Greg Norman Selected As The Memorial Tournament Presented by Nationwide’s 2017 Honoree
One of the elite events on the PGA TOUR schedule, the Memorial Tournament was founded and is hosted by Jack Nicklaus. Since the inaugural playing in 1976, a mission of the Memorial Tournament has been to honor and pay tribute to golf history’s great champions, as well as the men and women who have helped shape the game. Each year the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide acknowledges such an individual by naming an Honoree. The Honoree is selected by the Captains Club – a group of statesmen who act independently of the tournament organization, but who also advise on player invitations and the conduct of the event.
“There is no question that Greg was not only one of the best players – if not the best – in the world for a lengthy period of time, he was one of golf’s most popular,” Jack Nicklaus said. “Greg is someone who shared my belief that golf is a global game, and he was among the players who helped popularize it in different international markets – certainly none more important than his home country of Australia. The golf world has also felt Greg’s impact from his involvement in equipment, apparel, course design, and many other areas, to this day.”
Past Honorees for this prestigious accolade include Seve Ballesteros, Payne Stewart, Arnold Palmer, Billy Casper, Sam Snead, and Byron Nelson among many others. The 2016 Honoree was 25-time PGA TOUR winner, two-time major champion, and NBC golf analyst Johnny Miller.
“I am deeply grateful to Jack and honored to have been selected by the Captains Club – a group of incredible men and women whom I have the greatest respect for – to receive this tribute. To have my name listed among the all-time greats of the game is a privilege,” said Greg Norman. “If I can give back to the game that has given so much to me, than that is a legacy that I can be proud of. I have always said that giving back is the way forward and there is no greater feeling than to be recognized for it.”
Legendary for his pursuit of perfection, Greg Norman won 91 tournaments worldwide, including two British Open championships, and claims the distinction of having held the No. 1 position in the World Golf Rankings for 331 weeks. As one of the most prolific players in the game’s history, the culmination of an astounding career came in 2001 when he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. Norman is one of only six multiple winners of the Memorial Tournament, winning in 1990 and 1995.
“I have known Greg since his earliest days playing golf in Australia and then in the U.S.,” Nicklaus added. “We became good friends early on, and I am happy to call Greg a friend decades late. So I am delighted that the Captains Club selected Greg as our 2017 Honoree. He’s well-deserving and I look forward to welcoming Greg back to Muirfield Village Golf Club.”
Norman will be honored during a special ceremony on Wednesday afternoon of the 2017 Memorial Tournament to be played May 29 through June 4 at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, just outside Columbus. It will be the 42nd playing of the prestigious PGA TOUR stop.
About Greg Norman
Arguably the most successful athlete-turned-businessman in the world, Greg Norman has approached business with the same vigor with which he attacked the golf course. A true pioneer in athlete brand-building, his global corporation, Great White Shark Enterprises, has more than a dozen successful entities all bearing the iconic shark logo.
His internationally recognized brand boasts 100 golf course designs across six continents, a global real estate collection, award-winning wine, golf-inspired lifestyle apparel, and a diverse investment division.
Across all facets of business, the Greg Norman brand consistently delivers the quality that his name is synonymous with and continues to inspire people to experience the best in life.
About The Memorial Tournament Presented By Nationwide
The Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide is held annually at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus. The Tournament, founded and hosted by Jack Nicklaus, is conducted each year with three goals in mind: to honor the memory of individuals living and deceased who have distinguished themselves in the game of golf; to showcase the world’s best golfers competing on one of the most challenging venues in the world for the enjoyment of spectators; and to benefit many Greater Columbus Charities in alliance with the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and numerous other local organizations.
For more information, visit www.thememorialtournament.com.
