Norris hits big pay day in Fiji to revive career
JASON Norris, who nearly quit golf to be a forklift driver, proved grand dreams can come true in Fiji for battlers ranked at No.1238 in the world.
The affable Adelaide pro was an unruffled closer with yesterday’s 67 at the Fiji International before his head started to spin because of the crazy doors he had kicked down with his four-shot victory. The $250,000 winner’s cheque is the biggest of his life and the start of a ride into a year of rich European Tour events against Rory McIlroy and Co, plus two seasons on the Asian Tour.
It’s a remarkable feel-good story for the 44-year-old pro whose career might have ended with the life-threatening face-first tumble into concrete when he came off a bike at night at the 2007 Australian PGA at the old Hyatt Coolum.
The grin and the champagne swigs at the palm-studded Natadola Bay golf course yesterday belied his past.
“I’ve got five fake teeth in here after smashing them right out of my mouth and I broke my jaw in 14 places,” the journeyman said of chasing a trophy to trump the secondtier Victorian Open in 2010.
“It’s taken me 21 years to have a win like this.
“I always thought I would, but I never did.
“I said it a couple of years ago when I was about to quit – I don’t want to give the game away until I win a big tournament because I know I can.”
A week ago, the father-oftwo decided to finish 18 months of making ends meet in The Grange pro shop in Adelaide organising club competitions, helping juniors, giving lessons and selling golf balls.
“I told my boss at Grange I’ve probably got two years left playing golf and I’m going to have a crack,” he said.
“It’s unbelievable to think the result has come far quicker than I thought.”
Norris (69-68-70-67) carded eight birdies yesterday to repel Peter Wilson.