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Remembering Norman's Doral Record

February 28, 2006

Tiger Woods set a Ford Championship at Doral record last year with a 24-under-par total. The previous mark of 23 under was set by Greg Norman in 1993 and matched by Jim Furyk in 2000.

Armed with a six-shot lead at the start of the final round 13 years ago, Norman wasn't threatened in his march to a four-stroke victory. He closed with a 2-under 70 for a four-round total of 265. Paul Azinger and Mark McCumber tied for second on 269.

Norman also won the Doral event in 1990 and 1996.

Steve Elkington Joins MacGregor Golf

February 22, 2006

MacGregor Golf announced today that Steve Elkington has joined the MacGregor Golf Tour Staff. Elkington will play a full compliment of MacGregor equipment including M675 forged blades, MACTEC NVG2 Fairway Woods, Bobby Grace M-1 putter and the brand new MACTEC NVG2 TOUR Driver with Cup Face 360 technology.

Elkington is a 21-year tour veteran with 10 PGA Tour wins and more than $10 million in PGA Tour earnings. His accomplishments include the 1995 PGA Championship, two Players Championships (1991 and 1997) and the 1995 Vardon Trophy.

Elkington had admired golfing legend Greg Norman's irons, so when Norman passed this information on to MacGregor, the company got Steve in to trial the NVG2 TOUR driver Norman had talked up, and was blown away by the performance of the driver.

"Steve is a Majors champion and a tremendous addition to the MacGregor team," said Barry Schneider, Chairman and CEO of MacGregor Golf. "The performance advantages of our Cup Face 360* for Steve were apparent in testing, and are indicative of the results that all golfers can expect from this revolutionary technology - explosive distance and incredible accuracy."

"MacGregor's commitment to superior golf equipment is easy to see. I've always taken a very data-driven approach to my equipment; testing everything on a launch monitor in search of the perfect combination of spin, launch angle, distance and accuracy," said Elkington. "I am hitting the MACTEC NVG2 TOUR Driver ten yards longer than the very best of the other drivers I've tested. NVG2 just wants to fly. And it delivers low spin rates and incredibly tight dispersion. I am really excited to be associated with MacGregor and this new technology and expect it will make a difference in my play this year."

Elkington joins a highly-accomplished team of MacGregor Tour Staff Professionals that includes two-time British Open champion Greg Norman, two-time Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal, double Australian Open champion Aaron Baddeley, and 2004 U.S. Open sensation Spencer Levin.

Elite Gather For Match Play

February 22, 2006

The best players in the world are in action in the unique WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, which kicks off Wednesday.

The field is broken down with 25 Americans and 39 international players, with eight golfers competing for the first time. All prize money will be considered "official money" on each player's home tour with some players' money counting for more than one tour.

This is technically the 11th Match Play Championship. Previously, the event was a year-long tournament with four brackets and 32 players in a single-elimination match-play format.

Barry Lane won the first event in 1996, defeating David Frost in the final. Greg Norman captured the 1997 event with a 1-up win over Scott Hoch, and Colin Montgomerie knocked off Davis Love III in 1998 prior to the format change.

Norman Among Those To Honor Packer

February 17, 2006

Some 1,800 guests gathered to bid farewell to Australian media mogul Kerry Packer at a state memorial service at Sydney Opera House. Packer, the country's richest man, was known worldwide for his love of sports. He died at his Sydney home on Dec. 26, at age 68, after a long battle with cancer and kidney failure.

Prime Minister John Howard, Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe, golfer Greg Norman, Tom Cruise and his pregnant fiancee, Katie Holmes were among the guests at the service.

Nakheel, Al Naboodah Partner At Jumeirah Golf Estates

February 8, 2006

Norman surveys the land that will become the Fire and Earth golf courses.

Nakheel has confirmed the award of the first construction package on their prestigious Jumeirah Golf Estates development to Al Naboodah Contracting with work set to begin at the 1,119 hectare site at the end of this month.

This Enabling Works package comprises initial earthworks to rough grade the first section of the site and the Greg Norman designed Fire and Earth golf courses, together with provision of site office accommodation and associated utilities.

Located off the Emirates Road between Dubai Sports City and the Green Community, the golf and residential community will boast four environmentally themed 18-hole courses - Earth, Fire, Water, and Wind - that mirror the elements of nature and integrate with distinct gated communities, featuring a variety of investment opportunities, amenities and services.

Norman To Support NOPE Benefit

February 6, 2006

The Narcotics Overdose Prevention & Education Task Force will present its inaugural Gala benefit at The Breakers in Palm Beach on March 11. Jupiter Island resident and renowned golfer Greg Norman is honorary chairman of the event.

The black-tie dinner dance will include a cocktail reception with Norman, and entertainment by The Fifth Avenue Band and The Dreyfoos School of the Arts Jazz Trio. It will also feture a live auction of artwork, trips, golf outings, catered dinners and a grand prize drawing for a two-year lease on a Braman Motorcars, BMW 325I Sedan.

The money raised will go to NOPE, a nonprofit organization that operates drug-prevention and education programs. NOPE was formed in 2002 by parents who lost children to a drug overdose, along with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's office, the State Attorney's Office, the Judicial Branch of Palm Beach County, the Medical Examiner's Office and the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department.

The Task Force delivers personal and emotional presentations to middle and high school students about the deadly consequences of drug abuse.

Sponsors include Braman Motorcars, GMH Associates, Security Networks, Caswell F. and Marie B. Holloway Foundation and others.

Tickets are $350. For more information, call Karen Perry at (561) 478-1055.