Moe Norman
Encyclopedia
Murray Irwin "Moe" Norman (July 10, 1929 – September 4, 2004) was a Canadian
professional golfer
. He was widely considered the best ball striker who ever lived among the best players in the world. His accuracy, his ability to hit shot after shot perfectly straight, gave him the nickname "pipeline moe".
, Canada, Norman developed his golf from childhood at the Rockway municipal course in that city, starting as a caddy
in his pre-teen years. He refined his skills competing against talented area players such as Gary Cowan
and Gerry Kesselring. He won back-to-back Canadian Amateur Championships in 1955 and 1956. He turned professional in 1957 and played briefly in the PGA Tour
, but due to shyness
, bullying he encountered from certain pros, and a preference to stay in Canada, he stayed primarily in Ontario
rather than travel extensively outside Canada.
Norman's play, along with his way of dressing, were both described as unconventional. He devised what is known as "The Norman Swing" —- rigid arms extended far from his body, a very wide stance with minimal knee bend, shorter-than-usual backswing and extended follow-through with minimal hand action, which produced amazingly accurate ball placement. He played extremely fast, sometimes not even slowing to line up his putts. He was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame
in 1995. He was self-taught, and never took a golf lesson.
Norman was known for sometimes unconventional behavior on the course, even during tournaments. It is even said that on one hole his caddy told him he could get to the green with a driver and a 9-iron. Naturally, he hit off the tee with his 9-iron and then hit the green with his driver. In another event, rather than lay up short of a creek hazard which could not be carried, he bounced his drive across the bridge which crossed the creek.
Norman's skills as a ball striker are legendary. Sam Snead
, himself one of the all-time greatest golfers, once described Norman as the greatest striker of the ball. In January 2005, Tiger Woods
, the biggest golf star of the modern era, told Golf Digest
s Jaime Diaz that only two golfers in history have "owned their swings": Moe Norman and Ben Hogan
. Stated Woods, "I want to own mine." Late in his life, Norman found better financial security when Titleist
, a major golf manufacturer, signed him to a lifetime contract to perform golf exhibitions across Canada after he allegedly told a reporter, "Titleist never did nothing for me".
Norman died in a Kitchener
hospital from congestive heart failure
. He had suffered from congestive heart failure since having heart bypass surgery six years earlier. He also had a heart attack
two years before his death.
A film about his life is in preparation; Wayne Gretzky
is one of the investors.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
professional golfer
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
. He was widely considered the best ball striker who ever lived among the best players in the world. His accuracy, his ability to hit shot after shot perfectly straight, gave him the nickname "pipeline moe".
Career highlights
- Canadian Amateur ChampionshipCanadian Amateur ChampionshipThe Canadian Amateur Championship, begun in 1895, is the men's amateur golf championship of Canada. It is staged annually by the Royal Canadian Golf Association. It was played at match play until 1968, went to stroke play beginning in 1969, and reverted to match play in 1995...
winner (1955, 1956); - 55 career Canadian Tour and other Canadian event victories;
- Canadian PGA ChampionshipCanadian PGA ChampionshipThe PGA Championship of Canada is a golf tournament organized by the PGA of Canada. It was first played in 1912 as the Canadian PGA Championship. It was a Nationwide Tour event from 2001 to 2005. It was also an event on the Canadian Tour. Stan Leonard holds the record with eight victories...
winner (1966, 1974); - Canadian PGA Seniors' Championship winner (1979–1985, 1987);
- 33 course records;
- 17 holes-in-one;
- Several exhibition rounds under 60 (perfect roundPerfect roundPerfect Round is a term used to define a round of eighteen holes of golf where all holes were played at one under par resulting in a score of 54 on a par 72 course, 53 on a par 71 course, 52 on a par 70 course, and 55 on a par 73 course...
); - Inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of FameCanadian Golf Hall of FameThe Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum and hall of fame covering the history of the game of golf in Canada, and celebrating the careers and accomplishments of the most significant contributors to the game in that country...
in 1995; - Inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of FameCanada's Sports Hall of FameCanada's Sports Hall of Fame is a hall of fame established in 1955 to "preserve the record of Canadian sports achievements and to promote a greater awareness of Canada's heritage of sport." It is located at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, Alberta...
in 2006; - Two appearances by invitation as an amateur in the Masters Tournament: 1956 scored 75-78 then withdrew; 1957 scored 77-74 to miss the cut by one stroke.
Biography
Born in Kitchener, OntarioKitchener, Ontario
The City of Kitchener is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It was the Town of Berlin from 1854 until 1912 and the City of Berlin from 1912 until 1916. The city had a population of 204,668 in the Canada 2006 Census...
