For Greg Norman, it was a story that has he has written many times before. He held the lead going into the final round of a Major Championship, only to let it slip away. Except that on all the other occasions we expected him to win and therefore, the ways in which he lost were, heartbreaking.

That the Great White Shark once again blazed across the links with his swashbuckling gait and dynamic style, will endure as a cherished spectacle. Looking more like a 33 year old than a 53 year old, part-time golfer, Norman was splendid. He reminded us all that it is never too late, nor are we ever too old; but it was not to be.

Padraig Harrington won his second consecutive Open Championship and he was clearly, the year’s Championship golfer. Most all of the contestants who were interviewed said that it was the hardest 4 consecutive days (weather and course conditions) of tournament golf that they had ever played. Harrington handled the elements better than anyone but he also, played magnificently.

With a two shot lead on the 71^st. hole, the 5 wood that he hit to five feet for his second shot (he made the putt for eagle) will undoubtedly go down as one of the great shots in history. At the time he had a two shot lead, which under these circumstances, can vanish quicker than you blink.

There may not be a player today who works harder at his game, than Harrington. There are more gifted players in the world, but nobody who deserves his success more than this everyday Irishman.

In interviews throughout the year, Harrington has said that while wining his first Major was rewarding and fulfilling, he did not want it to be his only one. Now it isn’t. He becomes only the fifth modern player to win back to back Open Championships. A potentially great career is now on it’s way to being a Hall of Fame career. It is so richly deserved.

They will be celebrating this one in the Emerald Isle, for a long time.

Greg Norman has found something even more important than another Claret Jug. He has found joy. While he may not ever again be a contender in a golf tournament, he seems as though he has found what really matters.

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Norman has shot two, even par rounds of 70 in atrocious conditions. Pretty good for a 53 year old, part time golfer. Could this be the ‘golf gods’ way of paying back Norman for a career filled with heartbreaking losses? Only time will tell.

In the world before Tiger, Norman reigned supreme and was for the 10 years before Tiger’s ascendancy, the face of professional golf.

Norman was a superb player and won 86 tournaments around the world. He was also sometimes tragic in the way that he managed to lose tournaments. Bob Tway’s holed-out bunker shot at the 1986 (that was the year that Norman led every Major after three rounds but only managed to win the British), Larry Mize’s chip-in at the 1997 Masters in a playoff, and Norman’s collapse to lose to Nick Faldo, after leading the 1996 Masters by 6 shots on the final day.

There are those who would say that Norman was the unluckiest player of all time, while others would say that he was the author of his own disasters. As an example, he led the 1986 PGA Championship (Tway’s chip-in) by 5 shots with six holes to play, so those people would say that he lost the tournament rather than Tway winning it.

Greg Norman always handled his defeats with grace and honesty. His movie star looks and ‘stiff upper lip” drew people to him and even people who were not fans of his, felt his anguish. There was always a sadness to his greatness. Kind of like watching a Greek tragedy, unfold.

At 53, Norman has found the happiness that may have eluded him until now. Last month he married, all time tennis great, Chris Evert. Norman has never seemed more content and comfortable (two things that he never appeared to be in his heyday).

Norman admits to playing more tennis than golf these days and is by all account becoming a very proficient tennis player.

This weekend, though, The Great White Shark has taken golf’s biggest stage by storm. It is as if the hands of time have been turned back 20 years.

It would perhaps be the most unlikely victory at a Major Championship, in history. Older bones don’t handle these type of weather conditions very well. It has been 9 years since he was in serious contention at a Major event. Will his swing hold up? Will his nerves stay the course? The next two days will tell that story.

Perhaps the most important story though, has already been written. Greg Norman, for all his fame and fortune, has finally found the joy that he has been looking for, all of his Life.

Erika is a relatively new golfer but has made remarkable progress is a very short time, with her teacher, the incomparable, Tim Peightal. Erika was playing at Whistling Straits, on the Straits course, on July 6, 2008. Erika was playing with her boyfriend, Mark Kiesel, who is himself a superb golfer, when “magic” struck!

On the 12th. hole, under a beautiful blue sky, Erika had, the rarest of all shots; a hole in one! The hole measured 69 yards and she used a sand wedge. What makes this even more memorable is that Mark captured her swing on camera. On the picture to the left (below) you see Erika just after impact and the picture to the right ….the result!

