Greg Norman called on golden oldies everywhere to dare to dream the dream after serving up a spectacular British Open performance at the age of 53.
“A lot of people should take stock, no matter how old they are,” the Australian told reporters on Sunday after a closing 77 gave him a share of third place with Swede Henrik Stenson on nine-over-par 289.
“If you really want to chase a dream you can go do it. Even though there was failure at the end of it for me, I still put myself in position to show a lot of other people that you can go do something if you want it.”
Norman, who plays more tennis than golf these days with his wife Chris Evert, started the final round with a two-shot lead and said the worst thing about his last-day slump was his score.
“The toughest thing today? That was shooting 77,” said the former world number one.
“But I think the (strong) winds became a little more awkward. Obviously I am disappointed. It would be an understatement if I didn’t say I was disappointed.”
Norman, who won the British Open in 1986 and 1993, said his sparkling Birkdale display would not force him to change his playing habits.
“It still doesn’t fire me up to go out there,” he said. “I am going to play the Senior British Open next week and then the Senior U.S. Open and that’s it.
“I don’t plan on playing any more golf after that for a while,” added the Australian who spends most of his time working for his thriving course-design company.
“I am very happy, it’s nice to have a balanced life. I don’t grind it out on the golf course any more.
“I don’t practise, practise, practise. I just play when I like to play and practise when I like to practise.”
Norman heaped praise on Ireland’s Padraig Harrington after his playing partner clinched victory in the British Open for the second year running.
“Padraig played great today,” he said. “Even though he tried to let it get away in the middle of the round he came back and performed beautifully, like a true Open champion.
“What did Padraig shoot today, 69? I would have had to shoot 71 (to win) and that would have been tough for me.”
But Norman said he was proud he challenged for the title throughout the tournament in his bid to become golf’s oldest major champion.
“I am sure I surprised a lot of people but, at the same time, I think what happens if I had won,” he said.
“Then I might have had to be out here playing more golf and maybe that’s what I didn’t want to do. I can walk away with my head held high because I hung in there.
“I got a couple of unfortunate lip-outs. Maybe if on 11 and 12 they had lipped in instead of out it would have been a totally different score.
