DID gamesmanship result in Greg Norman’s first main heartbreak loss on the 1984 US Open?
It may have been an element, based on Norman’s former coach Charlie Earp.
Charlie was on the Shark’s bag the 12 months American Fuzzy Zoeller tormented the Australian through the 18-hole playoff showdown.
A while in the past, Charlie kindly rekindled the recollections of the 1984 US Open at Winged Foot in New York.
Charlie, how did you come to be on Greg’s bag on the US Open in 1984?
He at all times needed me to caddie for him in a event and it occurred to be a US Open at Winged Foot. On the primary day, I used to be a bit jumpy as a result of we had been enjoying with Jack Nicklaus. We had been strolling down the golf green and Jack mentioned, ‘Isn’t it good to get the primary one (tee shot) out of the street’.
Quick ahead to the 72nd gap. There was some drama, wasn’t there?
Sure, however earlier than we go there, we have now to return to the sixteenth. We minimize one from the tee behind a tree and Greg needed to chip out.
In fact, everybody was with Fuzzy however a number of Yank children got here alongside and mentioned, ‘we’re with you two’.
There wasn’t anybody on the right-hand facet of the golf green – they had been all on the left with Fuzzy.
Effectively, Greg chipped out, hit a seven-iron to 6 ft and canned the putt.
Then on the seventeenth, he knocked in one other good putt for a par.
On 18 (72nd), he hit an excellent drive and we had slightly speak about what he was going to do. He determined to hit a six-iron.
I watched his six-iron shot and thought the way in which we’re going this might hit the grandstand and would possibly bounce on the inexperienced.
I knew it was going to go proper as a result of he was too tight via the ball.
Anyway, abruptly this man jumped up and grabbed the ball when it hit him and it bounced down into the lengthy grass.
He didn’t have an excellent lie and chunked it out throughout the inexperienced to about 45 ft. As we walked throughout he mentioned, ‘see that spot there – I’ve obtained to hit it straight over that’. Then he advised me to bugger off.
Effectively, he hit it straight excessive of that spot and sank the putt for par.
Greg Norman and coach-cum-caddie Charlie Earp on the 1984 US Open.
Was that when Zoeller waved a white towel in mock give up?
Fuzzy was a gap behind and thought Greg’s putt was for birdie and that’s when he pulled out the white towel.
When Fuzzy knocked his on the inexperienced I can keep in mind Laura [Greg’s wife at the time] saying to me, ‘what can occur?’
I mentioned ‘solely three issues: he can one-putt to win, two putt to be in a playoff or three putt and Greg wins’. He two putted and obtained within the playoff.
Inform us in regards to the 18-hole playoff.
Earlier than the playoff, Fuzzy gave Greg a toy phone and advised him to ring his mom. He mentioned ‘you’re going to get a thrashing, you realize that’.
They play the psychological video games.
It didn’t finish nicely for Greg, did it?
Each Greg and Fuzzy birdied the primary playoff gap and on the second gap Greg determined to make use of his driver for the primary time as a substitute of the two-iron we had been utilizing.
Once I pulled the iron out of the bag, Greg mentioned ‘no, give me the motive force’.
He carved it proper, needed to chip out and knocked it close to the flag. Fuzzy was up the again of the inexperienced with a monstrous (20m) putt downhill and to the correct, over a ridge and he canned it for birdie.
Greg mentioned to Fuzzy, ‘what did you do this for’ and Fuzzy replied by saying he was solely making an attempt to get it shut.
Greg made double-bogey and was three behind after two holes and 4 behind after 4 holes. After that, Greg simply began dashing and misplaced his focus.
FOOTNOTE: Within the playoff, Norman carded a 75 to Zoeller’s 67.
Graham, Ogilvy fly Aussie flag
ONLY two Australians have gained the US Open – David Graham in 1981 and Geoff Ogilvy in 2006.
5 Aussies have completed runner-up.
Greg Norman misplaced the playoff in 1984 and was second to Corey Pavin in 1995 and Jason Day was runner-up to Rory McIlroy in 2011 and tied for second in 2013 when Justin Rose lifted the trophy.
In 2003, Stephen Leaney completed three pictures behind Jim Furyk, Bruce Crampton was runner-up to Jack Nicklaus in 1972 and Gary Participant edged out Kel Nagle (71-74) within the 18-hole playoff in 1965.
