Norman Registers 74th Tournament Title

Greg Norman kept his perfect record in Adelaide intactwhen he scored a one-stroke victory over Frenchman Jean-Louis Guepy in the$A300,000 Ford Open at Kooyonga Golf Club.

In front of the biggest crowd ever seen in SouthAustralian golf, Norman added the win to victories in the 1976 West LakesClassic and this title 10 years ago.

Norman won for the 74th time in a remarkable career thatstarted here in 1976 with rounds of 74, 72, 69 and 69 while fellow AussiesPeter O'Malley and Glenn Joyner finished two shots behind him in thirdplace.

He began the day one shot behind Guepy, Joyner and formerAustralian Masters champion Bradley Hughes and reeled them in with birdieson the first two holes. Another birdie at the fifth, a bogey at eight andan eagle from a drive, a four iron and a 35-foot putt at the 500-yard ninthgave him a two-shot lead and he was not headed.

"I was more nervous out there playing the last threeholes that I have been for a long time," he said after accepted the$A54,000 winner's check. "I put a lot of expectation on myself and therewere a lot of people who had placed a lot of hope in me to play well thisweek. The last time I felt like that was at the U.S. Open at Shinnecock(last June). It is a great way to start the year. As the other events comeup, you can remember how you hit the shots under pressure.

"I never felt like I was going to win this week. All Iset out to do was remain patient, stay near the lead and pose a fewproblems for the guys around me. I think my shot on 17 (punched with a5-iron from under a tree off a bare lie about 114 yards from the green tosave par) was my shot of the week. Then I knew that if I played 18 OK, Iwould be in with a chance."

Asked how he found the motivation to play well in a smallevent off the beaten track of world golf, Norman replied: "I'll answer thatwith one word -- pride. When people ask to come and play, you have toperform. I have felt like an adopted son here in Adelaide this week."

Norman, who celebrated his 41st birthday on Saturday, won despite being nine shots off the pace after 36 holes.

Guepy had a putt from 15 feet that would have forced aplayoff, and about 20,000 people gave an agonized groan as it pulled upshort, then burst into applause for the winner. "I have learned somethingsince I started playing here," said the man who almost won the AustralianOpen and Greg Norman's Holden Classic at the end of last year. "It is thatwhen I play well, Greg Norman is in the field. But when you are beaten byGreg, you know you have played pretty well.

"I did everything I could to win and I ran second.Three-putting the (par-5) 16th for bogey was costly but I holed a bunkershot for birdie at the next hole to give myself a little more hope. I didnot hit a good putt at 18 for the playoff but maybe I will get lucky nextweek in Melbourne (at the Australian Masters). For a start, Greg is notplaying. I think the course will suit me. It is long and tight and I amdriving quite well now."

Joyner, 31, did not lose any admirers with a courageousperformance and should win a title in his hometown if Norman stays away. Heplayed brilliantly on the first two days, producing rounds of 67 and 70 ingale force winds but let it slip with a five over par 77 on Saturday, whichincluded four double bogeys.

"The score probably does not reflect it, but I playedbetter today than earlier in the tournament," he said. "I hit the ball welland am not unhappy with the performance. I lost it on Saturday with allthose double bogeys. But I have taken a lot of confidence from this weekand got a big boost from all the Adelaide people who turned out to wish mewell and see me play. It was a wonderful experience."

One of the tournament sponsors is Australian MajorEvents, an arm of the South Australian Government, which puts money intoattracting sporting events to make up for the loss of the Formula One GrandPrix that will be staged in Melbourne next month. In light of theattendance figures -- 59,000 this year with Norman and 18,100 last yearwithout him -- the Government's Sports Minister, Graham Ingerson, said atthe presentation ceremony that the Government would be backing the titlefor another two years.

Norman did not rule out coming back next year. "Myschedule has not been worked out for 1997," he said. "If it means playingfour events in a row, I probably will not be here. But if it fits in toother things I am doing, I could be back. If they want me again, and itfits into the schedule, I will gladly come back."

The circuit now moves to Melbourne for the AustralianMasters at the Huntingdale Golf Club where Peter Senior is the defendingchampion.