Norman's Blog: Team Is Shaping Up Nicely

By Greg Norman
Special to the San Francisco Chronicle and PGATOUR.COM

April 15, 2009

Since I last checked in with you, I've been busy with some of the preparations as captain, but I've also had the opportunity to get out and compete a bit. I played three weeks in a row, including my first appearance at a non-major on the Champions Tour at the Cap Cana Championship, and then on the PGA TOUR at the Shell Houston Open and the Masters.

Norman was able to get a good feel -- up close -- for how his team is shaping up while playing at the Masters.

I had a once-in-a-lifetime chance to have my son, Gregory, serve as my caddie for the Masters. Returning to Augusta for the first time since 2002, and experiencing the week with him is something I will always cherish. Aside from the emotions of the week, I was proud of how Gregory prepared for the event from a professional standpoint. As for me, I played well in some stretches, and I could have played better in other stretches, but I came away feeling good about my performance, and I was able to interact with a lot of players up close, both old friends and new acquaintances. Although I was disappointed not to be playing on the weekend, I left Augusta National with great memories of the week. Undoubtedly, my hole-in-one during the Par 3 tournament was a memorable moment for us to share. It was great to be able to share the Masters week experience with her and our extended family and friends.

Part of my job as the Captain of the International Team is to not only shape this year's competition, but also recognize and encourage players who are the future for the International Team. Guys like Danny Lee and Ryo Ishikawa definitely fit that description, and I will be watching their performances for the rest of this year very closely.

I was extremely happy to see veteran Retief Goosen win the Transitions Championship in late March. That was a great shot in the arm for us because he's a guy who I know wants to be on the team. And, of course, I'll be looking for Retief's experience and capabilities come October. Of course, Angel Cabrera's victory at the Masters -- defeating two players who will most likely be on the U.S. Presidents Cup Team -- was fantastic. Angel has played in two previous Presidents Cups and has a solid record. He's now fifth in the standings, and he'll be a great addition to the Team. There are 17 players in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking who are eligible for the International Team. We're looking very strong for October already.

As Captain, I am very excited about our opportunity to put together a very eclectic team. I get a report every two weeks on my players, and I try to understand where they are playing, how they are playing, what they're working on. I have also set up an e-mail address where potential Team members can write to me, confidentially. I have asked them for any information or history that they have from past experiences in The Presidents Cup -- their likes and dislikes. It's a great outlet for them to give suggestions, but it also helps guide me in my first year as a captain. I won't be able to make everyone happy, but I can do my best to create the atmosphere for my team that will enable them to have fun -- and win, of course!

Aside from that, I'm happy to report that the International Team will wear clothes from the Greg Norman Collection during this year's Presidents Cup. I am proud of the outfits we've chosen for the players, and I'm confident they will be proud of how they look as a team. I can't reveal much until October, but we used a lot of black and white mixed with navy blues and golden yellow. The guys are going to look sharp.

Next up for me is the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf in Savannah, Ga. I'm excited about this event, playing with my good friend Keith Fergus. It's a team competition, so even though it's official money, the atmosphere is a lot different than a standard Champions Tour event. It should be a lot of fun.

It's been over a year since Fred and I were named Captains, and I can truly say that it has been an honor each and every day so far. Thank you for following along on this journey.

Until next time...

Read Norman's Previous Blog Entry: It's Time To Start Watching Closely