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  • 1997 World Championship of Golf

    Greg Norman sank a 10-foot birdie putt on the 36th hole to defeat American Scott Hoch, 1 up, and win the $3.65 million World Championship of Golf at the Grayhawk Golf Club. Norman collected the $1 million first prize in the match-play competition.

    Venue:Grayhawk Golf Club
    Where:Scottsdale, Arizona
    Date:January 4-5, 1997

    Norman Wins Match Play With Final-Hole Birdie

    Greg Norman of Australia sank a 10-foot birdie putt on the 36th hole to defeat American Scott Hoch, 1 up, and win the $3.65 million World Championship of Golf at the Grayhawk Golf Club.

    Norman, the world's top-ranked player, collected the $1 million first prize in the match-play competition. Hoch, who missed a 15-foot birdie putt on the final hole, won $500,000.

    "I'll start the year with a lot of confidence," said Norman. "There was a lot of pressure here. There were four or five swings I didn't feel comfortable with. I'll go back and look at that."

    Norman raced to a 4-up lead after nine holes. He finished the first 18 holes 3-up, but had three straight bogeys to open the second 18, enabling Hoch to even the match.

    "I got off to a shaky start in the afternoon," Norman said. "After the bogeys, I knew I had a long way to go. The hardest thing to explain is how difficult match play is on your head. It's a great way to play.'

    Hoch stumbled with a bogey on the 30th hole, but Norman gave the hole back with a bogey at the 33rd, squaring the match and setting the stage for his winning birdie.

    "I just didn't play well early," Hoch said. "You can't miss fairways. I hung in there, but that doesn't mean anything. I feel good that I came back from 4-down against the number one player in the world.

    "I never could get up," he added. "I had my opportunities. I've finished second the last four tournaments I've played."

    Hisayuki Sasaki of Japan topped Sam Torrance of Europe, 2 and 1, to win the 18-hole consolation match and $350,000. Torrance received $300,000.

    All four golfers advanced to Saturday's semifinals by winning regional competitions in 1996.

    In the match-play format, Norman eliminated Sasaki, 5 and 4, setting up a showdown with Hoch, who defeated Sam Torrance of Europe, 4 and 2, sealing the match with a birdie on the 16th hole.

    Norman, the all-time money-winner with more than $10.4 million, won the International region with victories over Craig Parry, former PGA champion Steve Elkington and David Frost, last year's losing finalist.

    Hoch, who had his first $1 million season in 1996, beat British Open champion Tom Lehman, Mark McCumber and Lee Janzen to win the American region.

    Sasaki, a member of the Japan Tour since 1986, defeated 1996 Japanese champion Massy Kuramoto, Hideki Kase and Shigeki Maruyama to win his region.

    Torrance, an eight-time Ryder Cup member and winner of more than 20 events on the European Tour, topped Mark James, Miguel Angel Jimenez and world number four Colin Montgomerie to come out on top of the European bracket.

    The Grayhawk Golf Club is a par-72 layout that measures 7,001 yards.

    1976

    • West Lakes Classic

    1977

    • Kuzuha International
    • Martini International
    • South Seas Classic Pro-Am

    1978

    • Festival Of Sydney Open
    • Traralgon Classic
    • New South Wales Open

    1979

    • Traralgon Classic
    • Hong Kong Open
    • Martini International
    • Queensland PGA

    1980

    • French Open
    • Scandanavian Open
    • World Match Play
    • Australian Open

    1981

    • Australian Masters
    • Martini International
    • Dunlop Masters

    1982

    • Dunlop Masters
    • State Express Classic
    • Benson & Hedges

    1983

    • Australian Masters
    • Hong Kong Open
    • Cannes Invitational
    • World Match Play
    • Queensland Open
    • New South Wales Open
    • Kapalua International

    1984

    • Victorian Open
    • Australian Masters
    • Australian PGA Championship
    • Kemper Open
    • Canadian Open

    1985

    • Dunhill Cup
    • Australian PGA Championship
    • Australian Open
    • Australian Skins Challenge

    1986

    • Las Vegas Invitational
    • Kemper Open
    • British Open Championship
    • European Open
    • Dunhill Cup
    • World Match Play
    • Queensland Open
    • New South Wales Open
    • South Australian Open
    • West Australian Open
    • PGA Grand Slam Of Golf

    1987

    • Australian Masters
    • Australian Open

    1988

    • Palm Meadows Cup
    • ESP Open
    • Australian PGA National TPC
    • Italian Open
    • Heritage Classic
    • New South Wales Open
    • Desert Scramble

    1989

    • Australian PGA National TPC
    • Australian Masters
    • Greater Milwaukee Open
    • The International
    • Chunichi Crowns

    1990

    • Australian Masters
    • Doral-Ryder Open
    • Memorial Tournament

    1992

    • Canadian Open

    1993

    • Doral-Ryder Open
    • British Open Championship
    • Taiheiyo Masters
    • PGA Grand Slam Of Golf

    1994

    • Johnnie Walker Classic
    • Players Championship
    • PGA Grand Slam Of Golf

    1995

    • Memorial Tournament
    • Greater Hartford Open
    • World Series of Golf
    • Fred Meyer Challenge
    • Australian Open

    1996

    • South Australian Open
    • Australian Open
    • Doral-Ryder Open
    • Fred Meyer Challenge

    1997

    • World Championship of Golf
    • FedEx St. Jude Classic
    • Canadian Skins Game
    • World Series of Golf
    • Fred Meyer Challenge

    1998

    • Greg Norman Holden International
    • Shark Shootout
    • Presidents Cup

    2001

    • Skins Game
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