This thread is dedicated to the "unknown legend" and one the greatest golfers of all-time.
When we talk about Canada's all-time great sports pros one name that is rarely talked about is golfer Moe Norman.
It is said that Norman had a very different personality which might have been the result of a form of autism. In the 50's he twice won the Canadian Amateur Championship. He later won 2 Canadian PGA Championships and 7 Senior Canadian PGA Championships (70's and 80's). In all, 55 career wins. But none in the US. He didn't like leaving Canada, he was very shy, choosing to stay most of his career in Canada.
His eccentric style included strange outfits and fast play. He often didn't read greens before putting, and he routinely used trick shots during the course of pro play, like teeing up on coke bottles.
By many he is considered one of the all-time great ball strikers. Sam Snead made that claim. Tiger Woods said Norman and Ben Hogan were the only two golfers who "owned" their swing. Paul Azinger saw him at a driving range when his college instructor pointed to Norman and said "there is the greatest ball striker of all time." Azinger thought "ya sure" then saw him shoot a bucket of balls with a driver straight off the ground (no tee) at a target about 250 yards away and when all was said and done all of the balls were no more than 10 yards away from the marker. He said it was like nothing he had ever seen.
Norman was so accurate with his driver and 3-wood it is said that his caddie once told him to use a driver and nine iron on a particular hole. Norman agreed. He teed off with the 9 iron then hit the driver onto the green.
He was known by other golfers as Pipeline Moe because he hit a ball straight at will. Golf instructors around the world continue to regard Norman's golf swing as the gold standard.
Moe Norman died in 2004.
When we talk about Canada's all-time great sports pros one name that is rarely talked about is golfer Moe Norman.
It is said that Norman had a very different personality which might have been the result of a form of autism. In the 50's he twice won the Canadian Amateur Championship. He later won 2 Canadian PGA Championships and 7 Senior Canadian PGA Championships (70's and 80's). In all, 55 career wins. But none in the US. He didn't like leaving Canada, he was very shy, choosing to stay most of his career in Canada.
His eccentric style included strange outfits and fast play. He often didn't read greens before putting, and he routinely used trick shots during the course of pro play, like teeing up on coke bottles.
By many he is considered one of the all-time great ball strikers. Sam Snead made that claim. Tiger Woods said Norman and Ben Hogan were the only two golfers who "owned" their swing. Paul Azinger saw him at a driving range when his college instructor pointed to Norman and said "there is the greatest ball striker of all time." Azinger thought "ya sure" then saw him shoot a bucket of balls with a driver straight off the ground (no tee) at a target about 250 yards away and when all was said and done all of the balls were no more than 10 yards away from the marker. He said it was like nothing he had ever seen.
Norman was so accurate with his driver and 3-wood it is said that his caddie once told him to use a driver and nine iron on a particular hole. Norman agreed. He teed off with the 9 iron then hit the driver onto the green.
He was known by other golfers as Pipeline Moe because he hit a ball straight at will. Golf instructors around the world continue to regard Norman's golf swing as the gold standard.
Moe Norman died in 2004.
