Greg Norman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Greg Norman AO
Norman in 2014
Personal information
Full name	Gregory John Norman
Nickname	The (Great White) Shark
Born	(1955-02-10) 10 February 1955 (age 70) Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia
Height	6 ft 0 in
Weight	180 lb
Nationality	Australia
Residence	Florida, U.S.
Spouse	Laura Andrassy ​ ​ (m. 1981; div. 2007)​ Chris Evert ​ ​ (m. 2008; div. 2009)​ Kirsten Kutner ​ (m. 2010)​
Children	2
Career
Turned professional	1976
Former tour(s)	PGA Tour of Australasia PGA Tour European Tour Champions Tour
Professional wins	88
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour	20
European Tour	14
Japan Golf Tour	2
PGA Tour of Australasia	33
Other	21
Best results in Major Championships (Wins: 2)
The Masters Tournament	2nd/T2: 1986, 1987, 1996
U.S. Open	2nd: 1984, 1995
The Open Championship	Won: 1986, 1993
PGA Championship	2nd: 1986, 1993
Achievements and awards
World Golf Hall of Fame	2001
PGA Tour of Australia Order of Merit winner	1978, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988
European Tour official money list winner	1982
PGA Tour money list winner	1986, 1990, 1995
Byron Nelson Award	1988, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995
Vardon Trophy	1989, 1990, 1994
PGA Tour Player of the Year	1995
PGA Player of the Year	1995
Old Tom Morris Award	2008
Charlie Bartlett Award	2008

Gregory John Norman (born 10 February 1955) is an Australian former professional golfer. He was known as "the Great White Shark" or just "the Shark". This nickname came from his blond hair, strong golf style, and Australia's famous Great white sharks. He was the world number one golfer for 331 weeks in the 1980s and 1990s.

Norman won 88 professional tournaments. This includes 20 PGA Tour events and two major championships: The Open Championship in 1986 and 1993. He also finished in the top 10 in major tournaments 30 times.

Besides golf, Norman is a successful businessman. He leads the Greg Norman Company, which has businesses in many areas like clothes, real estate, and golf course design. He also helped start the LIV Golf series of tournaments. Norman has also given a lot to charities, especially for children's health.

Early Life and Start in Golf

Norman in 1969 on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia.

Greg Norman was born in Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia. His parents were Mervin and Toini Norman. When he was young, he played rugby and cricket. He even dreamed of becoming a professional surfer.

His mother, Toini, was a good golfer herself. She taught 15-year-old Greg how to play golf. He started by carrying her golf clubs at the Virginia Golf Club in Brisbane. In about 18 months, he went from a beginner to a very skilled golfer. He attended schools in Townsville, Queensland and Brisbane.

Amateur and Early Professional Career

In June 1974, when he was 19, Norman started to get noticed in golf. He was just one shot behind the leader at the Queensland Open.

By March 1975, Norman became a professional golfer. He worked at golf clubs in Sydney and Brisbane. His first big professional tournament was the 1976 South Coast Open. He played very well and finished tied for fifth place. The next week, he finished third at the Queensland Open.

His fourth tournament was the West Lakes Classic in Adelaide. Norman played amazingly, shooting a 64 in the first round. He kept his lead and won the tournament by five shots. This was his first professional win.

European and PGA Tour Success

In 1977, Norman joined the European Tour and won his first European event, the Martini International in Scotland. In 1980, he won the French Open by a large margin of ten shots. He also won the Scandinavian Enterprise Open and the Suntory World Match Play Championship. That same year, he won his first Australian Open.

In 1981, Norman finished 4th at the Masters in Augusta, showing his talent on a big stage. He won two more European events that year. In 1982, he was the top money winner on the European Tour. The next year, he joined the U.S. PGA Tour.

PGA Tour Highlights

In June 1984, Norman won his first PGA Tour event, the Kemper Open. A week later, he almost won the U.S. Open. He made a long putt on the last hole to force a playoff, but he lost to Fuzzy Zoeller. He quickly bounced back, winning the Canadian Open the next month.

Norman in 1986

The year 1986 was very memorable for Norman. He won 11 tournaments around the world. He led all four major championships after 54 holes. This was a rare achievement, but he only won one major that year: the Open Championship at Turnberry. He shot an amazing 63 in the second round, tying the record for the lowest score in Open history. He won by five shots.

