Australian Story: Sept 2, 9.

Australian Story will feature a 2 part look at the life and controversial times of one of the country’s greatest – and most visible – athletes and now multi-millionaire businessman, Greg Norman.

This will be introduced by Adam Scott.

Earlier this year, when Adam Scott became the first Australian to win the prestigious US Masters golf tournament in its 77 year history, there was an emotional and memorable moment when he immediately acknowledged the support of his mentor, Greg Norman.

Norman is famous for holding the world number one title for 300 plus weeks but also for “snatching defeat from the jaws of victory” not once but twice at the Masters.

Considered by many as Australia’s greatest golfer ever – despite the fact that some consider he never fulfilled his immense potential – Greg Norman was one of the first to parlay success on the course into a multi-millionaire dollar business empire built around his moniker – The Great White Shark.

But the “living brand” has taken a battering over the past seven years following his very public break-up from Laura Andrassy, his wife of 25 years and mother of his two children, a divorce settlement in excess of $100 million, a brief marriage to former world number one tennis player and family friend, Chris Evert, and a third-time-lucky marriage to divorced mother of two small children Kirsten Kutner.

It was a real life celebrity soap opera played out in lurid detail in the tabloids and now, Norman says, “I just don’t want any drama anymore”.

In this two part episode, Australian Story examines the life and controversial times of one of the country’s greatest – and most visible – athletes and now multi-millionaire businessman.
The program features extended interviews with Greg Norman, US President Bill Clinton, Adam Scott and Jack Nicklaus, as well as family members and the first television interview with Norman’s third wife, Kirsten Norman (formerly Kirsten Kutner).
US President Bill Clinton
A lot of the resentment against him, and there was a fair amount back then, was because of his success and because he made it look easy. He was a big good-looking guy, he looked like he was having a good time. But he was never embraced in a way that some great golfers are.
Greg Norman
Some people think I’m very guarded and standoffish. But once I have you in my inner circle, I’m an extremely loyal guy. But once you cross that line of loyalty and go to the other side … I’m very quick to cut people out of my life, because I have no time for it you know.
Kirsten Norman, wife
Let’s put it this way, he’s spent a lifetime pulling knives out of his back.
Andrew Fox, friend
The moment you put your dirty laundry out in public um it’s going to get messy. Love sort of blew his brain in terms of what he could and couldn’t see. He didn’t want to listen.
Peter FitzSimons, columnist
The whole issue of Chrissie Evert … he was sport’s answer to Tom Cruise with Oprah Winfrey jumping up and down on the couch.
Janis Bishop, sister
So when he rang me and said ‘Sis, guess what? Chrissie and I are split’, I jumped around the house going ‘Alleluia’.
Adam Scott, 2013 US Masters winner
The expectation on him to perform was huge and he carried a lot of weight on his shoulders.

Part one screens Monday September 2, 8pm, ABC1 and part two screens Monday September 9, 8pm ABC1.