Greg

Norman

Bubba Watson, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, and Kevin Na were the four men connected to the Saudi Golf League per the report. With the details yet to be confirmed, Norman spoke to the news outlet to which he said, “The interest level we’ve had… well, I had a player who’s won a couple of major championships sitting in my very office here 48 hours ago.” Norman added, “Quite honestly, it doesn’t matter who plays, we’re going to put the event on. There’s a $4 million first prize. I hope a kid who’s 350th in the world wins. It’ll change his life, his family’s life. And then a few of our events will go by and the top players will see someone winning $6 million, $8 million, and say ‘enough is enough, I know I can beat these guys week in week out with my hands tied behind my back’.” The four players mentioned above may not be alone as other players have spoken highly of the Saudi Golf League in recent memory including the likes of Adam Scott and Jason Kokrak.

He probably wasn’t going to win anyway, but then again, his replacement, Kevin Sutherland probably isn’t going to either.

Norman went out in 2-over-par 38 at PGA West’s Palmer Private Course before calling it quits. He was an aggregate 1-over through 45 holes and faced a steep uphill climb to survive the 54-hole cut. This was his first start in a PGA TOUR event since the 2009 British Open.

Absolutely no surprise that the Australian chief went with two fellow countrymen for the event to be held at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club in their homeland. Allenby, who lives in Melbourne, will be making his sixth appearance. Baddeley will be making his debut. They’ll be joining three other Aussies -- Jason Day, Adam Scott and Geoff Ogilvy -- who qualified automatically. The remaining seven qualifiers were Charl Schwartzel, K.J. Choi, Kyung-tae Kim, Retief Goosen, Ernie Els, Y.E. Yang and Ryo Ishikawa.

Norman/McCarron finished T4 four shots back of the leaders. They each earned $87.5K for the three rounds played. Not bad for a few days work.

He drained a 25-footer on 18 for birdie that pulled him within a shot of the lead, but just missed getting into a playoff with Watson and Smyth. Loren Roberts was also making his Senior debut, and managed to finish fifth, just behind Craig Stadler.

This is great news for the locals and anyone else that might be there and hasn’t seen The Shark tee it up in person but the only fantasy players that should make note of this are those in weekly leagues. Norman hasn’t cashed a paycheck in an official PGA Tour event since the 2005 British Open. This appearance challenges the all-time record for weakest, short-term fantasy impact of a Hall of Famer.

Back in Augusta for the first time in seven years, Norman played like he never left, hitting 11 (of 14) fairways and minimizing his mistakes, carding just one bogey. Moreover, his hopes of winning the Green Jacket remain alive for one more day.

Norman was on the cut line when he arrived at the 13th hole today, but a double bogey-7 at the hole and two more bogeys on the way in derailed his hopes of playing the weekend. Unless he performs more magic at the British Open, this was likely his final appearance at Augusta National.

He played a provisional after his first ball was thought to go into a water hazard. You can’t do that. The only time you can play a provisional is when your first ball is believed to be lost, not in a hazard.