As if there weren't enough stories already written about this year's Masters - about Tiger's major comeback, about Rory McIlroy's Masters debut, about the course being shortened , surely two of the biggest will be the certain last appearances of two former world number ones, Gary Player and Greg Norman.
Three-time Masters champion Player has decided to stop entering after this year, finally admitting to himself that, aged 73, he is now unlikely to ever overhaul Jack Nicklaus's record of 6 titles. There had been some money on Player becoming the first golfer ever to shoot his age at a Major championship (he shot a 78 last year) but he's obviously decided he can't wait another 5 years just for that.
Player is able to keep coming back because of the quirk in the Masters rules that allows former champions to come back as often as they want, with no restriction, reflecting Bobby Jones' belief that a champion could never lose the ability to prove himself a champion again. This makes it all the more poignant that it will also, almost certainly, be Greg Norman's last Masters as well. The Great White Shark is certainly the most famous runner-up in Masters history - he was leading season-long money-winner 5 times in the USA, but finished second three times in its most prestigious event (each time in fairly heartbreaking fashion) and third a further three times, without ever winning. He even holds the course record (and, for good measure, shares the second-best all-time score). But he never won, so now, at 54, is unlikely to qualify for the Masters again (apart from former champions, the only other guaranteed starting places are for golfers in the World's top 50, and high finishers in Open events and winners of some other significant professional and amateur events over the previous twelve months). Norman's place in this one comes after his surprise third place finish at last year's Open; a surprise because of his age, not because it resulted in yet another Norman near-miss.
It's hard to feel too sorry for Norman. He made (and continues to make) hundreds of millions out of the game, is married to Chrissie Evert and owns a yacht as large (and employing as many people) as some Pacific Island states. His genuine appetite for victory was always as questionable as his talent was unquestionable. But he is one of those sportsmen who can honestly answer the question "would you change it all just for ...?". In his case, the "for" would be a Green Jacket, and membership of the exclusive club that he will, after this weekend, be denied except as a spectator or commentator.
Three-time Masters champion Player has decided to stop entering after this year, finally admitting to himself that, aged 73, he is now unlikely to ever overhaul Jack Nicklaus's record of 6 titles. There had been some money on Player becoming the first golfer ever to shoot his age at a Major championship (he shot a 78 last year) but he's obviously decided he can't wait another 5 years just for that.
Player is able to keep coming back because of the quirk in the Masters rules that allows former champions to come back as often as they want, with no restriction, reflecting Bobby Jones' belief that a champion could never lose the ability to prove himself a champion again. This makes it all the more poignant that it will also, almost certainly, be Greg Norman's last Masters as well. The Great White Shark is certainly the most famous runner-up in Masters history - he was leading season-long money-winner 5 times in the USA, but finished second three times in its most prestigious event (each time in fairly heartbreaking fashion) and third a further three times, without ever winning. He even holds the course record (and, for good measure, shares the second-best all-time score). But he never won, so now, at 54, is unlikely to qualify for the Masters again (apart from former champions, the only other guaranteed starting places are for golfers in the World's top 50, and high finishers in Open events and winners of some other significant professional and amateur events over the previous twelve months). Norman's place in this one comes after his surprise third place finish at last year's Open; a surprise because of his age, not because it resulted in yet another Norman near-miss.
It's hard to feel too sorry for Norman. He made (and continues to make) hundreds of millions out of the game, is married to Chrissie Evert and owns a yacht as large (and employing as many people) as some Pacific Island states. His genuine appetite for victory was always as questionable as his talent was unquestionable. But he is one of those sportsmen who can honestly answer the question "would you change it all just for ...?". In his case, the "for" would be a Green Jacket, and membership of the exclusive club that he will, after this weekend, be denied except as a spectator or commentator.
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