Sport

Shark has lost his bite

Greg Norman was the number one golfer in the world for 96 straight weeks until Tiger Woods took over in 1997

Sat Nov 03 2001 - 00:00

Greg Norman was the number one golfer in the world for 96 straight weeks until Tiger Woods took over in 1997. Now the Shark is ranked a modest 95th - and has lost his exempt status in the US.

Having played there in only 11 events this season - one fewer than required - Norman can get into only five tournaments next year, along with the four "majors" and the Players Championship. As twice former winner of the British Open, he will be invited to Muirfield, but is not qualified for the US Masters, US Open, or the USPGA Championship.

So, at 45, the once top-ranked player in the game, may turn to his honorary membership of the European Tour, while dropping into Doonbeg for the odd visit. His last tournament win was in the World Series in 1997.

This day in golf history ..... On November 3rd, 1949, Macdonald Smith died at the relatively early age of 59. One of three famous golfing brothers with Alex and Willie, he was born in Carnoustie in 1890. As it happened, the brothers emigrated to America and Alex beat Macdonald for the US Open title of 1910 after a play-off which also involved Johnny McDermott. It was to be one of numerous major championships which would elude the gifted Scot described by Harry Vardon as the best golfer he had seen in America. The closest he came to a breakthrough was in the 1925 British Open at Prestwick. With half of Scotland cheering him on, he had an 82 when a final round of 76 would have beaten American Jim Barnes for the title. Smith was elected to the USPGA Hall of Fame in 1954.

READ MORE

Teaser: A player's ball is resting against the flagstick. Without the player's authority, his opponent or a fellow-competitor removes the flagstick and the ball moves away from the hole. What is the ruling?

Answer: In matchplay, the opponent incurs a penalty stroke and the ball must be replaced against the flagstick (Rule 18-3b). In strokeplay, the ball must be replaced against the flagstick without penalty to anyone (Rule 18-4). In either form of golf, the player may then move or remove the flagstick as prescribed in Rule 17-4.