Greg Norman declines Open berth in last year of eligibility
This July is the last time Greg Norman is exempt into the Open Championship. He’s taking a pass on playing at St. Andrews, ceding his spot to another player.
A two-time Open champion (1986, ’93), Norman is exempt until age 60, which he is now. However, R&A rules would force Norman to qualify for the Open another way once he turns 61. That’s not going to happen.
“I don’t practice anymore,” Norman told the BBC.
Norman has long since moved on from competitive golf, giving most of his attention to other businesses, including his golf-course design venture. He has also stepped into the broadcast booth and will be in the 18th tower in June as Fox Sports broadcasts its first U.S. Open under a 12-year deal with the USGA.
The lack of preparation wouldn’t preclude Norman from showing up and trying to ham-and-egg his way to the weekend, but the Aussie believes someone else deserves a chance.
“I’m not going to walk up to the first tee and feel like I’m taking the space of a young kid who could learn a heck of a lot more from it,” he said. “I don’t believe in doing that. I think it’s so unfair to do that.”
Norman suggested that the person that takes his spot — now an extra one available through open qualifying — could be the game’s next great.
He said, “There’s a young kid who may be qualifying for the Open that could take my spot and could be the next Tom Watson, Nick Faldo, Greg Norman, Tiger Woods — you don’t know.”
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
