Should Greg Norman be on the International team?

However, his greatest defeat came at the ’96 Masters — the trophy that he has admitted that he wants the most — when he lost an eight-shot lead to loose to Nick Faldo. Along with the humiliation of being listed as the world’s worst loser, came the title of `choker’ as most assumed that it was the beginning of the end of his golf career.

Yet, on that fateful afternoon as his dreams of wearing the green jacket painfully faded away, he embraced Faldo in a congratulatory hug and instead of running away to hide from the glare of the media, he walked into the press centre to face the world’s hardest golf critics.

Norman is one of the world’s toughest golfers. An aspiring fighter pilot who refused to sign up for the Royal Australian Air Force in order to chase a career in professional golf, Norman has come a long way from sunny California.

Helicopters, countless Ferraris — even his chauffeur can’t remember how many exactly — Harleys, Suburbans, jet skis and yachts are just a few of his assets. Nicknamed `The Shark’ because of his passion for fishing and his encounters with these mammals, he’s the man behind the stylish Shark clothing. He’s a charismatic golfer, always supporting his famous hats when the weather allows and has earned billions of dollars though his business ventures.

Yet, apart from all his material assets, he’s blessed with a powerful mind. A mind that has helped him to overcome life’s hardships and brings him back into contention time after time.

Amongst the first international golfers to make it big, he is more or less the man behind this President’s Cup. He has been canvassing for international events that involve the world’s golfers, other than the Ryder Cup which is contested between the Europeans and Americans.

And some day, if the world tour becomes a reality — a proposal that Norman initiated in ’94 with the knowledge that he may be a dead man by the time it materialises — it will be because of this man’s vision for the future.

LAST WEEK’S RESULTS:

USPGA:Mastercard Colonial; Winner: Phil Mickelson

LPGA: Firstar Classic; Winner: Anneka Sorenstam

APGA: Volvo China Open; Winner: Simon Dyson; Indians: Jyoti Randhawa 2nd

COMING UP:

USPGA:Kemper Open

Senior PGA: BellSouth Senior Classic at Opryland

EPGA:The Compass Group English Open

LPGA:City of Hope Myrtle Beach Classic

ELPGA: Chrysler Open

Buy.Com Tour: No event scheduled

APGA: Korea Open

Golfer of the week — Phil Mikleson

Who says golf is unpredictable? After three weeks in the hunt and top ten finishes, left-handed golfer, Mikleson finally took home the winners cheque from the Mastercard Colonial last week.