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R&A to reject Greg Norman’s exemption request to compete at Open Championship

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Never far from the headlines these days, Greg Norman has again caught the eye of the golf world with his attempt to play at this year’s 150th Open at St.Andrews in July.

Already filling the column inches as CEO of LIV Golf Investments, a series of Saudi-backed golf events that run directly opposite a trio of well-established PGA Tour events, Norman is in again.

The two-time Open champion stated last Friday that, “I’m filling out my entry form now; I think I’m going.” He then added, “I think I can still get in. It’s the 150th. I’m a past Open Champion. I love St Andrews. If there’s a moment in time that I would consider going back and teeing off one last time, maybe this is it.”

The R&A granted Tom Watson a special exemption to compete at the event in 2015, but it looks as if the governing body has no intention of doing the same for the Aussie.

A spokesman from the R&A said in reply that, “The entry terms and conditions for The Open stipulate that a champion must be aged 60 or under or have won the championship in the previous 10 years to be exempt from qualifying. That remains the case for The 150th Open and we have no plans for any additional exemptions.”

It seems as though Norman is at a standstill.

Having won the championship in 1986 and 1993, he is several years outside of the required 10 year exemption for previous winners, whilst his main rival at the last of those wins, Sir Nick Faldo, took to twitter in a humorous response to the report on Sky Sports News.

Replying to @SkySportsGolf news that Norman was coming out of retirement, Faldo hit back with:“What’s the age limit? @TheOpen”

There looks to be no chance of Norman taking part at St. Andrews other than going through qualification, something he surely won’t take part in although any attempt would again get the golf world chatting his name once again.

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19th Hole

“Is it a Titleist?” – Jerry Seinfeld shares never-before-heard details of iconic scene

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On Thursday, legendary comedian Jerry Seinfeld joined the Rich Eisen Show and shared an awesome story from a “Seinfeld” episode titled “The Marine Biologist.”

In the episode, a golf ball goes into the blow hole of a whale. According to Seinfeld, that was never in the episode’s script.

Seinfeld recalls saying the night before the filming of the episode, “What if what puts the whale in distress is Kramer’s golf ball?”

“He’s hitting golf balls at the beach. George is at the beach with a girl, we haven’t connected them!”

“We write that speech the night before at two o’clock in the morning…The sea was angry that day my friend.”

 

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A post shared by Rich Eisen (@richeisen)


Kramer finishes the iconic scene by asking “Is it a Titleist?” Seinfeld told Eisen the show sought Titleist’s permission to mention its name, saying the ball had to be a Titleist. Fortunately for lovers of the iconic show, the company agreed.

If (somehow) you’re unfamiliar with the scene, check it out below.

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Phil Mickelson drops big retirement hint; Says LIV will grow the game ‘on a much more global basis’

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While speaking with Bloomberg, golf legend Phil Mickelson acknowledged that he is inching close towards retirement.

“I’m 53 now,” Phil said, “and my career, you know, it’s — if I’m being truthful, it’s on — it’s — it’s — I’m a — it’s towards its end.”

Mickelson added that one of his focuses now is helping other young players.

“Now, I would like to help others find the same enjoyment and fulfillment that the game has provided me. I’d like them to experience that as well.”

The six-time major champion credited LIV with reaching new markets in golf to help it grow.

“I think that’s exciting for everyone involved in the game because we are going to reach markets that we didn’t reach before. I think it’s going to inspire more golf courses, inspire more manufacturers selling clubs and equipment, but also inspiring young kids to try to play golf professionally. I just see that the game of golf is going to grow on a much more global basis because of the excitement and the presence that LIV Golf has.”

Mickelson is playing at this week’s LIV Singapore and shot a first round 72 (+1).

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Tiger explains why golf has ‘negative connotations’ for daughter Sam

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While Tiger Woods’ son, Charlie, has certainly inherited his father’s love for golf, his daughter, Sam, has not.

On Wednesday, Tiger made an appearance on The Today Show with Carson Daly and explained his daughter’s relationship with golf.

“Golf has negative connotations for her. When she was growing up, golf took daddy away from her. I had to pack, I had to leave, and I was gone for weeks. So, there were negative connotations to it.

“We developed our own relationship and our own rapport outside of golf. We do things that doesn’t involve golf. Meanwhile, my son and I, everything we do is golf related.”

The nine-minute interview touches on plenty of other subjects, such as Tiger’s relationship with his late father, Earl.

It’s arguably the most open we’ve seen the 15-time major champion in an interview and is most definitely worth watching.

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