Norman Overcomes Illness To Post Win In Thailand

Norman held off late charges from Fred Couples, Bernhard Langer and Ian Woosnam.

Greg Norman, too ill to lift a club a day before the tournament,won the Johnnie Walker Classic in Phuket, Thailand, Sunday, astroke ahead of Fred Couples.

Norman, who picked up a lung infection playing in the DubaiClassic last week, finished with 4-under-par 68 for a 277 total atBlue Canyon Country Club.

"Beware of a sick golfer," Norman said. "Saturday's (course-record 64) was the round that really put me incontention."

Norman took over No. 1 in the Sony World Rankings from NickFaldo, who failed to make the cut.

Couples, who led for the first three rounds, shot 70 for a 278. Bernhard Langer (70-279) was third.

Three-time U.S. Junior winner Eldrick "Tiger" Woods, 18, of Cypress, Calif., shot 74-71-74-73-292.