, Canada, Norman developed his golf from childhood at the Rockway municipal course in that city, starting as a caddy
Caddy
In golf, a caddy is the person who carries a player's bag and clubs, and gives insightful advice and moral support. A good caddy is aware of the challenges and obstacles of the golf course being played, along with the best strategy in playing it. This includes knowing overall yardage, pin...
in his pre-teen years. He refined his skills competing against talented area players such as Gary Cowan
Gary Cowan
Gary Cowan is a Canadian golfer who has achieved outstanding results at the highest class in amateur competition.-Biography:...
and Gerry Kesselring. He won back-to-back Canadian Amateur Championships in 1955 and 1956. He turned professional in 1957 and played briefly in the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
, but due to shyness
Shyness
In humans, shyness is a social psychology term used to describe the feeling of apprehension, lack of comfort, or awkwardness experienced when a person is in proximity to, approaching, or being approached by other people, especially in new situations or with unfamiliar people...
, bullying he encountered from certain pros, and a preference to stay in Canada, he stayed primarily in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
rather than travel extensively outside Canada.
Norman's play, along with his way of dressing, were both described as unconventional. He devised what is known as "The Norman Swing" —- rigid arms extended far from his body, a very wide stance with minimal knee bend, shorter-than-usual backswing and extended follow-through with minimal hand action, which produced amazingly accurate ball placement. He played extremely fast, sometimes not even slowing to line up his putts. He was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame
Canadian Golf Hall of Fame
The Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum and hall of fame covering the history of the game of golf in Canada, and celebrating the careers and accomplishments of the most significant contributors to the game in that country...
in 1995. He was self-taught, and never took a golf lesson.
Norman was known for sometimes unconventional behavior on the course, even during tournaments. It is even said that on one hole his caddy told him he could get to the green with a driver and a 9-iron. Naturally, he hit off the tee with his 9-iron and then hit the green with his driver. In another event, rather than lay up short of a creek hazard which could not be carried, he bounced his drive across the bridge which crossed the creek.
Norman's skills as a ball striker are legendary. Sam Snead
Sam Snead
Samuel Jackson Snead was an American professional golfer who was one of the top players in the world for most of four decades. Snead won a record 82 PGA Tour events including seven majors. He failed to win a U.S...
, himself one of the all-time greatest golfers, once described Norman as the greatest striker of the ball. In January 2005, Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods
Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No...
, the biggest golf star of the modern era, told Golf Digest
Golf Digest
Golf Digest is a monthly golf magazine published by Condé Nast Publications in the United States. It is a generalist golf publication covering recreational golf and men's and women's competitive golf. Condé Nast Publications also publishes the more specialized , and Golf World Business. The...
s Jaime Diaz that only two golfers in history have "owned their swings": Moe Norman and Ben Hogan
Ben Hogan
William Ben Hogan was an American golfer, generally considered one of the greatest players in the history of the game...
. Stated Woods, "I want to own mine." Late in his life, Norman found better financial security when Titleist
Titleist
Titleist is a brand name owned by Fila for golf equipment and apparel products produced by its subsidiary called the Acushnet Company, which is headquartered in Fairhaven, Massachusetts....
, a major golf manufacturer, signed him to a lifetime contract to perform golf exhibitions across Canada after he allegedly told a reporter, "Titleist never did nothing for me".
Norman died in a Kitchener
Kitchener, Ontario
The City of Kitchener is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It was the Town of Berlin from 1854 until 1912 and the City of Berlin from 1912 until 1916. The city had a population of 204,668 in the Canada 2006 Census...
hospital from congestive heart failure
Congestive heart failure
Heart failure often called congestive heart failure is generally defined as the inability of the heart to supply sufficient blood flow to meet the needs of the body. Heart failure can cause a number of symptoms including shortness of breath, leg swelling, and exercise intolerance. The condition...
. He had suffered from congestive heart failure since having heart bypass surgery six years earlier. He also had a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
two years before his death.
Books and film about Moe Norman
Moe Norman's golf achievements and eccentric personality inspired many articles and two biographic books: The Feeling of Greatness – The Moe Norman Story, by Tim O'Connor (ISBN 1-57028-086-X) and Moe Norman: The Canadian Golfing Legend with the Perfect Swing, by Stan Sauerwein (ISBN 978-1-55153-953-9).A film about his life is in preparation; Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. Nicknamed "The Great One", he is generally regarded as the best player in the history of the National Hockey League , and has been called "the greatest hockey player ever" by many sportswriters,...
is one of the investors.