Norman's story concludes early
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Greg Norman retreated toward the clubhouse and lingered under the big oak tree, one of Augusta National Golf Club's finest landmarks, before kissing Chris Evert on the lips.
A tough second round at the Masters Tournament left Norman looking for comfort from his wife, who had inspired him to return to the setting of some of his greatest disappointments.
Norman, in spite of a promising 70 in the first round, won't be around this weekend to try to turn back time by climbing up the leaderboard. The three-time Masters runner-up shot 77 on Friday, playing the final six holes in 4-over par and finishing two shots off the cut.
Norman, 54, playing in his first Masters since 2002, said he played better here than in July at the British Open, where he finished tied for third and qualified to play in Augusta.
"I'm not discouraged; disappointed more than discouraged," said Norman, whose next appearance will be at the senior tour's Legends of Golf event April 20-26 in Savannah, Ga. "It's still the best tournament around, and unfortunately I won't be around for the weekend."
Evert, the 54-year-old former tennis professional who won 18 career Grand Slam singles titles, peeked through a cluster of patrons as Norman prepared to hit his opening drive. He smacked it down the left side of the fairway, where it settled in the second cut -- a shot that portended struggles off the tee.
Norman hit only six of 14 fairways in the second round (just four of 96 players were worse). He putted 31 times, which he said left him the most disappointed.
Norman holed out for birdie from the bunker on the par-3 12th and moved to 1-under for the tournament. Only 32 players ended the second round under par, so with the two par-5s coming up, there was an opportunity for Norman to put himself in a position to earn an invitation back (the top 16 and ties automatically make it back).
Then, his group was warned for slow play on the 13th, which Norman said threw him out of rhythm. He blasted his second shot on the 510-yard, par-5 into Rae's Creek and rolled his pitch over the green.
It took him four shots to get in from there, which put him at 1-over with five holes to play.
A three-putt bogey at No. 14 moved him off the cut line. Needing a birdie on one of the final three holes to make the cut, Norman ran an 8-foot birdie try past the hole and down the hill on No. 15; hit to the middle of the green on the par-3 16th and two-putted; drove it left on No. 17, then couldn't scramble for par; and drove it in the trees on No. 18 before saving par.
"I didn't make any putts, either, and you got to make the putts," he said.
Norman confirmed he will play in the British Open in July at Royal Turnberry in Scotland, where he won his first major championship in 1986.
Reach Matt Middleton at (706) 823-3425 or matt.middleton@augustachronicle.com.
| 2nd Round | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Tot |
| Par | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 36 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
| Rnd | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 37 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 40 | 77 |
| Tot | -2 | -2 | -1 | -1 | -1 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | 0 | -1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 1st Round | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Tot |
| Par | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 36 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
| Rnd | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 34 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 70 |
| Tot | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -2 | -2 | -2 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -2 | -2 | -2 | -2 | -2 | -2 |