At the 1986 Masters, Norman was tied for the lead on the last hole but missed a putt that would have sent him into a playoff with Jack Nicklaus. He also led the U.S. Open after three rounds but struggled on the final day.

In 1987, Norman faced another close call at the Masters. He lost in a sudden-death playoff to Larry Mize, who made an incredible chip shot to win. Despite this, Norman won the Australian Masters and the Australian Open that year by a record ten shots.

Norman continued to win tournaments in the U.S. and Australia in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He won the MCI Heritage Golf Classic in 1988, inspired by a teenager with leukemia he met. In 1989, he again came close to winning the Open Championship, losing in a playoff after a great final round.

Norman's second Major championship, 1993 Open at Royal St George's.

After a short dip in his career, Norman worked with coach Butch Harmon. This helped him improve his game, and he won his second major title at the Open Championship in 1993. His final round score of 64 was the lowest by a winner in Open history at the time.

In 1994, Norman set records at The Players Championship with the lowest scores for 18, 54, and 72 holes. He finished 24 strokes under par, winning by four shots.

The year 1995 was one of his best on the PGA Tour. He won the Memorial Tournament and the Canon Greater Hartford Open. He also became the number one golfer in the world again. He won the NEC World Series of Golf with a fantastic 70-foot chip shot. He held the number one ranking for a total of 331 weeks in his career. He was also named PGA Player of the Year.

In 1996, Norman started the 1996 Masters Tournament with a record-tying score of 63. He led for three days but lost the tournament on the final day. He won two more PGA Tour events in 1997, which were his last victories on the tour.

In 2008, at 53 years old, Norman surprised many by leading The Open Championship after three rounds. He finished tied for third place, showing he could still compete with the best.

Champions Tour

Norman turned 50 in 2005, but he didn't play much on the senior golf tour. This was partly because he focused on his businesses. He also had hip and back problems from playing golf for so many years.

Career Achievements and Legacy

Norman tees off at Royal Birkdale

Greg Norman was a very successful golfer. He was the first player on the U.S. PGA Tour to earn over $10 million in prize money. He finished in the top 10 in major championships 30 times. His 20 PGA Tour wins in the 1980s and 1990s were second only to Tom Watson during that time.

He was ranked as the world's number one golfer at the end of seven different years. He also won the PGA Tour of Australia's top award six times and the European Tour's top award once. He won the Vardon Trophy three times for having the lowest scoring average on the PGA Tour. In 2001, he was added to the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Norman received the BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year Award twice, in 1986 and 1993. In 2007, he was named a "Legend" in the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America gave him their highest honor, the Old Tom Morris Award, in 2008. In 2015, the PGA of Australia created the Greg Norman Medal, given to Australia's best male or female golfer each year.

Playing Style

Norman was known for his bold and aggressive way of playing golf. He was one of the best at hitting the golf ball far and straight. His powerful drives often impressed other professional golfers.

The Greg Norman Company

Norman designing The Eastern Golf Club in Yering, Australia.

Norman started his company, originally called Great White Shark Enterprises, in 1993. It's now known as the Greg Norman Company and is based in Florida, USA. The company uses his famous shark logo and runs many different businesses.

• Greg Norman Golf Course Design: Since 1987, this part of the company has designed over 100 golf courses around the world.
• Greg Norman Collection: This clothing line, started in 1992, sells golf-inspired activewear for men and women.
• Greg Norman Estates: This company produces different types of wine from Australia, California, and Argentina.
• Real Estate: The company also develops real estate projects and offers interior design services.
• Great White Shark Opportunity Fund: This fund invests in growing companies around the world.
• Shark Wake Park: Greg Norman and his son, Greg Norman Jr., created these parks for wakeboarding. The first one opened in 2016.
• Connected Golf Cart: In 2017, Norman launched a golf cart with a touchscreen for music and GPS.
• Greg Norman Eyewear: This brand sells sunglasses designed for playing golf.
• Greg Norman Australian Prime: This line offers high-quality Wagyu steaks and other beef products.
• Greg Norman Australian Grille: This restaurant in South Carolina offers fine dining with an Australian theme.

Partnerships

Norman also has partnerships with other companies. He invested in GPS Industries and partnered with Kohlberg & Company to buy Troon Golf, a large golf management company. He is also an investment partner in Alchemy Global, which helps sports startups.

He has been a brand ambassador for companies like Qantas (since 1976), Cobra Golf, and OMEGA.

