Greg Norman's Curse

I knew I would hear it sometime today, but I didn't think it would happen five minutes after I walked into the office. Perhaps you've heard it yourselves. You know, the colleague who says "Hey, why did Greg Norman choke again?"

Norman's one of the game's greatest players and, in his semi-retirement from competitive golf, one of its most successful. Today he resembles General Electric more than a golf pro. His enterprises range from restaurants to turf companies.

All that said, Greg Norman is not a choker.

Today Norman's presumably put all his major troubles behind him to focus on running his empire. All of which made me think that, although he admitted to being nervous on the first tee this weekend and that he really did want to win, his unlikely position of being the 54 hole leader was probably the last place he wanted to be. It only resurrected a reputation that has been dead and buried for years.

Even with the 54 hole lead, the odds of Norman hoisting the claret jug were unrealistic and slim. He hasn't played much and only teed it up at the Open to prepare for this week's Senior Open. I, for one, was happy that Harrington tore up the back nine yesterday. His stellar play erased most of the speculation that Norman choked. Still, there will be those who see things only in terms of the past.

Apparently Harrington keeps the claret jug on his breakfast table, within splattering distance of his porridge. It'll stay there for the next year and deservedly so. With his follow up win, the Irishman now holds two major titles. The same as Norman.