Greg Norman is unlikely to be given an exemption but has revealed he wants to come out of retirement for the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews in July, according to The Daily Telegraph in Sydney.
Norman, 67, has become the face of the LIV Golf Investments – a golf operation funded by the Saudi Arabia government which is about to begin its own tour.
Norman would likely not be given a past champion exemption by the R and A, who runs the Open Championship, because the age cutoff for past champions is 60. That rule was introduced in 2007.
Jack Nicklaus famously chose the 2005 Open at St Andrews for his swanswong at the Majors but the age limit for past champions was 65 at the time.
Tom Watson waved goodbye at the 2015 edition at St Andrews but his ability to play that Open was more complicated.
In 2009, Watson finished second at the Open at Turnberry after losing in a playoff to Stewart Cink. Later that year, the R and A announced a new criteria for the Open – any former Open winner who finishes in the top 10 and ties at an Open Championship would be exempt for another five years.
That took Watson to 2014, but the R and A extended it by one year. Hence, Watson was able to play the 2015 Open at St Andrews. Norman’s only other option is to tee up in an Open qualifier.
Despite the roadblocks, Norman announced his intention to play his first competitive event in almost 10 years in an interview with News Corp’s The Daily Telegraph.
The last tournament Norman played with world ranking points on offer was the 2012 Australian PGA Championship, while the last Major he played in was that 2009 Open at Turnberry.
“I’m filling out my entry form now; I think I’m going,” Norman told News Corp.
Norman was asked if it was a legitimate intention to play the Open, which he won in 1986 and 1993, and the Shark responded: “I think I can still get in,” he said. “It’s the 150th. I’m a past Open Champion. I love St Andrews.”
