Greg Norman's last two weeks have been filled with tons of emotion. He went into the Open Championship on absolutely no expert's list to win, yet turned the clock back on the four days at Royal Birkdale, making it exciting for golf fans young and old. He then helicoptered to Royal Troon for the Senior British and after struggling Thursday and Friday, put together rounds of 67-68 to get himself in the top-5 for the second straight week.
Now, he's decided to decline the invitation the PGA of America extended him to play in the PGA Championship.
"While I truly appreciate the PGA extending me an exemption for this year's PGA Championship, I have elected to decline in favor of adhering to the professional and personal commitments I made prior to The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale," said Norman on his website.I believe Norman is doing the right thing. No matter your take on his career, Greg was one of the best golfers on the 90s, winning 12 PGA Tour tournaments and a major during the decade and despite his obvious choke performances, was always a force to be reckon with. The only thing I can really compare this to is Jack Nicklaus at the 1998 Masters. The Golden Bear, one of the top golfers in the history of the game, hadn't finished in the top-10 of a major since 1990, and at 58 was obviously in the decline of his career. That didn't stop him from roaring in the final round with a four-under 68 to finish in a tie for sixth in pain that he once noted was like "playing on one leg."
Nicklaus made just one cut after that performance and has since quit playing major championships. Nonetheless, it was a moment we all appreciated and a moment anyone that followed golf will remember as one of those "can he really do this AGAIN" situations that had everyone invested with their hearts even if their minds knew better.
Norman's decision is a smart one. It would have been his fourth week in a row teeing it up competitively when he has tons of other things going on in his life more important. The Shark gave us one more glimmer of that strong, swashbuckling swing and had everyone roaring about the return of Norman until he faltered to more worthy (and youthful) competition.
Credit Norman with this -- if it's his time to bow out, he does it with grace, class and dignity.
