|
Greg Norman Commits To Play In John Deere Classic "Great White Shark" to Make First QC Appearance Since 1991 Contact Barry Cronin EAST MOLINE, Ill. (August 13, 2003) - Hall of Famer Greg Norman, golf's most dominant player from the mid-1980s through the mid-90s, has officially committed to play in the 2003 John Deere Classic Sept. 11-14 at the Tournament Players Club at Deere Run in Silvis, Ill. Known as the "Great White Shark" for his pearly white teeth and his aggressive playing style, the 48-year-old native of Queensland, Australia made his commitment official on Tuesday in a phone call to John Deere Classic Tournament Director Clair Peterson. "Not many players in the history of the PGA Tour have had the unique ability to play the game as effectively and with the kind of flair and style that have made Greg Norman one of the most charismatic players in golf history," said John Deere Classic tournament director Clair Peterson. "The John Deere Classic is honored to have him in our field." Norman has won 20 times on the PGA Tour and 66 times internationally, including the British Open in 1986 and 1993 and the 1994 Players Championship. Norman's longtime caddie is Quad City resident Tony Navarro. Norman's only previous appearance in the Quad Cities was in 1991 when the tournament was played at Oakwood Country Club in Coal Valley, Ill. That year, he shot 11-under par 269 and finished in a three-way tie for fourth place with Scott Hoch and Leonard Thompson. A longtime resident of the Orlando area, Norman has battled injuries in recent years that have forced him to cut back on his playing schedule. This year (as of Aug. 11), he has played in five events - the Players Championship, the EDS Byron Nelson Championship, the British Open, the International and this week's PGA Championship. He withdrew from the International because of a bad back. His best showing was a tie for 18th this year at Royal St. Georges, site of his 1993 British Open victory. Norman underwent reconstructive shoulder surgery in 1998. Seven months later he won the Franklin Templeton Shark Shootout playing with partner Steve Elkington and won the Greg Norman Holden International in Australia. The following year he finished third at The Masters. After finishing fourth at 2000 Masters, he was sidelined by arthroscopic hip surgery. In an amazing show of physical perseverance, five weeks following surgery he finished fourth at the International. In 2001, he played in 11 Tour events, with his best finish a tie for fourth at the Bay Hill Invitational. But he won $1million at the 2001 Skins Game, shutting out Tiger Woods, Colin Montgomerie and Jesper Parnevik. And he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. Norman's many victories have been overshadowed somewhat by several dramatic and heartbreaking defeats, most memorably the 1996 Masters Tournament, when he started the final round with a six-shot lead but wound up losing to Nick Faldo. But Norman, with his aggressive style, always has been in the hunt and always has been a fan favorite. |