Open Norman admits errors and moves on

If there were two shots Greg Norman could hit again from his final round in the US Masters last Sunday, they would be his first putts at the fifth and 14th holes. Both were left considerably short of the target, leading to three-putt bogeys on the way to a third-place finish behind Jose-Maria Olazabal.

Typically, the Shark was open and frank in response to questions about his latest disappointment at Augusta National, when he arrived in Harbour Town to play in the MCI Classic, starting today. As it happens, his last appearance here was in 1996, when he was tied 22nd on the weekend after his crushing Masters reversal by Nick Faldo.

Looking remarkably relaxed in a dark grey shirt and fawn slacks, he came into the media centre carrying a black leather hold-all. And by way of emphasising his well-being, he immediately described himself as "great", adding one of his flashing smiles for the benefit of committed sceptics.

Norman is here in his new 120-foot cruiser, of which he took delivery last Monday and which is now berthed in the harbour beside the 18th green. What were its specifications? "I don't discuss such matters," he replied. "All I will say is that I've always been a big boat person. Staying on it, surrounded by familiar things and listening to the water lapping against the hull, feels a lot like home," he said. "It helps me to relax."

His own personal Augusta inquest has been postponed until next week by which time he will have a video of the final round, specially prepared for him by the CBS network. "I'll analyse it all when I'm fishing down in Mexico," he said. "I feel my whole approach to the tournament, the golf course and the way I played is something I want to keep going. I also want to see what the other guys were doing, particularly the chip-in by Davis (Love) at the 16th."

In the meantime, he had no problem talking about the tournament. "There wasn't too much I did wrong on Sunday," he said. "Apart from three-putting the fifth and 14th, I felt my game was well under control. Ollie (Olazabal) played phenomenally solid golf, getting up and down whenever he needed to and shooting a back nine of 33.

"People may think of me as a complex person but the important thing is that I understand myself. I've always been a strong believer in accepting the consequences of my actions, no matter what I say or what shot I hit, favourable or otherwise.

"If you keep torturing yourself by asking `why did I do that?' or `why did this happen to me?', that's a total waste of energy and you'd be questioning yourself to death. Last week at Augusta, my mind was on the job and I gave it 100 per cent.

"I wasn't trying to three-putt those two holes. It happened and there is nothing I can do about it now. But if you're asking me what are the two shots that hurt me most during the final round, I would have to point to those putts. I left the first one about six feet short at the fifth and probably 15 foot short at the 14th."

As it happened, these putting errors led to a total of five three-putts over the four days of the tournament. But Norman insisted: "I still felt I had a chance to win going down the 15th. Anything can happen over those closing holes - and very often does."

He continued: "It's hard for people to understand, but I love to be involved in the competitive arena. I can admire the ability of another player to do what Ollie did on the 13th, following my eagle putt into the hole.

"There was a lot of electricity in the air. It showed me just how good a competitor he is and by respecting him totally, I could see what I would have to do to beat him."

When he left the course on Sunday evening, aware that his most coveted prize was being slipped over the shoulders of Olazabal, Norman got into his car, headed for the airport where his private plane flew him back to his home in Hobe Sound, Florida. "There was no replaying of the last round," he said. "There was no reason to."

And by way of emphasising his astonishing resilience, he was at the Medalist course which he designed near his home, giving a clinic at 8.30 on Monday morning. "When I contacted my office they told me they had received hundreds of faxes from people wishing me well for the future," he said.

The mood was unquestionably positive as Norman concluded: "That's the thing about the Masters - it seems to generate so much emotion. We had it on the back nine on Sunday with my eagle putt going in on 13, then Jose's birdie putt and later there was the huge road when Davis holed that chip on 16. All in all, the Masters has a really special feel to it."