Norman: 'Model professional'

He has suffered breaks against him, he has let majors slip by, but win or lose, Gregory John Norman has been the model professional golfer.

Ewen Murray
Quotes of the week

Also see

• Dave Tindall blog
• Course guide
• Open A-Z
• Betting

We were all wondering who the star would be at the Open in the absence of Tiger Woods - but not many would have said that player would be 53-year-old Greg Norman.

Greg simply lit up the 137th playing of this grand championship with his charisma, class, natural talent and elegance.

Few have graced the fairways of the world as Norman has. He has suffered breaks against him, he has let majors slip by, but win or lose, Gregory John Norman has been the model professional golfer.

He learned to cope with success and failure. I have often said how fortunate we all are to be living in the era of Tiger, well, when I finish, I will be happy I lived my life alongside Norman.

When he hit the front at Birkdale on Friday, this Open became big news. By Saturday evening, the impossible was on the cards. On Sunday, the Australian got off to the start we hoped he wouldn't, yet it was the start we thought he would have.

A long time away from tournament golf told in the end, as did the advancing years, yet Norman as always, gave his best.

And in his victory speech, Padraig paid tribute to Norman. Those who played alongside Greg would expect that.

Great champion

Padraig is a great champion. I think when you hit the ball in the water twice at the 72nd hole and win, fortune is on your side. This time, Harrington had his wrist injury, although it did not seem to affect him greatly, and he won superbly well.

He has the ability to win when below his best. All of the great champions have had that ability. When their long game is less than average, their short game sharpens and Padraig never lost his belief or focus during the final round.

A run of bogeys were received in the same manner as the birdies and his patience was rewarded by playing the final four holes in text book fashion, in fact even better than that. Four under for the last six holes is champions golf of the highest order and his performances at Carnoustie and Southport deservedly give him his place in history.

What's more, the R&A have already said he has worn the title of champion so well during the past year. They can be assured he will do that again, all the way to Turnberry next year.

Progress

Ian Poulter moved his career up a notch and the performances of Henrik Stenson and the Open champion means it was a good week for Ryder Cup captain, Nick Faldo.

It looks like he will not have to give wild cards to any of these three. It means his side will have experience and he can use these two picks to give his side the correct balance when the time comes at the end of August.

Padraig has said Monty should be there to lead the side. Sergio has dropped out of the automatic places, Poulter on the fringes and Justin Rose hanging on. What else can we expect in Ryder year? What a change from twenty years ago when we had six top players and a struggle to find six others. Our Tour should be proud of their progress.

There was no Woods alongside the North Western coastline of England, but there was Chris Wood.

A few years back, Gordon Brand Jnr told me about a young lad in his junior class that would make the grade. He said Chris had a fine golf game along with all the other credentials to make it in the professional arena. On last week's show, Gordon was correct.

Many before him have struggled to make an immediate impact as a pro. It seems Chris might find it a little easier than some of them. His performance alongside the world's best was more than impressive and it added much to this year's championship.

Surprise

There were many who had their say on the withdrawal after nine holes of Sandy Lyle. I have to say, Sandy's actions surprised me. Having known him since a teenager, Sandy is no quitter and he has graced the game with his talent, etiquette, manners and all round decency. His decision also conveyed his honesty.

There are some I imagine who would have said they had a slight injury and that would have been the end of it. Sandy simply said his golf was awful and that he was holding back his playing partners.

Yes, it was wrong to walk off for that reason, for effectively, it stopped someone else playing in the game's greatest championship, in this case Mark Brown from New Zealand.

Sandy will be disappointed by his actions now the dust has settled, but many of his supporters will forgive him, and I think they should.

Vintage

Another week, another major and the Sky Sports team heads north of Hadrian's Wall to bring you the senior edition of the British Open. Royal Troon will be in showroom condition for four days of vintage golf from the stars of yesteryear.

Greg Norman will receive a tumultuous welcome, as will former major champions, Sandy Lyle, Bernhard Langer, Ian Woosnam, Mark O'Meara, the evergreen Gary Player and the defending champion, Tom Watson, who returns to this Ayrshire links where he collected one of his five Opens. They will also be joined by an in form Jay Haas who leads the senior money list Stateside.

I hope the weather is a little kinder than it was at Royal Birkdale, because these enchanting links courses need a little defending, so a light breeze would be ideal.

Our coverage this week includes the action from Moscow as the Russian Open gets underway.

Call me a TV snob if you like, but the one thing I missed at the Open was high definition pictures. Our coverage from Royal Troon is in high definition and it's almost as if this technology was invented for golf. It offers a whole new viewing experience.

I can see it now, the clarity of the famous "postage stamp" the par three eighth, and the rugged run for home with the clubhouse a welcoming sight by the edge of the last green.

Two-time winner of this championship, Brian Barnes, joins our team this week and we look forward to your company from Thursday.