Shark gets bitten on benign day at British Open
TURNBERRY, Scotland (Reuters) - Twelve months after stunning the golfing world at Royal Birkdale, Greg Norman toiled to a seven-over-par 77 in the British Open first round on Thursday.
The former world number one failed to take advantage of surprisingly calm conditions on the Ayrshire coastline, dropping nine shots in the first 16 holes before finishing birdie-birdie.
"Conditions are the easiest I've seen it here but the pin positions are really tough to get at," Australian Norman, 54, told reporters.
"It's going to be the most congested leaderboard ever at an Open championship in my opinion.
"The way I drove the ball today was probably the worst I've driven it in my career," the double British Open winner added.
"If you're not hitting fairways here then you're going to struggle. I got what I deserved today."
Norman delivered one of the finest displays of his career at Turnberry in 1986, defying difficult conditions to shoot a seven-under 63 in the second round before going on to triumph by five strokes.
His return to the picturesque coastal layout this week, however, was unlikely to produce a similar result.
"Coming in here, I knew if the conditions were calm it would be tough for me," said Norman, nicknamed 'The Shark' and regarded as one of the best drivers of all time in his prime.
"I wasn't hitting the ball that solid. It was disappointing that I wasn't walking on to the first tee feeling confident about where I was hitting the ball."
One year ago it was a different matter as Norman shone in rain-lashed, windy conditions at the Birkdale Open.
A part-time golfer aged 53, he overshadowed the game's best players by taking a two-stroke lead after the third round only to slide back into a tie for third on the last day.
"If I play nine holes tomorrow and the rest play 18, I might be okay," Norman said with a smile.
(Editing by Tony Jimenez)
