg Norman, and a trio of exclusive video clips, visit https://www.theopen.com/latest/2020/11/greg-norman-chronicles-unseen.
The R&A