Marc Leishman, a 28-year-old Aussie wins the Travelers Championship and yet another Australian emerges on the American golfing scene. Nevertheless the question must be asked, “How come we’ve only won one major in 17 years?”

Greg Norman at recent media conference said, “Why does it happen? Why is the void? I have no answer because it doesn’t make sense to me because the players are good enough to do it on a regular basis.”

Brian O’Hare at the Australian Senior Golfer covers the story.
“Australia hasn’t won a golf major since Geoff Ogilvy took the 2006 US Open and that’s the only one in the last 17 years…In the previous 17 years Australia golfers won six majors – Norman twice, David Graham, Wayne Grady, Ian Baker-Finch and Steve Elkington."

Greg said, “It’s not an acceptable strike rate considering the talent and the capabilities of the Australian players we have out there.”

Especially since their less conspicuous cousins from across the Tasman have done equally well in the last 17 years. If not better because Craig Perks won “The Fifth Major” back in 2002.

The young Aussie underachievers may take some consolation in the fact that, “…when you think about it, you’ve got all these great players around the world and there’s only four golf tournaments per year, so there’s only going to be four winners, so you can see the odds are getting harder and harder.”

Commenting on his “fantastic run” in the British Open at Royal Birkdale in 2008 Greg said, “I am a huge believer that somebody in their 50s will definitely win a major championship in the very near future and Tom Watson the following year when he was an eight iron bounce away from winning.”

Perish the thought for the young Aussie underachievers that someone like Greg or Peter Senior should be the next Aussie to win a Major.
Can’t happen you say!

Greg says, “When you put yourself in a position like Tom and I did a few years ago, those things come flooding back very, very quickly. It’s amazing the sense of calmness and the sense of remembrance and the sense of competitive spirit, how quickly it comes flooding back.”

Here’s the link to Brian O’Hare

Quote of the Day
“Setting goals for your game is an art. The trick is in setting them at the right level neither too low nor too high.” – Greg Norman