Well, so much for golf not being interesting without Tiger Woods.  After three rounds, Greg frickin’ Norman was leading the field at the Open Championship (the British Open for us ignorant Americans).  After checking my clock to make certain it wasn’t the early 1990s I realized it was true, and so did the rest of us.  If anything could be more compelling than Tiger “the cripple” Woods winning on crutches, it would be a 53 year old Aussie coming out of nowhere to win the British.  Crazy.

Unfortunately, the dream ending didn’t end up coming true this year.  Greg Norman (ranked in the 600s) had an extremely difficult time in his final round, and was unable to hold off that pesky Irishman, Padraig Harrington, who won his second straight Open Championship.

Just for a little perspective about how incredible it is to see Greg Norman competing right now, consider this:

• 2008 US Open - Did Not Play
• 2008 Masters - Did Not Play
• 2007 PGA Championship - Did Not Play
• 2007 Open Championship - Did Not Play
• 2007 US Open - Did Not Play
• 2007 Masters - Did Not Play
• 2006 PGA Championship - Did Not Play
• 2006 Open Championship - Did Not Play
• 2006 US Open - Did Not Play
• 2006 Masters - Did Not Play
• 2005 PGA Championship - Did Not Play
• 2005 Open Championship - Finished 60th Overall
• 2005 US Open - Did Not Play
• 2005 Masters - Did Not Play
• 2004 PGA Championship - Did Not Play
• 2004 Open Championship - Cut
  
• 2004 US Open - Did Not Play
• 2004 Masters - Did Not Play
• 2003 PGA Championshp - Finished 18th Overall
• 2003 Open Championship - Cut
  
• 2003 US Open - Did Not Play
• 2003 Masters - Did Not Play
• 2002 PGA Championship - Finished 53rd Overall
• 2002 Open Championship - Finished 18th Overall
• 2002 US Open - Finished 59th Overall
• 2002 Masters - Finished 36th Overall
• 2001 PGA Championship - Finished 29th Overall
• 2001 Open Championship - Did Not Play
• 2001 US Open - Did Not Play
• 2001 Masters - Cut
• 2000 PGA Championship - Cut
• 2000 Open Championship - Did Not Play
• 2000 US Open - Cut
• 2000 Masters - Finished 11th Overall

1999 was really the last time he was even relevant in any discussions.  So it was a truly remarkable ride.

Thanks a bunch Greg for giving us a fun show this weekend.