Norman Offers Ogilvy Advice, Support

By Cameron Bell
July 2, 2006

Greg Norman knows a thing or two about pressure onAustralia's stars to return home and support the local golf tour.

For years he has been castigated in some quarters for hisfailure to make himself available for every event on the Australiancalendar -- no matter how busy his schedule was.

So who better to offer advice to our latest superstar --U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy -- than the Shark.

Norman opened up to The Sunday Telegraph aboutOgilvy and the new pressures he faces, the 29-year-old's future and thefuture of golf in Australia following the remarkable victory at WingedFoot.

Ogilvy is planning to play only the Australian Open atRoyal Sydney in November. He cannot commit to the Australian PGA andMasters because wife Juli is due to give birth to the couple's first child.

Norman says organizers should cut him some slack.

"I hope people can understand the fact his wife isexpecting a baby and it's a very special time in his life - a time when heshouldn't be worrying about golf," he said.

"Unfortunately, the expectation for Geoff Ogilvy now isthat he should be back in Australia every year and supporting Australiangolf. He is going to have that burden to shoulder, being a major winner,and he's going to be expected to support Australian golf at all costs."

Norman: "I really hope [Ogilvy's] win results in a resurgence of golf in Australia, of Australian tournaments and of tournament sponsorships."

When you make a living elsewhere and have a child on theway, it's not easy to forgo million-dollar tournaments in America to playon the Australian tour.

"People have to understand that Geoff might not be ableto come back this year and support the tour as much as they would like,"Norman said. "And that's something Geoff has to get used to."

Norman says Ogilvy has given Australian golf an enormousshot in the arm by winning a major.

"What Geoff did was tremendous ... fabulous," he said. "Ireally hope his win results in a resurgence of golf in Australia, ofAustralian tournaments and of tournament sponsorships."

Norman has inspired the present generation of Australiangolfers who are doing so well internationally.

Ogilvy says the Shark's second British Open victory wasthe catalyst for his career.

Gracious as ever, Norman was quick to try to contactOgilvy after his U.S. Open victory, which was handed to him when PhilMickelson and Colin Montgomerie double-bogeyed the final hole.

"It is about time Australia had a bit of luck in majortournaments," Norman said.

The Shark speaks from experience. In 1986 Bob Tway holeda greenside bunker shot to snatch the PGA title from him. A year later hewas denied a U.S. Masters title when Larry Mize holed a chip shot on thesecond playoff hole.

"All you can do as a golfer is put yourself in a positionto be successful, and I've been beaten a couple of times by things thatwere out of my control," he said.

"Geoff put himself in the mix and two fellowsdouble-bogeyed the final hole and Geoff benefited by winning thetournament. Those things can happen but you have to be in a position totake advantage."

Norman is proud of the Australians who are making acharge on the U.S. Tour and believes Ogilvy's win will act as a spur forthem. "I guess most people thought it would be an Adam Scott, StuartAppleby or Robert Allenby who broke through for a major," he said. "ButGeoff has been impressive every year he has been at that level, andeverybody in golf has known of his talent for a long time.

"You would hope that everybody can use his victory as acatalyst to go to the next level," he said. "There's enough talent inAustralian golf to win another major, and Geoff has proved he is 100percent capable of winning another.

"As an Aussie, I can't tell you how proud I was when Iheard of Geoff's victory. It doesn't matter how you win it. He's thechampion and that's all that really matters."