Greg Norman might be a two-time major champion but he might also go down as one of golf’s big under-achievers in terms of what could have been.
Norman won The Open in both 1986 and 1993 but while those two victories are impressive, it is the second place finishes that stand out more for him.
Norman finished runner-up a total of seven times in the other three majors, including in 86 when he won The Open, with second place finishes coming at both the PGA Championship and The Masters.
How will history reflect on Greg Norman?
Has golf's great disruptor been vindicated?
“For him to try and trivialise what the greats before him did to grow and create what the PGA Tour is today is an absolute disgrace. You should hang your head in shame, Shark.”
Wayne Grady
“Let me just sum this up with a couple of words. First of all, Greg Norman is an icon in the game of golf. He’s a great player. We’ve been friends for a long time, and regardless of what happens, he’s going to remain a friend. Unfortunately, he and I just don’t see eye to eye in what’s going on [with LIV]. I’ll basically leave it at that.”
Jack Nicklaus
“Greg needs to go; he needs to exit stage left. He’s made his mark but I think now is the right time to say you’ve got this thing off the ground but no one’s going to talk unless there’s an adult in the room that can actually try to mend fences.”
Rory McIlroy
For the Australian, those near misses would haunt him and to this day, probably still sit somewhere inside him.
However, surely none will sting quite as much as the PGA in 86, when Norman inexplicably threw away a mammoth lead to lose out.
Greg Norman’s 1986 PGA Championship meltdown
Going into round four at Inverness, Norman had a four shot lead and the tournament looked as good as over with.
Furthermore, Norman held onto that lead at the turn and with just nine holes to play, it looked like a formality for the Aussie.
However, in what was a pattern for much of his major career, Norman faltered when it mattered.
He made a double bogey on 11 and then another bogey on 14 to allow the lesser known Bob Tway to swoop into contention.
Going into the final hole, both Tway and Norman remained level and what followed is one of golf’s great underdog stories.
Tway saw his tee shot go into the bunker while Norman found himself on the fringes of the green with around 30 feet to the hole.
However, to the surprise of everyone including Norman, Tway remarkably got his shot from the bunker to go into the hole and put pressure on Norman. The Aussie couldn’t follow Tway in from the fringe and he handed the American outside the most unlikely of victories.
For Norman, it was simply a tale of what his 1986 be like as he was ahead in all four majors after three rounds but only got one over the line.
Greg Norman should have had more majors
Given his impact on LIV Golf in recent times, it seems like most are going to remember Greg Norman for his achievements off the golf course than on it.
That in itself is a shame given he was a double major winner.
However, he does only have himself to blame as well and out of all the near misses he had in majors, he should have got this one and at least one more over the line.
Is this the end of LIV Golf?
Norman could easily have a green jacket to his name had he held it together and interestingly, he’s had chances to be a grand slam champion too.
Sadly, it wasn’t ever meant to be for Norman and he’ll look back now on it being a very big case of what might have been.
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