Notebook: No More Excuses For Norman

By John Albers and Alex Miceli

Kettering, Ohio – Having endured surgery and many months of rehabilitation to solve his back problems and work his powerful swing back into form, only one facet of Greg Norman's game is holding him back at the U.S. Senior Open this week – his putting.

After playing the first seven holes of his round in 4 under par and moving into a tie for the lead on Saturday, Norman missed three straight birdie putts under 10 feet, halting his momentum and leaving him with a 2-under-par 69 for the day. His three-round total of 207 is five shots behind the lead and good for seventh place going into Sunday's final round.

Norman is playing in his third tournament in as many weeks, following a four-month layoff for back surgery and rehabilitation. His first two weeks produced successful results, so Norman doesn't believe he can lean on his long layoff anymore for lack of feel around the greens.

"I wouldn't blame that right now," said Norman. "I've been out there enough in the last couple of days, couple of weeks. What have I played now, about 11 rounds of golf under competitive conditions? I really should have that under control right now.

"I really can't blame lack of playing anymore. I really just think it's getting out there and making putts."

In his first tournament back, the British Open at St. Andrews, Norman made the cut and finished 1 over par. In his second event, the Senior British Open, he finished second. In his third, he is now in contention to win his first senior major championship. Following five years of relative quiet in major championships, Norman said he is back in his element.

"It feels exactly the same," said Norman. "I think we're all out here competing. We're all competing for a championship here and it feels exactly the same. The pressure is there and the pressure is on yourself to perform."

Not Smart?

Dana Quigley returned to the golf course this week after his streak of playing in 264 consecutive tournaments was snapped by missing the Senior British Open.  After the week off, it appeared he might be a bit rusty. But on Saturday he was back in form and ready to play, shooting a 5-under 66.

"I'm a dummy," said Quigley with a grin.

"I probably put a little extra pressure on myself to try to play well this week and show that getting to the end of the streak wouldn't bother me psychologically. I probably put a little extra heat on me to make it go. I didn't mean to do it on purpose. I really wanted to play well and show those guys that caught me in the Schwab Cup that I could come back at them. But it didn't happen"

Quigley went off early, but won't on Sunday as his 5-under performance was the low round of the day.  His seven birdies were two more then he had in the first two rounds, and if not for a double bogey on the par 4 12^th, Quigley would have put himself in position to make a charge on Sunday.

"I don't think I can catch (the leaders), but stranger things have happened," said Quigley, 58, who has never missed the cut in nine starts but also hasn't finished in the top 10. "I could come out and shoot one of Tiger's rounds. As a matter of fact, I'd like to have him come in and shoot for me."

The key Saturday was hitting the ball closer to the flagstick despite more difficult hole locations and faster greens, which had an effect on scoring. Only one other player, club pro Perry Arthur, equaled Quigley's 66.

"Things were a lot harder today, no question. I think it sets up harder," said Quigley.

The only question was, would it get so hard that Quigley could make a run at them? The journeyman pro just smiled.

"They aren't afraid of me any week. I've got to sneak around the back and get these guys," he said. "It's the only way for me to beat them. I can't go straight at them."

Well, no, because, for one thing, they'll spot him in that pink ensemble.

"Hey," said Quigley, "a guy the first day told me real men wear pink."

If It Happens

Should he win Sunday at 50 years, one month and seven days, Loren Roberts would become the youngest U.S. Senior Open winner ever, surpassing Dale Douglass, the 1986 U.S. Senior Open champion at Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio, at 50 years, three months and 24 days. Roberts' best finish in a major championship on the PGA Tour came at the 1994 U.S. Open at Oakmont when -- along with Colin Montgomerie -- he lost in a playoff to Ernie Els. 

Stats

The week at NCR has been filled with eagles, 14 through three rounds.  The most memorable on Saturday coming when Roberts eagled the par 5 10^th hole to move into the lead at 11 under.  It was a lead he would not relinquish.