On and off the course, The Great White Shark thrives
By Art Stricklin
Greg Norman, the golfer, was always slashing, swashbuckling, going for broke, aggressive, often to his own demise. Norman, the businessman, whose corporate motto, ‘Attack Life,’ personifies his golf nickname, the Great White Shark.
But you can certainly make the point that Norman the businessman has become even more successful than Norman the golfer ever was. From wines to beef, clothing, turf grasses, boats and general golf lifestyle, Norman and his iconic shark branding symbol are seemingly everywhere in the game of business and successful in almost everything he has tried.
Recently, Norman sat down with California Golf+Travel to talk about his business career, his playing days, his take on Tiger Woods, his new role as a tournament manager, and his latest challenge as the lead golf commentator for Fox TV during the US Open.
Most golfers know more about your playing career than your business career. You spent more time Ranked No. 1 in the World than any player ever until your record was broken by Tiger Woods. What’s your take on Tiger’s troubles?
Every great player goes through a slump. How does the great player deal with a slump? How does he admit it to himself what is inside of him and how does he deal with it internally? How does he execute his game plan coming out of that?
Where is Tiger in this process and can he come out of it?
The interesting thing about Tiger is the huge fall he has taken in his short game in such a short period of time. You very seldom see a great player who had such a great short game fall like he has fallen. There is probably some emotional unraveling as your confidence gets shattered and jarred the way his has, it takes a sharper effort to come back like he wants to come back.
Will we ever see the Tiger of old back again?
He is a great player and he will figure it out. He wants to come back and loves to play the game of golf. I’m pretty confident he will navigate his way through this.
How does his absence affect golf when he is not on the course?
No question he moves the needle, he put buns in the seats. Over the years, he has carried the banner. He is coming through the back side of this. It’s up to him how he is going to handle the falling of Tiger Woods’ shining star. He is a pass through entity like any other sportsman.
Your latest challenge is as TV commentator for Fox Sports. What are you looking forward to commentating on Fox for golf broadcasting? Is it anything like playing?
There are a lot of things that I have done in my life and there have been a lot of opportunities to do new things in life, but this is one that I’m extremely excited about. Probably more so because my relationship with Joe Buck and my relationships with Mike Loomis, David Hill and Eric Shanks of FOX. There’s a sense of excitement, keenness. A lot of nerves as well because we’re all starting a brand new venture together. So as we go forward, everything we do is centered on a foundation of teamwork. There’s not one individual out there who thinks they’re ahead of everything else.
Since you are a commentator and businessman, do you ever see yourself competing on the Champions Tour as a player?
I don’t know. At this point in my life I am really enjoying the work we do with the company and spending time with family, honestly. I still enjoy my time on the golf course but do not have that burning desire to put in the time practicing in order to be tournament ready.
How much golf do you watch on TV?
I don’t watch much TV in general or much golf, but I turned on the (recent) match play and watched the final couple of holes while I was working out to see who won. The golf on TV I will never miss is the Masters.
The Masters. Really? You like watching the Masters after all those heartbreaks?
I love the Masters. I love that place, especially the last six holes on Sunday. I don’t have any bad memories watching it on TV. There is nothing about the Masters that I don’t like. Sure, my career could have been better there. It could have been worse. Maybe I wouldn’t even be here today.
Did you feel like you’re just unlucky on the golf course, especially in majors?
I do know I was the only player ever to lose back-to-back majors to a chip-in. You can look it up. You can say that was unlucky, but those guys were trying to make those shots. I won some like that. Could I have won more majors? Sure I could have, but I had a great career.
Norman Great White Shark Enterprises is now in its third year as operators of the PGA Tour’s Valero Texas Open in San Antonio, which has enjoyed record crowds and stellar fields since your business group took over management of the event. You played hundreds of rounds of tournament golf, but what’s it like to have your company serve as tournament manager and listen to the other tournament golfers’ comments?
When I played the game I knew how tournaments should be played and run and from a sponsor perspective, we know what we had to deliver (here).
Does your personal golfing experience give you an idea what the players are thinking about a tournament and the course?
I think it does. Look at Phil Mickelson who has come here the last two years. He loves what the Valero Texas Open represents, and he loves the courses and the facility. Last year, Phil withdrew after round 3 and he didn’t deliver 100 percent, that’s one of the reasons he came back. Look at the JW Marriott right here on property, the players never have to put a key in the ignition during the week and they like that. I certainly did.
Another unique feature of the Texas Open is that it’s played on a course you designed at the Oaks Course at TPC-San Antonio. You’ve designed resort courses and tournament courses. What is your design philosophy?
I’ve always been a big believer in walking the layout to see the virgin side on every course I’ve built. My whole philosophy is taking the least disturbance approach. On the site, you want to see what Mother Nature is going to give you and go on from there. You want courses that look like they have been there for 20 years. Some sites are environmentally sensitive, but all golf courses evolve over a period of time.
One thing about the TPC-San Antonio, like a few of your other courses, is that for one week a year, it’s played by the best players in the world. The other 51 weeks it’s played by resort guests and members. How do you balance that?
I always look at what the best players in the world say and the amateurs say, the ladies, men, the 100 shooters. You want to design it for all for them from different tees and make sure the place seems natural.
In your career, you must have played with some great players and great people?
I had the chance to play with a couple of (U.S.) presidents and they put on their pants the same as we do every day. I played with Clinton and with Bush, 41, and they just want a normal round of golf, like everybody else does. They want to hear your stories and, of course, you want to hear theirs.
How proud are you of your great business career and what you have achieved off the course?
Extremely proud. I had a moment to reflect back on what our Production Company and the people at Valero have done the past few years to continue to elevate this storied event. Business is a lot like golf in that you are always looking for ways to improve year in and year out. I am proud of the individuals and teams that work for my company as they constantly pursue excellence in their work.
