Greg Norman, famously known as “The Great White Shark,” has had his fair share of trials and tribulations on the golf course. However, one of the most important fights he had was not with another golfer but due to the stumble of former President Bill Clinton. The friendly visit was supposed to be a friendly encounter, but it was a moment that Norman had had three knee operations. This is the real-life drama of how a stumble by one of the most influential men on the planet caused suffering for one of the best golfers. How did this happen?

The event took place several years ago in Norman’s residence, when Clinton, being president at the time, tripped and fell down the stairs with his heel stuck. Largely by instinct, Norman moved in to grab him. But what followed was something that was quite unexpected and quite unpleasant. Clinton’s full body weight bore down on Norman’s knee in the process, which caused an injury right there and then. “I had to catch him,” Norman said in an interview with Graham Bensinger. “My knee had buckled, and I couldn’t move because we didn’t know what was wrong with him and so his entire weight was on my knee.” The president’s weight and improper positioning caused serious damage that needed three operations to fix.

The confusion of the moment was evident. Clinton, who looked rather distressed, could not budge anymore, and the same applied to Norman. In less than a minute, the room was crowded with doctors, teams, and aides all trying to determine what was happening. Norman, who tried to laugh off the event, stated that it was “a shock, really… I’ve had three knee surgeries because he landed on my knee.” However, the pain and injuries that Norman sustained during that incident remained with him for years.

This is not the first time that Greg Norman and Bill Clinton have been in each other’s company. It was several years before Clinton was in his first term in office. But how did a Republican golfer and a Democratic president come to be friends in the first place? The answer is in the most unexpected golf round that Norman played with POTUS.

How many POTUS did Greg Norman golf with?

Greg Norman, the legendary Australian golfer, has had the unique honor of playing golf with three U.S. Presidents: George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton. Although every round was interesting in some way, Clinton’s was the most surprising. It started in Clinton’s first term, when the president intended to plan his inaugural visit to Australia. By the way, this visit was timed to coincide with the Australian Open, and Norman was invited to the White House to play golf with Clinton.

What had started as a formal engagement soon became one of the most fun rounds of golf that Norman has played. The whole area of the golf course was evacuated, and only the Secret Service, a CAT team, and Norman’s caddy, Tony Navarro, remained on the course. When Air Force One was parked close by with Hillary Clinton on board, Norman and Clinton kept on playing, far beyond the few agreed-upon holes. The relaxed setting, coupled with the passion for the game, was the perfect opportunity for the two to bond.

It also shows how life can put people together in the most unexpected manner at the most unexpected time. What about you? Have you ever recalled a prejudice you once had? Comment below!