We are a day late but a very happy 60th birthday to Greg Norman.

Like present Australian golfing greats Adam Scott and Jason Day, it was Norman that inspired me to get right into the deep end of golf reporting.

I first began ‘annoying’ Greg in the early 80s when he was contesting a New South Wales Open and in that time I have been fortunate to get know him very well in my work so much so I have always been comfortable walking up to him with an outstretched hand whether it be on the practice range, locker room or elsewhere.

There was one time when he offered me a ride on his private jet.

Greg was born on 10th February, 1955 in the Queensland mining town of Mt. Isa and it was his mother who was instrumental in getting him into golf as Norman used to caddy for her.

There rest is history with Norman, or the ‘Great White Shark’ as he affectionately known, spending 331 weeks as the World No. 1 ranked golfer in the 1980s and 1990s.

Norman captured over 85 events around the globe but sadly only two Majors and both Open Championship titles in 1986 at Turnberry and 1993 at Royal St. Georges.

I was also fortunate to be present at Royal St. Georges when the late Gene Sarazen handed Norman the Claret Jug, and present that Sunday was the Alan Border led Australian Cricket Team including Shane Warne, who had bowled the ‘Ball of the Century’ to dismiss England’s Mike Gatting in the 2nd Test at Old Trafford where I had been sitting in the second row.

Tour Miss and I were fortunate to catch-up with Norman last December at his Franklin Templeton Shootout in Naples, Florida.

So a belated happy 60th birthday, Greg.

Happy 60th birthday to Greg Norman.