Tiger And Greg, The Backstory

Robert Lusetich explains the various backstories in the Norman-Woods-Couples-triangle. Oh, and perhaps why Robert Allenby's name got dragged into the drama too.

Perhaps it’s not surprising, given the bad blood between Norman and Woods, dating to when they shared coach Butch Harmon. Sharing’s a difficult proposition for two men accustomed to getting their way.

“Tiger and Greg don’t speak,” said a source who knows both well. “There’s a lot of animosity between them.”

Indeed, one reason Woods wanted the word spread about the course-record 62 he shot at the Medalist course in Jupiter, Fla., a few weeks ago is that Norman’s best score on the course he co-designed is 64.

It was a classic retaliation at the Great White Shark’s declaration a week beforehand that Woods would never win another major.

This Week's Greg Norman Bulletin Board Quote For Tiger

Seth Soffian reports on yet another motivational quote (I've lost track!) for Tiger, once again courtesy of International Presidents Cup team captain Greg Norman:

“I wouldn’t have (picked Woods),” Norman said during a press conference today to announce the field for the Shootout at host venue Tiburon Golf Club in North Naples. “I think Keegan Bradley was much more deserving.

“I can understand the name of a Tiger Woods and his history of what he’s done on the golf course. But I pick the guys who I think are ready to get in there and play and have performed to the highest levels leading up to it.”

Post Na-16 Analysis: "Validation that they're finally offering a major-league course as a foundation for growth."

That's Richard Oliver's claim after Kevin Na's 16 went viral and brought great publicity to the Valero Open.

For tournament officials, who have long worked to position the Texas Open as a major-league event, it was validation that they're finally offering a major-league course as a foundation for growth.

For Valero Energy Corp., entering the final year of its title sponsorship deal, it was a welcome, unexpected spotlight for its brand — and perhaps a talking point for pending negotiations.
"We thought from the very beginning that this course was designed to test the best players," Tony Piazzi, head of Golf San Antonio, said Saturday of the Greg Norman-designed AT&T Oaks. "I think you're seeing that."

Friday offered another stark example when a brutal north wind raked the 7,435-yard layout, turning holes built specifically to accommodate seasonal south winds into maddening and often unfair challenges.

When the average scores soared to the highest levels against par in three seasons on the PGA Tour, it was a seismic development that officials hope will resonate with players not on site this week.

Uh, yes it will! Not in the way you probably hope.

The message: The Texas Open is no longer being decided on the pitch-and-putt Resort Course at La Cantera. These days, at AT&T Oaks, there just might be pain.

Judging by your comments and based on the tendencies of PGA Tour players to avoid courses that make them look or feel like fools, I'm guessing Oliver's suggestion will not be reinforced by an improved field next year.

Regarding the incredible coverage of Na's 16 (front page NY Times, Sportscenter acknowledging the PGA Tour, Jumbotron screenings at baseball games), this week's SI Confidential has an amusing rundown capped off by a beautiful comebacker from Van Sickle.

"And he calls himself a proud Australian.

Nick Tabakoff in the Herald Sun looks at Greg Norman's handling of his design office closure and questions about termination pay for his staff.

The ex-employee also said that while the Sydney office had fewer than 15 staff, it was "part of a larger company that employs about 40 people globally".

Norman was at the top of the latest BRW Sports Rich List, earning $15 million last year, largely because of the successful golf course design company.

Fair Work Australia guidelines specify redundancy payments are required to be made to terminated staff of a company with "15 or more employees".

Many Australian companies have historically chosen to pay four weeks' redundancy pay for every year of service, which would have allowed Norman's longest-serving ex-member of staff to be paid 40 weeks' redundancy.

Even baseline new national employment standards provide for a minimum 12-16 weeks' redundancy for staff of companies of 15 staff or more.

But Mr Steven said he received a "letter of termination" delivered in person by company vice-president, Jason McCoy, on April 30 - the day he was made redundant.

"It said I would just get statutory entitlements," he said. "It didn't even state I was being made redundant. It just said my termination was effective immediately."