Can Greg Norman do it?

Normally I wish nothing but failure on Oz sportsmen (sorry Nicole, sorry Craig) but on this occasion I hope he hangs on - the two of us have one thing in common and it ain't Chris Evert - and an impossible victory would be so cool for us elder citizens

As a supplementary Open question, anyone much surprised by the whinging of some of the US PGA players? Guys, its the frigging English seaside, it rains, the wind blows, it gets cold even in summer and "target golf" is not so easy on a links course. Grow up and cope with it.

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The main idea in golf as in life I suppose, is to learn to accept what cannot be altered and to keep on doing ones own reasoned and resolute best whether the prospect be bleak or rosy. Bobby Jones

I think the Shark can do it. Good steady golf, that's the way this week.

I do hope he can pull it off. He has the tools, and I don't think the weather is going specifically hurt him. A "senior" golfer winning the Open has a nice ring to it, and would be good for Professional golf in general. GJS

hi
i think Greg has been a great ambassador for links golf over the years and it would be great for him to win not only at his age but in such hard golfing conditions.
i really hope he can hold his game together tomorrow but its going to be close i think.
cheers
bill

I love how he is basically playing a totally different style of golf.

He plays long bump'n'run shots with his 3iron when others try to fly 9irons to the pin and hold the green.

The Great White Shark obviously has played his share of links-courses. I'm going to love watching Norman square off against the defending champion. What a final pairing!!!

Many good pairings tomorrow, actually:

Goosen v. Garcia, Chris Wood (the amateur) faces Ian Poulter - quite the TV pair, and both the remaining danes get TV-friendly partners, Anders Hansen out with Camilo Villegas and Soren Hansen faces Adam Scott.

I must say, though ... I miss Tiger out there! I'm not saying he would take it, but it would be interesting to see him under those conditions.

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//Mox
2009 bag:
Mizuno MX-700 460cc 10.5* Aldila VS Proto 65 stiff. (I need a 9,5* though) :-(
Mizuno MX-700 3w 15* Aldila VS Proto stiff.
Mizuno MX-700 5w 18* Aldila VS Proto stiff.
Mizuno MX-700 3i Hybrid 20* Aldila NV stiff.
Mizuno MP-60e forged 5i-PW True Temper Dynamic gold R300 steel
Mizuno MP Black OX raw haze 50/6 GW, 54/9 SW, 58/10 LW
Heavy Putter B3-M
Titleist NXT Extreme

I like Norman to win.

As for the American golfers, I'm not surprised. It's like they all forgot how Tiger won it last...

I think it's lovely to see them all come down to earth with a bump. They're being tested like us Brits always get tested every week. High winds and rain, dry ground, having to vary your shot type and use your imagination.

Don't get me wrong, the fairways and greens are beautiful at Birkdale, but there ain't much of em. Norman's been around long enough to remember pre "target golf" golf courses and so knows how to play bump 'n' runs and 120 yards 5 irons. A lot of the other younger guys don't have that in their arsenal and have appeared intimidated by the setup.

Come on Greg! You've won it before! You have nothing to lose, everything to gain, and as a former winner you know how to get the job done!

Bring on the high winds tomorrow cos he can handle it!

His closest threat will be Padraig.

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Luke: I don't believe it!
Yoda: That is why you fail.

I for one, want to see a Norman Open "Three-peat"...

Have long been a fan of the Shark....

Will be watching tonight.........

Cheers

I would love Norman to win, despite the press in Australia constantly kicking him in the head he has been my idol since i was a teenager and despite his constant knockers has put so much into Australian golf over the years even if he does reside in the U.S. In my opinion and some others was almost single handedly responsible for the growth of golf in this country and part of the reason there are so many good Aussie players on tour now.

I usually cheer for the underdog and would like the "Shark" to win too although the odds, along with age and history are heavily against it.

hi
i agree with Neil about the golfers being tested and having to find the shots that work. you are seeing golfers landing all round the greens and having to think up shots rather then the usual high flying shot that lands soft and spins back.
it good to see them playing out the knee length rough that we have to play out week in and week out and not the short cut manicured rough you see in some other competitions.
i see Greg hitting a lot more fades than he normally does and really seemed to have a great understanding of the bump and run with the long irons.
heard Bob Torrance say that Padraig was playing better than last year when he won the open so should be a great pairing with Greg and Padraig.
cheers
bill

__________________
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ping zing2 metal 3 wood
ping eye2 1 iron
ping zing2 3/9 irons
ping ist 47% wedge
ping zing2 52% s/wedge
ping mb 56% wedge
ping c10 G2I broom handled putter
top flight "T" golf balls
white ping bag

Great finish. Harrington was a deserved champion and all credit to his back to back win, he is such a nice person. Poulter, Stenson, Norman ET-AL, they, along with all the others made it a great, great, major and one certainly worth winning.


What a commendable effort from Chris Wood (Good boy from Long Ashton) winning the Amateur Medal, I think we will be seeing more of him.

hi
was great how Padraig played the last couple of holes and his two long seconds shots into the green on 17 and 18 were super in the conditions and under that pressure.
well done to all the 15 player that finished in the top 7 as all had to manufacture shots all 4 days and all were in with a shout up till the last 9 holes and at 12 over it was a good score for many of them.
Links golf at its best as players had to play the course the way it was meant to be played and not target golf like we see so often.
i thought it was hard last year but i think it was a harder test of golf this year.
it was also good to see that some of the Americans knew how to play in the wind and were in with a shout up till late on.
cheers
bill

__________________
ping zing2 metal driver
ping zing2 metal 3 wood
ping eye2 1 iron
ping zing2 3/9 irons
ping ist 47% wedge
ping zing2 52% s/wedge
ping mb 56% wedge
ping c10 G2I broom handled putter
top flight "T" golf balls
white ping bag

Very impressive golf. Putting was very difficult in that wind, and it was great to see some 150 yard 3-irons. That wind was brilliant, and it's sure enjoyable to play in.

hi
did anyone else notice the number of players with cavity back irons. there seemed to be a lot of players that changed from blades just for the open.
must of needed forgiveness more in the wind.
cheers
bill