Norman seeking Masters redemption
By Michael Mayo
GolfWeb contributing editor
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Not since Ben Hogan clawed back from a near-fatal auto wreck to win the 1950 U.S. Open has there been the chance of a comeback as improbable as this.
One year after reconstructive shoulder surgery, three years after his devastating Sunday collapse against
Again.
As Sunday dawns at Augusta National, all eyes will be upon Norman. And most hearts will be with him.
"I've always said I don't live in the past," Norman said. "What's done is done. All I can tell you is I'm right here right now with a chance to win."
He is 44, 0-for-18 in the tournament he wants most, with too many close calls to recall. Once he was a swashbuckling hero, but now he is a sentimental favorite.
Standing between him and the story only the most hardened cynic wouldn't want to see are 18 holes of an emotional rollercoaster of a course and a leader who already has a green jacket, José Maria Olazábal.
Also standing in the way: 14 hungry players within five strokes of the lead, including major winners Davis Love III, Ernie Els, Lee Janzen, Steve Elkington, Nick Price, Bernhard Langer and Tiger Woods.
"It's definitely going to be a battle," said Love, a native Georgian whose late father once played in this tournament. "It should be a very, very exciting day."
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| The frantic search for Norman's ball was unsuccessful.(AP) |
Olazábal (7-under 209) leads Norman by one stroke, Love and Steve Pate by two. Pate shot 65 on Saturday, low round for the week, including a stretch of seven consecutive birdies, a Masters record.
"I have no explanation for what happened out there," Pate said.
Neither did a lot of players after what Love termed "an interesting day."
Just when it looked like scores might go low, the greens firmed up and the pressure took its toll.
Norman lost a ball behind the 12th hole, but hit a second shot from the tee onto the green and made a 22-foot putt for bogey.
"I have no idea where it is," Norman said. "It's just mystifying. I'd like to know."
After the final group moved through, CBS announcer Bobby Clampett and two writers found Norman's ball tangled beneath vines and pine straw, about 10 feet right of where Norman's search party of seven had been looking.
Love got wet on his approach at the par-5 15th, dropping from the lead with a double-bogey 7.
Janzen bogeyed two of the last five holes to lose a share of the lead.
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| Olazábal never could get his putter going.(AP) |
Norman birdied the 18th hole to get into the final pairing with Olazábal. They will tee off at 3 p.m. EDT on Sunday. It will be quite the contrast from the last time Norman played in the last twosome.
The year was 1996. The partner was Faldo (who birdied the 17th hole on Saturday to get into the last pairing with Norman). Faldo had cut out Norman's heart many times before, but never like that day. Faldo shot 67 to Norman's 78 to win his third green jacket, going from six behind to five ahead.
Even a competitor as cold-hearted as Faldo couldn't help but giving Norman a hug when it was over.
This time compassion might also rule the day. Both Norman and Olazábal have come back from major physical ailments which sidelined their careers. Olazábal missed the 1996 Masters and most of that year with a foot injury that was caused by a lower back problem. Norman missed seven months and last year's final three majors after surgery on his left shoulder.
"It will be a great day for both of us, irrespective of what happens," Norman said. "When you're out of the game for a period of time, you wonder if you're ever going to get back in it."
They first struck up a friendship at European tour events. Norman wrote encouraging notes to Olazábal while the Spaniard was hurt. Olazábal, who watched Norman's collapse on television, responded in kind when Norman was out last year.
"He was one of the few players who called or dropped a note, and that means a lot," Norman said. "That means he's not only a competitor but a friend."
"When I was having problems with my feet he was always in touch," Olazábal said. "I tried to do exactly the same thing with him. We've gone through a similar situation. It's made us a little closer."
Olazábal cringed watching Norman's collapse from his living room.
"I didn't like what I saw," Olazábal said. "I don't want anybody going through that situation. I felt sorry for Greg. It was sad to see."
Maybe Sunday will be Norman's happy day.
"I don't know what my destiny is," Norman said.
The eyes of the world can't wait to see.
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