Greg Norman vows to play mind games against Tiger Woods by pitching Adam Scott in President’s Cup
International Team Captain Greg Norman has decided to play with the nerves of a resurging Tiger Woods in this week’s President Cup and has called for pitching Adam Scott and his reckless abusive caddie Steve Williams against the former world number one.
Woods recent performance in last week’s Emirates Australian Open has done well to send shivers down the spine of the “Great White” who has now switched to emotional testing of the 14-major-winner.
“If it happens, it happens, it’s not going to be premeditated,” Norman said. “I talked to Adam about it, asked him if it works out that way, do you have a problem, and he said, ‘No, not at all. I’d expect the two of them [Woods and Williams] to meet up face
to face from Thursday onward.”
As sickening as it may sound, the trick might just work well to turn off a rampaging Woods who posted impressive rounds of five-under on two consecutive days just up North at the Lakes Golf Club in Sydney. Apart from the recent controversy between Woods
and his former caddie Williams, where Williams uttered an abusive racial remark about his former boss at the Dinner at Australian Open, Woods and Scott both have a long history of tight show downs in the President Cup.
Scott has appeared four times in the President Cup and had twice battled Woods on the course in his prime. Woods and now-Captain Fred Couples suffered a defeat by the hands of Scott and his compatriot Retief Goosen in 2005 at Robert Trent Jones GC in Virginia.
Woods returned to level the score when he and his compatriot Jim Furyk took over Scott and Ernie Els in 2007 at Royal Montreal.
Norman has vowed to be more assertive as a Captain in this year’s President Cup battle and has decided to lead the event from the front.
“At the end of the day, I am going to say,`This is who you are going to play,” said Norman. “I’m going to be a little bit more assertive, more of a captain instead of seeking advice.”
US Team Captain Couples had to face scathing criticism following his recommendation for the ailing Woods a few months back. He defended his decision on several platforms and justified his selection on various counts. Norman and a few of his team mates also
hurled criticism both at Woods as well as Couples for leaning in favour of his long time buddy and ignoring the stunning performance of the Rookie Keegan Bradley on the tour. Both Norman and team mate Robert Allenby claimed that Woods will never soar to his
once brilliant form again. Upcoming President’s Cup will be a good test of the widely criticized Woods.
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