What happened to Greg Norman?

[cmay119]

What happened to The Shark? I haven't seen him in a televised tournament in atleast 2 years (perhaps longer). Does he still play on the regular PGA Tour? Or is he now on the Champions Tour? It'd be great to see him tear up the leader board one last time like the Greg Norman of circa 1995.

Anyone else asking themselves where he's been or what's he been doing?

[BruceH]

The Shark is a bit too busy to play much golf. He claims he only wants to play majors on the Seniors tour and he is still struggling with back problems.

He spends a lot of time building courses, developing property and flogging wine now.

[cmay119]

Well that sucks, he was always so entertaining to watch.

[gripitandripit]

I read that he was getting a divorce.

[ttee9]

.... Greg Norman has always been a business man first, and a golfer second ...

His yacht building business is sold out for the next 5 years, he's got the Reebok thing going on, he sold Cobra a few years back and made $40 mill on that deal, he's now contracted for 17 golf courses worldwide (at $1.5 mill a pop) his clothing line does like a $200 big ones a year, his Australian wine is sold out and he's now marketing another wine through California, he made a ton off the Macgregor sale, his real estate holdings in Australia are huuuuge, he's in the Jet leasing business that a lot of the "pro's" and the big entertainers use on a daily basis ...


--- other than that, not much going .....



... he play's when he please's, not a bad life - plus, he's a surpurb player ...

[cold]

Is there anywhere I can donate?

[iacas]

His yacht building business is sold out for the next 5 years, he's got the Reebok thing going on, he sold Cobra a few years back and made $40 mill on that deal, he's now contracted for 17 golf courses worldwide (at $1.5 mill a pop) his clothing line does like a $200 big ones a year, his Australian wine is sold out and he's now marketing another wine through California, he made a ton off the Macgregor sale, his real estate holdings in Australia are huuuuge, he's in the Jet leasing business that a lot of the "pro's" and the big entertainers use on a daily basis ...

I'm fairly certain Greg didn't own Cobra and MacGregor...

[allin]

He did have a substantial interest in Cobra at one time, I have no idea about Mcgregor. He actually was close to bankruptcy at one time in the early 1980s. He had taken a lot of risks and got burned.

[cmay119]

I know Greg Norman at this time is Sponsored by MacGregor, I was not aware that he had any ownership in either Cobra or MacGregor.

BTW, It's nice to know this stirred up a little bit of a conversation. He was and is my favorite player, he always reminded me of Crocadile Dundee.

[ttee9]

I'm fairly certain Greg didn't own Cobra and MacGregor...

"

Late last year, MacGregor Golf sweetened its deal for Norman to promote its new Mactec driver and other golf clubs by giving the Shark stock options on top of his endorsement fee, says MacGregor CEO Barry Schneider." " $44 million Norman reaped as an early investor in clubmaker Cobra Golf after its sale to American Brands" http://www.businessweek.com/magazine...6/b3959601.htm http://www.forbes.com/global/2001/0416/070.html Sounds like an owner to me ..l.o.l....

[Donald MacKenzie]

Norman's been off the competitive radar because of his back. He had surgery on it last spring, and it hasn't really improved enough for him to do much practicing. Last I heard he was trying to be ready to play in the British Open next month.

When Cobra went public in the early 1990s, Norman was given a big chunk of stock as a bonus. Acushnet bought Cobra, and Norman's stock ended up being worth $40 million. He owns the Greg Norman name that is licensed to various ventures (Greg Norman Collection by Reebok, Greg Norman Estates Wine, etc.) and a staff player for MacGregor. He doesn't own MacGregor, but his rather large contract with the company does include an ownership stake. I believe Norman also owns (or did until recently) the Australian distributor of Titleist/Footjoy products.

[ttee9]

When Cobra went public in the early 1990s, Norman was given a big chunk of stock as a bonus. Acushnet bought Cobra, and Norman's stock ended up being worth $40 million.

..... Well, kinda and kinda not ..... Norman actually wasn't given anything in that deal .. he invested his $2 mill and then the stock exploded a few years later. After studying Arnold Palmers and Jack Nicklaus' well-publicized business problems (and his own) from 15 years ago, Greg Norman has become quite the entrepreneur ... his business model is studied in many schools and looked at by businessmen and pro athlete's around the world ... it's quite a success story --- and, he's a Great golfer.! The "Golden Bear" might have shown Greg Norman a whole lot about the golf game ... but the "Shark" showed Jack Nicklaus' how to make (and keep) his money.

[chingali]

Greg's playing in the Australian Open at Royal Sydney Novemeber 13th-19th. I'm going out to watch him play on the thursday and friday and taking my son with me. I remember my grandfather taking me out to watch Nicklaus and Trevino when I was a kid and they are some of the greatest memories I have.

Norman is a bona fide legend and a proper gentleman in every respect. I haven't seen him play in about 10 years and I am looking forward to it immensely. If he has 68 or 78 I don't care, it is important to go and see guys like this play if you get the chance, 20 years from now when it's too late you will know why.

[cmay119]

Boo.... Greg is now quoted as saying that he won't be playing in the British later this month. He said that he was physically healthy, but his game wasn't up to the snuff he wanted it to be at.

I was looking forward to watching him, but hopefully we'll see him play in some tourny's later this summer.

[SubPar]

The Shark played two Champions Tour events in 2005 with two top 10 finishes.
(3--Senior British Open Championship, 4--U.S. Senior Open Championship). He also finished T-60th at the British Open in '05.

SubPar

[iacas]

Boo.... Greg is now quoted as saying that he won't be playing in the British later this month. He said that he was physically healthy, but his game wasn't up to the snuff he wanted it to be at.

Greg Norman: 95% has-been, 5% never-was, 100% old news.

[SubPar]

Greg Norman: 95% has-been, 5% never-was, 100% old news.

He may be old news, but I think he deserves more respect than to be described as "95% has-been, 5% never-was".

Greg Norman held the No. 1 world ranking for 331 weeks Tour Victories: • PGA Tour: 20 • European Tour: 17 (86 victories worldwide) Major Championships: 2 • British Open: 1986, 1993 Awards and Honors: • Member, World Golf Hall of Fame • PGA Tour money leader, 1986, 1990, 1995 • PGA Tour Vardon Trophy winner, 1989, 1990, 1994 • PGA Tour player of the year, 1995 • 4-time member, International team, Presidents Cup

[iacas]

He may be old news, but I think he deserves more respect than to be described as "95% has-been, 5% never-was".

Hence the 95% going to has-been. The 5% is for his inability to win a major in the U.S.

I watched Norman in his prime. He was exciting to watch and easily the #1. But he's "old news" as you say, and that's "has-been." I didn't say "95% never-was."