Greg Norman's Shinnecock Legacy Recalled as U.S. Open Returns
A classic late-1990s portrait of golfing legend Greg Norman resurfaces as the U.S. Open returns to Shinnecock Hills, the site of his heartbreaking 1986 near-miss
A memorable portrait of former professional golfer Greg Norman AO, widely recognized by his nickname "The Shark," has resurfaced. The photograph was taken in the late 1990s at the Capital Golf Course, located near Melbourne. To capture the shot of the golfing great, the photographer utilized a Hasselblad camera along with a large softbox positioned to the side.[1]
The timing of the photo's prominence coincides with this year's U.S. Open Golf Championship, which is currently being played at the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in New York. Shinnecock Hills is a venue that holds significant historical weight for Norman. Decades earlier, during the 1986 U.S. Open at this very course, Norman put himself in a prime position to win, leading the field by a single stroke after 54 holes of play.[1]
However, the demanding New York course proved to be his undoing. While Norman was famous for a long drive, his short temper worked against him under the intense pressure. Shinnecock shook up the Australian golfer, as it has done to many other competitors over the years, ultimately denying Norman the ultimate glory of winning the 1986 U.S. Open Golf Championship.[1][2]
