Why Greg Norman didn't win more Majors (apparently)...
- Thread starter puttmad
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Makes sense just with the norm of 18 holes of golf. Stats show golfers usually struggle more at the beginning and end of rounds. Never a big Norman fan, but not all majors he lost. Bob Tway anyone. BUT, With is combo of power, length and short game, agree he seemed out of his element and should have won way more.
thefuture37
Banned
every time i see greg norman swing it looks like he is a huge flipper by tour standards anyways. have to disagree with the statement that he "should" have won more majors. his mental game abilities were weak, so it makes sense that he didnt win more despite his physical talent. to say that he shouldve won more majors despite that is to say that someone with a mind like Tiger and the physical game like a nationwide tour player "should" win majors. its ridiculous.
at least 7
He should have at least 7 majors, he was in contention for more, but both bad choices and bad luck prevented that. I don think he has had a weak mental game. A weak mental would mean, after he lost one or two majors in the fashion he did, he wouldve just faded into oblivion. He was THE MAN for about a 10 year stretch, and contended in many majors in that span.
He should have at least 7 majors, he was in contention for more, but both bad choices and bad luck prevented that. I don think he has had a weak mental game. A weak mental would mean, after he lost one or two majors in the fashion he did, he wouldve just faded into oblivion. He was THE MAN for about a 10 year stretch, and contended in many majors in that span.
Brian Manzella
Administrator
Norman was a very good player, who—in my opinion—would have won a lot more if he would have stayed with the swing that he lost to Fuzzy in the US Open with.
That, and having a few wedge-ins not go in.
That, and having a few wedge-ins not go in.
yes he should have won more majors, so should have Jack. Yo thefuture37 I think he had better mental game then you think. How many majors did greg win, more than 99% of pgatour members dont have that many. Nationwide tour and PGATOUR is little far out there in right field with the clover.
He also won about 80 tournaments and has made over $500 million....
Not exactly a failure then...
Kevin Shields
Super Moderator
I'd like Brian's take on this as well. But IMO, the old move was sooo much more athletic, positions weren't nearly as contrived. Post Harmon he had the club waaay behind him, came in with a punch elbow and had only one speed. Sure he had flaws in the 80s but i didn't see near the dominance after the changes. He and Els are always going to be sad stories to me (in a way
) They both probably needed some refinement but both got lame advice. Neither got better and the results prove it. Norman still crashed and burned and Els never got rid of that pull that bugged him.
birdie_man
New
Ya he got screwed over pretty good more than a few times. Stuff that does not normally happen so often to one player.
He hasn't played (or maybe even focused a lot on) a whole lot of competive golf over the last 10 or so years tho has he???
When did he stop playing in majors???
With his physical ability you would think he has the ABILITY (with practice and will and dedication of course) to compete even today. He must still generate a lot of speed anyhow.
He's likin the tycoon life I think tho. Not bad.
He hasn't played (or maybe even focused a lot on) a whole lot of competive golf over the last 10 or so years tho has he???
When did he stop playing in majors???
With his physical ability you would think he has the ABILITY (with practice and will and dedication of course) to compete even today. He must still generate a lot of speed anyhow.
He's likin the tycoon life I think tho. Not bad.
rogerdodger
New
He was really unlucky. However, after 95 Masters, he was done. No way could anyone recover from that type of collapse. He can blame it on his swing, but bottom line he was never a Faldo, who would typically figure out how to win. I also think the 1980's swing rocked. His 1990's changes never looked natural. Brings up an interesting issue, how many players have changed their swing so noticeably and been successful with a more pressure proof swing, ie, not reverting to bad habits? After Hogan and Faldo, who is there?
Kevin Shields
Super Moderator
Nick Price, Tiger, Henrik Stenson, Hal Sutton but you're right, most flame out.
aaron_lohan
New
Padraig Harrington, completely changed his swing since he was an amateur. Is Hal Sutton's swing different? i thought he changed in the late 80s got worse and then changed back and got better in mid to late 90s??
cmartingolf
New
Norman didn't seem to "have all the shots." Who am I to judge a guy who could wax me on the course. He was a great driver of the ball and a really good putter. Didn't seem to get too creative with the trajectory on his irons. Every shot seemed high and spinning, even when the wind was blowing. Tiger was this way as an Am and early Pro. Now, Tiger uses all kinds of trajectory and shaping to his benefit.
Norman seemed like a big sweep realeaser. Great for the tee ball, but not so good for the crafty iron shots.
Norman seemed like a big sweep realeaser. Great for the tee ball, but not so good for the crafty iron shots.
JohnThomas1
New
I'd disagree here. Players who have played with Norman said he had every shot in the book, and could make a driver do anything he wanted. I've seen it said no pin was safe when he was on his characteristic charges, and this was thru great iron shotmaking. Norman actually worked with Harmon to take some spin off his full wedges, but i reckon his iron play over the years was outstanding.
cmartingolf
New
Like I said, he was an EXCELLENT driver. Probably one of the best ever. I've seen him play many times and I'll stand by my comments on trajectory use and shot selection. He could hit high with spin and if the wind didn't blow, look out. He didn't have the lagging punch shot and if he tried it, it certainly wouldn't suit his swing pattern.
Aside from my humble opinion, he did get beat by a couple miraculous shots at the PGA and the Masters. If you give him those two, he wins four majors.
It's a shame he didn't win the Masters. It would be awesome to see him tee it there every April.
self-mastery
New
I would take his game over mine, and everyone else that isn't named: Woods, Nicklaus, Hogan, or Sneed
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birdie_man
New
Nelson? Palmer?
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