WELL DONE, ERIKA!

Denny Shute was an extraordinary player and even more special, person. Denny won three Majors, the 1933 British Open and the 1936 and 1937, PGA Championships in addition to winning 12 other PGA tournaments.

The legendary, Sam Snead, was being interviewed once and the reporter stated the he (Snead) was the best golfer from West Virginia. “No”, interrupted Snead, “I may be the best PGA Tour player from West Virginia, but the best golfer from West Virginia is Denny Shute”. High praise from the man that won more tournaments than any other player, in the history of the Tour.

Denny and Larry’s Father was a club professional who had come from England. Denny was born in Ohio but grew up in West Virginia, which is where he honed his great skills. Denny had a distinguished amateur career that included wins in the 1923 and 1925, West Virginia Amateurs, the Ohio Amateur in 1927 and three consecutive Ohio Opens from 1929-1931.

We must remember that playing golf for a living was not the lucrative, endorsement laden career that it is today. Most of the top players also had “club jobs”, which was their primary income. When Denny won the 1933 British Open (interestingly, he beat fellow 2008, WGHOF inductee, Craig Wood in a 36 hole playoff to win the Claret Jug at the home of golf, St. Andrews), he did not make back the expense of his travel, from the wining purse.

Denny would play on three Ryder Cup teams in 1931, 1933 and 1937 and also come close to winning two US Open’s, losing in playoffs in 1939 to Byron Nelson and then again in 1941, to Craig Wood.

It was a different world in those days. The second World War, was happening at what would have been, the peak of Denny’s career. Denny Shute, like so many others, more than did his part for the war effort, but by the time that the War ended, in 1945, Denny was 40 years old.

Helping people was always Denny’s, greatest passion, and he actually enjoyed being a club professional more than he liked playing the Tour. Denny was the consummate PGA professional and was the Head professional at Portage Country Club in Akron, Ohio from 1945 until his retirement in 1972. He passed away in 1974.

Hard to imagine a player today, who would trade in signing autographs to be in a pro shop at 6 am helping his members, but that is exactly what Denny did. Denny was elected into the PGA of America’s Hall of Fame, in its inaugural class, in 2005.

On November 10^th, 2008, Larry Shute will be at the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine to receive Denny’s induction. It has been a long time coming. Too long.

Denny Shute loved golf passionately but he loved people, more. He represented in his person, all the qualities that this great game, stands for. He was a friend and mentor to thousands. Denny Shute gave little care for fortune and fame, but he cared deeply, for all those whose lives he touched.

They just don’t make them like Larry or Denny Shute, anymore.

Stacy Lewis is leading after 3 rounds of the US Women’s Open; in her first event as a professional.

Lewis has a one shot lead over Paula Creamer, who is in search of her first Major Championship. Creamer, 21, a two time winner already this year is also a six time winner on the LPGA Tour. Creamer is the “veteran” in this duel, although she is two years younger that Lewis.

After an extraordinary college career at the University of Arkansas, where Lewis was three times an All American and a winner of the NCAA Championship, Lewis turned pro, 19 days ago.

But that is just the beginning of the story.

Lewis was 11 when doctors diagnosed her with scoliosis. She was supposed to wear a brace for two years, but that turned into seven years when she kept growing. Right after graduating high school, she had surgery on her back to install a rod and five screws.

“I thought I was done playing golf forever,” said Lewis. Obviously not.

Lewis has overcome a lot already in her life, which augurs well for her career as a professional. That she has learned how to deal with and conquer adversity will be keys to her success on the Tour.

This young lady is no shrinking violet. Lewis is not someone who will be happy with a good showing or moral victory.

“I only play in golf tournaments to win,” she said with quiet conviction, not bravado. “I’m not here to make the cut or finish top 10 or do any of that. I’m here to win. People might see that as arrogant, but I think if you’re not here to win, you’re never going to be successful.”

Remind you of anybody?

Who might step forward and become (at least, temporarily) the next Tiger?

History tends not to remember the runner-up or the vanquished. Let’s hope that in this case, history will celebrate, Rocco Mediate.

