Clive Agran: The Open of hope
If Greg Norman can pull of the small matter of leading the Open Championship at the halfway stage, marry one of tennis' greatest ever stars and build up a mammoth global business empire – surely Clive can finally fulfil his potential
I came to this Open Championship with no great expectations but, having seen what Greg Norman has done, I now believe that I can, after all, win a major. Okay, I m getting on and can t afford to leave it very much longer before making my breakthrough but, as Greg has clearly demonstrated, there s no substitute for solid experience and I ve had plenty of that. Twice runner up in the Dale Hill Summer Cup, a three-time medal winner and a string of solid performances in midweek Stablefords must surely count for something when the Big One comes along.
Although I don t have his wavy hair or shiny teeth, there are a number of spooky similarities between Greg and me that give me reason to hope. For a start, we re both right-handers. Furthermore, we re both in our 50s. It s true that he s considerably wealthier than I am but I ve been picking up quite a bit of freelance editorial work of late which should help me to close the gap, at least a little.
Wouldn t it be wonderful if Norman kept the kids at bay and struck a blow for the balding generation by carrying home the Claret Jug on Sunday night? At his post-round press conference today he was understandably reluctant to say whether or not he thought he could win. I feel less constrained about speculating on my prospects and am happy to go on record as saying that I believe that, provided my partner Jimmy Three Putts Henderson can get over his recent attack of the dreaded shanks, the Dale Hill Winter Fourball Trophy is a definite possibility.
If Greg and I can both pull it off, what a double blow that would strike for senior golfers everywhere.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
-
Volvo China Open 2025 Picks, Odds And Predictions
Following a break for The Masters, the DP World Tour returns for the final two weeks of its Asian Swing and the Volvo China Open is the penultimate event
By Jonny Leighfield
-
Rory McIlroy's Sports Psychologist Explains Why He 'Didn't Talk' To Bryson DeChambeau In Masters Final Round
DeChambeau raised eyebrows at Augusta National when claiming that McIlroy wouldn't engage in conversation during the final round of The Masters
By Jonny Leighfield