The Shark Stripped Bare

Ripped at 64, golfing-icon-turned-magnate Greg Norman is ready to shed light on his remarkable life. In this exclusive interview with MH, the Shark reveals the secrets behind his stellar midlife fitness and opens up about his personal and professional challenges. What becomes clear is that beneath the glamorous exterior is a longing not normally associated with a man who appears to have everything

- Daniel Williams

IT’S 9.30 on a Wednesday morning in Florida and the Australian-American accent is coming through rich and strong from one of the humbler nooks of a grand estate. “I’m in my work room down below, where I still have golf clubs that I used to tinker with all the time. You know, it’s great to see what the kids can do today. But back in the day our clubs were so heavy, and for us to generate the clubhead speed that we did was just mind-blowingly impressive.”

A manly dexterity. A certain wistfulness. Fatherly feelings for the champions of today. And a bit of a brag. Yep, in case there was any doubt, that can only be the Shark on the other end of the line. And I’ll be honest: even for a seasoned – some might say jaded – sports hack, it’s a tell-your-mates thrill to have him there.

If Greg Norman’s heyday predates you, know this: it’s hard to overstate how big a deal he was in the 1980s and ’90s. The No. 1 golfer in the world for 331 weeks, Norman won 90 tournaments as a professional, including the Open Championships of 1986 and 1993. The first player to reach $10 million in prize money, he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2001.