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Lleyton Hewitt to caddie for Norman in Australian PGA
by Associated Press
COOLUM, Australia (AP) ? One is a former world golf No. 1 and the other the same in tennis.
On Thursday, Greg Norman and Lleyton Hewitt will combine in the first round - and again Friday for the second - at the Australian PGA, Norman hitting the shots and Hewitt telling him which clubs to use - as Norman's caddie.
Whether they make it to the weekend will depend on how the all-Australian arrangement works out.
"I know he can play, I've just got to test him out," Norman said Tuesday at the Hyatt Regency resort course where the tournament will be played.
"He's looking forward to it, we're good buds, and I think it will be good for both of us."
Norman is ranked out of the top 200 in golf while Hewitt, an eight-handicapper in golf, has slipped to 17th in the year-end tennis rankings from No. 1 last year.
"At the end of the day, it's something that he hasn't done before and I haven't done before," added Norman. "I think we are both going to enjoy it."
Norman said he and Hewitt have played golf together several times over the past 18 months to two years, and that the thought of him acting as a caddie "just evolved."
"I have yet to see him play tennis live, but that is going to happen pretty soon," said Norman.
They have not worked out how they'll judge distances, said Norman.
"We haven't discussed that yet," he said. "I asked him yesterday whether he works in meters or yards, but I think he's fairly adaptable."
Tony Navarro, Norman's longtime caddie, is in Australia and has carried Norman's bag in practice rounds Monday at Coolum and on Tuesday at nearby Pelican Waters, a Norman-designed course.
At Pelican Waters, Norman and George Gregan, the Australian rugby union captain, played against Hewitt and his coach, Roger Rasheed, in an informal four-ball. Norman wouldn't say how much money changed hands, only that "I think we beat them on the last hole."
If Norman collects a paycheck on Sunday, the usual 10 percent caddie's payment won't be heading into Hewitt's pocket.
"If Lleyton Hewitt needs money, then he's in a bad way, let me tell you" said Norman, laughing. "Whatever percentage of prize money comes out of here, I think he'd be happy to let it go back to Tony (Navarro)."
Hewitt last played tennis when he and Mark Philippoussis each won singles matches to give Australia a 3-1 win over Spain in the Davis Cup final 10 days ago in Melbourne.
During the match, Hewitt did his usual drill, pumping his fist and yelling "C'mon" when he needed to rally himself.
Norman won't mind seeing more of the same on Thursday and Friday.
"He can pump it all day long," said Norman. "I hope I give him reason to."
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