Other Ventures

LIV Golf Investments

LIV Golf Investments was led by Greg Norman as CEO from 2021 to 2025. The LIV Golf Invitational Series started in 2022. In this series, players compete both individually and as part of a team. This new series caused strong reactions from older golf organizations like the PGA Tour and European Tour. Some players who joined the LIV series were suspended from other tours.

Philanthropy

Greg Norman is very involved in charity work. He hosts the QBE Shootout, a PGA Tour team golf event in Florida. This event raises money for CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation.

The Greg Norman Golf Foundation, started by Greg and his father, helps teach golf to school students, children with disabilities, and junior golf club members in Queensland. Norman is also a trustee for The Environmental Institute for Golf, which works to make golf more friendly to nature. He received the Charlie Bartlett Award in 2008 for his charity efforts.

Broadcasting

In 2014, Fox Sports announced that Norman would be a lead golf commentator for their championships. However, after some criticism of his performance at the 2015 U.S. Open, he was replaced in 2016.

Autobiography

Norman wrote his life story in a book called The Way of the Shark, which was released in 2006.

Personal Life

Norman with daughter Morgan Leigh and son Gregory in 2014.

Greg Norman married Laura Andrassy in 1981, and they had two children, Greg Norman Jr. and Morgan-Leigh. They divorced in 2006. He then married former tennis star Chris Evert in 2008, but they divorced after 15 months. In 2010, Norman married Kirsten Kutner. He has two grandchildren.

In December 2020, Norman was hospitalized with COVID-19. He shared updates on social media, saying it was "an ugly one" but he was looking forward to the future.

Professional Wins Summary

Norman has won many tournaments around the world. Here's a summary of his wins on major tours:

PGA Tour wins (20)

• Major championships: 2
• Players Championships: 1
• Other PGA Tour: 17

PGA Tour playoff record (4–8)

• Won 4 playoffs, lost 8.

European Tour wins (14)

• Major championships: 2
• Other European Tour: 12

European Tour playoff record (1–6)

• Won 1 playoff, lost 6.

PGA of Japan Tour wins (2)

• The Crowns (1989)
• Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo Masters (1993)

Asia Golf Circuit wins (2)

• Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Open (1979, 1983)

PGA Tour of Australasia wins (33)

• Flagship events: 2
• Other PGA Tour of Australasia: 31

PGA Tour of Australasia playoff record (1–2)

• Won 1 playoff, lost 2.

Other wins (19)

• These include various international tournaments and team events.

Other playoff record (3–1)

• Won 3 playoffs, lost 1.

Major Championships

Wins (2)

Year	Championship	Winning score	Margin	Runner-up
1986	The Open Championship	E (280)	5 strokes	Gordon J. Brand
1993	The Open Championship (2)	−13 (267)	2 strokes	Nick Faldo

Results Timeline Summary

• He made the cut in 18 consecutive major tournaments from 1981 to 1985.
• He had a streak of 3 top-10 finishes three times.

The Players Championship

Wins (1)

Year	Championship	Winning score	Margin	Runner-up
1994	The Players Championship	−24 (264)	4 strokes	Fuzzy Zoeller

Results in World Golf Championships

¹Cancelled due to 9/11

Results in Senior Major Championships

Team Appearances

Greg Norman has represented Australia and other teams in many golf competitions:

Amateur

• Australian Men's Interstate Teams Matches (representing Queensland): 1973, 1974

Professional

• World Cup (representing Australia): 1976, 1978
• Hennessy Cognac Cup (representing the Rest of the World): 1982
• Dunhill Cup (representing Australia): 1985 (winners), 1986 (winners), 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996
• Four Tours World Championship (representing Australasia): 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989
• Presidents Cup (International team): 1996, 1998 (winners), 2000, 2009 (as non-playing captain)
• Alfred Dunhill Challenge (representing Australasia): 1995
• Wendy's 3-Tour Challenge (representing PGA Tour): 1993, 1994 (winners)

Images for kids

• 

  Norman with his children Morgan Leigh and Gregory after winning the 1986 World Match Play.

• 

  Norman surfing in Jupiter, Florida, wearing clothing from his collection.

See also

In Spanish: Greg Norman para niños

• List of golf courses designed by Greg Norman
• List of celebrities who own wineries and vineyards
• List of golfers with most European Tour wins
• List of golfers with most PGA Tour wins
• List of men's major golf championships winning golfers
• The Vintage Golf Course