Rocco is a throwback. He is a gentleman. He is an anomaly in this modern world because he is an athlete who understands that he is playing a game, for a living, and Rocco is very grateful for that.

Rocco Mediate is a Champion. He may never win a Major Championship but let the history books record that sometimes it is the spirit of a person, which should be honored.

The way that Rocco conducted himself is an example for our children. Rocco Mediate is a role model. He handled “triumph and disaster” with a smile and great dignity. He was courageous in battle and gracious in defeat.

The US Open trophy will have Tiger’s name etched in it, but Rocco Mediate has a place etched in our hearts.

With 5 holes to play in the third round of the US Open, Tiger was 6 shots out of the lead. He was clearly bothered by his left knee and proceeded to hit his tee shot, right. Right of everything. The USGA sets up a course to have staggered levels of rough. Hit it 7 yards to the right or left of the fairway and you will be in rough that is 1 ½ inches long. Hit it 14 yards right or left and you will be in 3 inch rough. Hit it 30 yards either way and you will be in some serious cabbage. Tiger hit it right of the cabbage.

Tiger hit a 5 iron that almost landed in the hole, on the fly, but bounced to the very back of the green, leaving him a treacherous 70 foot putt. A putt, incidentally that no other player had read correctly all day. He made it. Eagle.

After hitting his tee shot on the 16^th. hole, Tiger doubled over in pain, and for a moment it looked as though he would collapse to the ground. From somewhere within him, he gathered himself and limped on making a fairly routine par.

On the 17^th. hole, Tiger pulled his second shot into the bank that protects the left part of the green. Tiger’s chip took one bounce, hopped 2 feet up the flagstick and dropped straight into the hole. Birdie.

A protective swing off the 18^th. tee, left Tiger with 226 yards to the hole. This would usually be a four iron. Tiger hit a “cut” 5 wood 30 feet to the right of the pin. He made it. Two eagles in five holes.

Tiger now holds the 54 hole lead in the US Open. He has never relinquished a lead after the third round of a Major championship.

We are witnessing not just the greatest golfer of all time, but perhaps the most mystical athlete, in history.

Tiger Woods roared back into contention yesterday shooting a historic 30, on his back 9, in the second round of the US Open. 30. On an Open course. And here’s the scary part, he hasn’t hit the ball (by his standards) well, yet. On Friday, it was his putter that did the work.

The tournament is over, right?

No.

The leader by one, at 3 under is Stuart Appleby. Appleby is the most prolific winner (with 8 wins to date) on the PGA Tour, of the current crop of great Australian players. He has contended in Majors before, most recently being the 3^rd. round leader at the 2007 Masters, and losing a playoff to Ernie Els, in the Open Championship at Muirfield in 2002. Appleby (like most Australians who grow up playing on Poa Annua greens and kikuyu fairways) loves the course conditions at Torrey Pines. It is very similar to the season opening, Mercedes Championship in Hawaii that he has won three times.

The leader board is packed with great players.

Davis Love III has found his stride and wouldn’t it be wonderful if he were to recreate the magic of his PGA Championship, at Winged Foot? On Father’s Day 1997, Love, holed his putt on the last green just as a rainbow draped in the background. Love had tragically lost his Dad, Davis Love 11, in a plane accident two years previously and the scene as he embraced his Mother on that green will endure, forever.

Miguel Angel Jimenez. Jimenez has also enjoyed a renaissance of late by winning twice on the European Tour this year. “The Mechanic” is a much underrated player, who has won 15 times across the pond and who has also contended at other Major Championships. Most notably, when he finished second to Tiger at the centenary Open at Pebble Beach (despite the fact that he finished 15 shots behind Tiger).

Robert Karlsson may not be a household name in the US, yet, but he is the Swedish player with the most wins (7) on the European Tour and he is having a great season. The tall, elegant, Scandinavian has a really good golf swing and an even temperament.

Is there a nicer person on Tour than Rocco Mediate? Now in his mid forties, and healthy (he has struggled with back problems for years) could this be his time? It would be a very popular victory.

Players within 5 shots of the lead include: Lee Westwood, Ernie Els, Geoff Ogilvy, Luke Donald and Robert Allenby.

The cream has most certainly risen to the top.