Videos: Norman, Coore Talk Design On Morning Drive

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Look, I had some free time today and try as I might, I just couldn't bring myself to transcribe the various ridiculous statements by full-time vinter and part-time golf architect Greg Norman.

If you must, you can watch him talk signature holes, sustainability and his devotion to nature here, here and here, you too can feel the pain.

Or, if you'd like to hear from someone who practices what he preaches, here are the Bill Coore segments here, here and here.

Tuesday's show includes segments with Jim Urbina and Rees Jones.

Shark Shrieks About Lost Prez Cup Captaincy, Rolex To Blame?

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Even though it was just time for some new blood in Greg Norman parlance, the Great White Shark has opened up about not getting the "real reason" from sparring partner Tim Finchem over being replaced as Presidents Cup Captain. The Shark calls it "extremely disappointing."

Robert Lusetich documents all of the whinging, which includes a conspiratorial angle related to the living icon's watch deal.

Norman, who was sponsored by Rolex, became public enemy No. 1 when he departed for Omega. Not just because he left but because Rolex believes he has used his contacts to usher Omega into golf, a sport that had largely been Rolex domain.

You know, sometimes I just feel so detached from the First World. Go on...

Rolex remains the official timekeeper of the PGA Tour and the Presidents Cup.

Last summer, after Omega replaced Rolex as the official timekeeper of the Ryder Cup at Medinah, Norman was told he wasn’t needed to play in the pro-am for the Senior British Open at Turnberry — where he won one of his two majors, in 1986 — and was asked to leave the room at a Rolex-sponsored press conference.

“Look, I know that Rolex is a corporate partner of the PGA Tour and there’s been some speculation I’ve heard that that was the reason why (he was replaced),” he said.

“If that’s right, then all I can say is that it’s really pathetic.

“The other sad part about it is that nobody has reached out to me or any of my past team and asked us what we thought would be good changes to make, or ideas we might have had about the Presidents Cup.

“We were just completely cut off."

The Shark On The Shark: "It's amazing being the living icon"

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Charlie Rose asks Greg Norman if he would give up some of his money for more major wins and the Great White Shark says "not at all," then cites the outcrying of support he's had over the years over his losses has made him the businessman he is today.

There are several other questions about the empire that is Norman and a nice graphic and, well, it's a bit of an infomercial for no apparent reason other than giving him a chance to talk about his brand building genius. As always Norman is engaging, defends Tiger's soft mattress-induced back issues, and talks briefly about Tiger losing his intimidation factor.

“I think the longer the time goes by with him not doing it, the harder it's going to be,” Norman said.

Robert Lusetich noted Norman's repeat of previous comments in this account of Tiger's opening round at The Barclays which took only 11 hours to complete thanks to weather delays.

Shark: Fox Sports Wants Me, They Really, Really Want Me

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Wasting no time to secure the loyalty of The Villages demo, Fox's David Hill has offered the Great White Shark the U.S. Open lead analyst position for its U.S. Open broadcast team, Norman confirms via email to Tim Rosaforte.

"David Hill has reached out to me, we have spoken and yes, they have offered me the job," Norman confirmed in an email sent from his home in Florida. "I am flattered to have been asked and I look forward to having discussions with my good friend (Hill) in the very near future."

In the U.S. Open, Norman recorded five top 10's including two second-place finishes.

Norman will be 60 when the Fox Sports U.S. Open contract begins in 2015.

ESPN recently highlighted issues with his Shark Shootout's charitable giving. Or lack of such giving.

He is a consultant to Team China's 2016 Olympic hopefuls, and recently removed a Great White Shark mounted to a Medalist Club wall in a spat with the club over changes to his design work. And Tiger's a huge fan.

He has been a passionate advocate for rolling back the Overall Distance Standard in golf, something the USGA has resisted.

"I would rule the golf ball back to 1996 specifications, number one," he declared. "It's a crying shame that so many of the world's great courses have been lengthened by 400-500 yards for one week a year. The cost of that is just ridiculous, especially when you multiply it 30 or 40 times. That money could be better spent elsewhere. Golf is too expensive, and getting more expensive.

Norman Calls For Blood Testing, Finchem's Doctor May Be Calling For A Blood Pressure Check

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The Australian's Will Swanton caught up with the Shark and besides pretty much calling Vijay Singh a cheater, Greg Norman said it's time for golf's "disgraceful" testing to branch out to include blood tests.

PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem, who long opposed drug testing and who has not been in a hurry to add blood testing for stuff like HGH, probably has downgraded the Shark's buddy status to 1995ish, when the two giant (egos) of the game were less chummy.

"You have to have blood testing, simple as that. It's a pin prick for a player, and you find out what's going on. If you're the head of golf or any sport, if you're the commissioner for a sport, it's your responsibility to make sure your sport is clean. That should be your No 1 priority."

"You only have to look at what happened to Vijay Singh just recently to know the drugs issue is there," Norman told The Australian yesterday.

"We know that because Vijay Singh got caught. How deep it is, I have no idea because we only do urine analysis instead of blood testing. If you really want to be serious about it and find about what's really going on, we need to do blood testing. I think it's disgraceful, to tell you the truth. The golf associations have to get together and step it up.