R&A Firmly Rejects Greg Norman’s Special Exemption Appeal for the 150th Open Championship

The R&A Golf Club officials have broken the dream of Greg Norman to play at the 2022 Open Championship. Since it is the 150th time St. Andrews is hosting the event, the two-time major winner had expressed his interest in playing. However, the R&A doesn’t seem to accept his special exemption request. 

The R&A officials outrightly rejected the idea of Norman’s possibility of playing at the 2022 Open Championship. They cited the rules of the events for making exemptions. 

“I think I can still get in,” Norman had said when he expressed his wish to play at the Open this year. “I’m a past Open champion,” he added. 

Although he has won the Open Championship in his career, the LIV Golf CEO is already 67-years-old. Therefore, according to the rule of the event, Norman is ineligible for the exemption. 

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Furthermore, he played his last Open in 2009. Since he hasn’t won the event in the last ten years, R&A can clearly reject Norman’s request for a special exemption. 

Notably, according to a spokesperson of Norman, the golfer doesn’t intend to attempt to qualify for the event. 

Greg Norman, history at the Open Championship

Norman has a good record at the event. He has only won two majors in his career, and both of them are the Open Championship. 

He made his major debut at the Open in 1977, where he missed the cut. Two years later, the golfer secured a T10 position. Furthermore, Norman won his first major at the 1986 Open Championship held at Turnberry. He won it against Gordon Brand with his 2-shot lead. 

Norman made it to the playoffs in 1989 with Wayne Grady and Mark Calcavecchia. However, the latter lifted the trophy in the end. Moreover, the Australian golfer won the event again in 1993. He had then defeated Sir Nick Faldo with a two-shot lead. 

In his career, Norman has played in 27 Open Championships. And he has finished 10 times under the Top 10. 

Although he has a good record at the event, Norman is not eligible to make an exemption. And he does not intend to try to qualify for the tournament. Therefore, shattering his dream of playing at the 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews. 

What do you think of the R&A rules for the exemption of the previous champions? Do you think Norman would try again to make it to the event?

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