Greg Norman blasts out of a bunker on the seventh green during the second round of the Masters on Friday. He shot a 77 Friday, missing the cut.
AUGUSTA, Ga. – Greg Norman played better and fared worse.
The Shark said he thought he played better at the Masters than he did at last year’s British Open, where an age-defying performance earned him a tie for third and his first trip to Augusta National in seven years. But he’s going home early, missing the cut by two shots.
The cut was 1-over 145, the lowest since 2001.
“I played really well,” Norman said after a 5-over 77 Friday left him at 3 over for the tournament. “We got warned for slow play on the 13th hole and it kind of threw me out of rhythm a little bit, and then we had to wait two holes later. It’s one of those things with the game of golf, and I didn’t really recover from that.”
Before Tiger Woods came along, Norman was the Masters rock star. With a big smile, flowing blond mane and long list of heartbreaking finishes, he was must-see-TV in April.
He was second three times, third on three other occasions, and had nine top-10 finishes in all.
But it wasn’t just the staggering number of close calls, it was how Norman lost. Jack Nicklaus shot a 30 on the back nine in 1986 to take the green jacket from him. The next year, Larry Mize chipped in from 140 feet during a playoff. And no one will ever forget 1996. Norman had a six-shot lead over Nick Faldo, only to gag it all away with a final-round 78.
Yet Norman relished the chance to come back to Augusta National, and the fans were just as happy to have him back.
“Still the best tournament around,” Norman said. “Unfortunately, I won’t be around on the weekend.”
He will, however, be at the British Open. As a two-time champion, Norman is exempt until he’s 65.
“Turnberry is one of my favorite golf courses, so we’ll see how the R&A has done it,” said Norman, who won his first claret jug there in 1986. “I’m looking forward to it.”
Nice move
Sergio Garcia thought he’d struggle to make the cut at this year’s Masters.
So much for that.
Garcia moved onto the leaderboard with a 5-under 67 on Friday. At 4-under 140, he is five strokes behind Chad Campbell and Kenny Perry.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Garcia said. “It’s one of those things that you feel like you’re doing well and nothing happens, and this week I came with no expectations.
“I thought I was going to have a hard time making the cut, and all of a sudden I shoot a good round like today and it puts you in good position.”