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Golf's equivalent to Brownlow - the Greg Norman Medal - set for Gold Coast
By by Tony Moore
Australian golf's new equivalent to AFL's Brownlow Medal or rugby league's Dally M award – the new Greg Norman Medal – will be unveiled in December on the Gold Coast.
And Beaudesert-born Jason Day - now the Wold's number three golfer after four wins on the US tour including a major title at the US PGA Championship - is tipped to be the first-ever winner.
Queenslander Jason Day is tipped to be the first-ever Greg Norman Medal winner.Credit: Getty Images
Queenslander Greg Norman returns to the Gold Coast on December 1 to present the inaugural Greg Norman Medal to Australia's best professional golfer.
It will be presented at a star-studded gala evening on the Gold Coast on December 1 at the RACV Royal Pines Resort at Surfer's Paradise.
Greg Norman chatting with rising young star Antonio Murdaca on the practice range at New South Wales Golf Club during a golf clinic.Credit: Dallas Kilponen
The Greg Norman Medal will be presented to the best male or female professional golfer on the world stage in 2015.
The winner will be determined based on annual success on the Australian and International stage including all professional tours such as the LPGA, ALPG & Ladies European Tour, and the men's PGA tours of America or Australasia.
Results in the European Tour and other tours - including Asian professional tours – will be included in the decision-making process.
In a statement, Greg Norman said it was an honour to have the award named after him.
Greg Norman to return to Gold Coast to present the inaugural Greg Norman Medal.Credit: Dallas Kilponen
"I am deeply grateful to have this prestigious award named after me, which will hold a place of pride and prominence in my heart," Greg Norman said.
"Australian golf is in a great place right now," he said.
"And I hope the young players out representing our country are inspired that hard work and perseverance can lead you to great things.
"My dream is to see others go on and achieve even more than I did."
PGA of Australia chief executive Brian Thorburn said the Greg Norman Medal will rival the Brownlow Medal or the Dally M Award.
"The Greg Norman Medal will become synonymous with the name of the best golfer in Australia in the coming years as it cements itself, like the Brownlow and Dally M have in AFL and NRL," Mr Thorburn said.
Mr Thorburn said Australian golfers needed an annual ward to recognise the best among them each year.
"Our sport of golf has generated many, many stars on the world stage from Norman Von Nida, Peter Thomson, Kel Nagle, Greg Norman, Adam Scott and more recently Jason Day," he said.
"And on the women's side; from Jan Stephenson, Jane Crafter and Karrie Webb to name just a few," he said.
"But golf in Australia has never recognised the best of the best of our Australian professional golfers through an annual award – until now," Thorburn said.
"Greg Norman was the obvious stand out choice to name this award after," he said.
"He is a World Golf Hall of Famer, a life member of the PGA and a recipient of the Order of Australia."
Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate said he was thrilled the city would play host to the award.
"The Gold Coast is a golfing mecca so it's the ideal location for the Greg Norman Medal," Cr Tate said.
"We look forward to welcoming some of the world's best golfers here for the gala evening," he said.
Greg Norman is a life member of the PGA and received the Order of Australia in 1999.
Greg Norman was the world's number one golfer six times during the 1980s and 1990s, at one stage for 331 weeks.
"Not only was Greg number one for 331 weeks, a two time major winner and a winner 20 times on the PGA Tour, he also won 31 times on our own PGA Tour of Australasia and has been a staunch supporter of the PGA of Australia and local golf for many years," Mr Thorburn said.
The Australian PGA Championship, the richest tournament on the PGA Tour of Australasia, will be played at the RACV Royal Pines Resort at Surfer's Paradise from the 3 – 6 December 2015.