Greg Norman’s Masters showing is for nobody but himself

AUGUSTA, Ga. — For nigh on 40 years, numbers have had a painful way of exposing Greg Norman’s shortcomings at Augusta National. Some have been small, like the 5 he carded on the last hole in 1986 to finish runner-up. Or the six bogeys he made in the final round a year later on his way to finishing runner-up. Or the 11-shot swing he authored in ’96 that turned a six-stroke lead into a five-shot defeat as he finished … well, you know.

Norman largely ceased competing here more than two decades ago, and yet the 88th Masters has produced another number — one that is undetermined, but high — that reveals a great deal about him.

Each competitor in the field at the Masters gets eight passes to be used for family, friends and hangers-on, though Augusta National sets some parameters on who they may be used for. Players also have the option to purchase four additional badges. With 13 LIV golfers competing this week, that represents dozens of opportunities for one of them to bring their boss to the tournament as thanks for allowing them to grow the game.

And yet Norman ended up buying a ticket on the secondary market.

According to his son, Greg Jr., Norman was again denied a tournament pass through official channels, just as he was in 2023. “I want the focus this week to be on the Masters competition,” club chairman Fred Ridley said back then. “I would also add that, in the last 10 years, Greg Norman has only been here twice, and I believe one of those was as a commentator for Sirius Radio. It really was to keep the focus on the competition.”

Ridley knew that Norman couldn’t be trusted if admitted, that a man prone to grandstanding and grievances would likely use the Masters to platform his pettiness. This year has proved those fears justified.

The Great White Pilot Fish told the Washington Post that he’s here to support his guys. “I’m here because we have 13 players that won 10 Masters between them,” he said. “I’m here just to support them, do the best I can to show them, ‘Hey, you know, the boss is here rooting for you.’”

Except that’s not really what he’s doing.

For three straight days, Norman has appeared at Augusta National wearing his trademark straw hat, doing all he can to ensure he is noticed. And he wants to be noticed by one man in particular. On Wednesday and Thursday, he rode the rope line in view of Rory McIlroy, one of his more vocal and consistent critics. Even if McIlroy wasn’t in pursuit of the career…