Greg Norman's Advice To Tiger Woods: Something I Do Not Understand

[EmperorPenguin]

I once read in a past issue of Golf Magazine an interview with Greg Norman. There was one question for Greg: Any advice for Tiger Woods? His answer: "let your clubs do the talking, and don't believe everything you hear." The first part I clearly understand. However, the second part ("don't believe everything you hear") I am not quite sure. Can anyone hear clarify and give some examples?

[imakaveli]

[quote name='EmperorPenguin' timestamp='1394474035' post='8840665']
I once read in a past issue of [i]Golf Magazine[/i] an interview with Greg Norman. There was one question for Greg: Any advice for Tiger Woods? His answer: "let your clubs do the talking, and don't believe everything you hear." The first part I clearly understand. However, the second part ("don't believe everything you hear") I am not quite sure. Can anyone hear clarify and give some examples?
[/quote]

I think it would something like "don't read the newspapers", which is something (I believe) Jack told Rory after the Masters meltdown

[tbowles411]

Well at least this advice is sound and non-confrontational. Which is nice.

[jcgolf2]

Tiger Woods does not need to take advice from Greg Norman........for anything......ever.

[monkeynaut]

[quote name='jcgolf2' timestamp='1394475459' post='8840803']
Tiger Woods does not need to take advice from Greg Norman........for anything......ever.
[/quote]
Yes. He need only take it from Sean Foley.

[jmck]

Well all you need for examples are right here on golfwrx.com. At any given time in the tour talk forum there are about 6 different threads about how TW is six different degrees of all washed up. Don't listen to all those internet hotshot; I'd imagine that's what Norman meant. Though of course back in the day before Norman became washed up, it was mostly print media, so take it with a grain of salt.

Or maybe he is more prophetic than we give him credit for, and what he meant was "whatever you do, don't listen to unusually short Canadians with a brand to sell"

Either way, whatever.

[Frankie Lob Wedge]

[quote name='monkeynaut' timestamp='1394479006' post='8841229']
[quote name='jcgolf2' timestamp='1394475459' post='8840803']
Tiger Woods does not need to take advice from Greg Norman........for anything......ever.
[/quote]
Yes. He need only take it from Sean Foley.
[/quote]

LOL! The only advice Tiger needs is from a neurosurgeon not a trainer or physio or orthopedic surgeon. The guy or gal you need with your back is neuro.

[jcgolf2]

Selling wine.....maybe.....that's all

[Hifade]

......or how to land a tennis star for a wife, cheat on her and have her tell you to go pound sand.

[Hawkeye77]

[quote name='Hifade' timestamp='1394492592' post='8842815']
......or how to land a tennis star for a wife, cheat on her and have her tell you to go pound sand.
[/quote]

That statement has nothing to do with Norman and Evert.

[EmperorPenguin]

Let me clarify the source here. I cannot find the actual article, but I do remember it was a long article particularly about Greg Norman. The article was rather more of a Q&A format, and the subject was about a former world #1 giving advice to a current world #1. The article was quite fun to read, especially when he said, "Tiger in his prime versus me in my prime? I would have to give him the edge on that one." Anyhow, returning to the original post, Greg's advice of "don't believe everything you hear" has me thinking. Aside from the obvious, did Greg imply that by being world #1 you will hear things differently versus otherwise? This is some wisdom from a fellow who was #1 in the world for many years, and I don't have a complete understanding because I have never been a world #1 in golf before.

[strokingforscratch]

The advice he was offering is often shared between successful people in many fields. Basically, it means that once you reach the top, there's no shortage of people trying their hardest to kick your legs out from under you. Don't let 'em, is what Norman was saying...in a very nice way.

[Anchor44]

I suspect it's more a case of another has been player who loves to have a microphone in front of him and a media type asking his opinion.
Greg Norman and Gary, the bleck knot, Player love to tell the world what they think

[monkeynaut]

Yeah, because nobody else has an opinion about golf or Tiger.
Especially not here.
Strange, I don't see any microphones in front of anybody.

[middie8]

From what I remember in Butch Harmons book, Tiger was always entertaining outside influences and Butch did his best to keep them at bay. For example, at the time Woods was still using a steel shaft in his driver and it was around 43.75" Woods was being inundated with new, longer, graphite shafts and Harmon had urged him not to switch for a variety of reasons. He was always tinkering but needed to be kept grounded.

Maybe that is what he was talking about?

Maybe now that Butch and Earl are gone its just a conga line of new ideas up to the Woods door?

[King_Slender]

I take "[color=#282828]don't believe everything you hear" to mean just because everyone tells him he's the best ever, doesn't mean he should believe it.[/color]

[dhogan13]

[quote name='EmperorPenguin' timestamp='1394474035' post='8840665']
I once read in a past issue of [i]Golf Magazine[/i] an interview with Greg Norman. There was one question for Greg: Any advice for Tiger Woods? His answer: "let your clubs do the talking, and don't believe everything you hear." The first part I clearly understand. However, the second part ("don't believe everything you hear") I am not quite sure. Can anyone hear clarify and give some examples?
[/quote]

to me it means, don't believe what everyone is saying about you being the best golfer ever, go out there and prove it.

i.e. its not enough to get close to Jack, you have to make it so obvious that you are better that to say otherwise would be blasphemy.

EDIT: mr. wizard above me beat me to it. dang :/

[EmperorPenguin]

We have some very good conjectures of what Greg meant by, "don't believe everything you hear." At first, the most plausible explanation would be that by being the world #1, there would be countless numbers of critics and commentators giving their opinions of anything about him, whether Brandel Chamblee nitpicks something about his swing, or if animal rights activists accuse him of being insensitive when he putted a ball over a fly. I think Greg means that Tiger should never be open to suggestions and change anything he is doing, and to stick to his guns and keep doing everything the way he sees fit, regardless of what anybody else says. Maybe this is what Greg meant?

[Langlands]

Maybe he was referring to Nicklaus's comments that Woods would beat his major total.

[rabbit111]

One thing tiger could take advice on from Greg is how to hit a driver!

[kellygreen]

[quote name='EmperorPenguin' timestamp='1394474035' post='8840665']
I once read in a past issue of [i]Golf Magazine[/i] an interview with Greg Norman. There was one question for Greg: Any advice for Tiger Woods? His answer: "let your clubs do the talking, and don't believe everything you hear." The first part I clearly understand. However, the second part ("don't believe everything you hear") I am not quite sure. Can anyone hear clarify and give some examples?
[/quote]

It's about how to handle the media...and fame.

The first rule Tiger learned the hard way in that GQ interview. The media thrives on controversy, and will seek to create it when they can't find it naturally-occurring. Don't give them anything.

The second is a variation on the old newspaper adage: "[i][b]You're never as good as people think you are, and you are never as bad as they say you are."[/b][/i] The media also likes to put people up on pedestals...only to enjoy knocking them off later. So now that Tiger is not as dominant as he used to be (even though he is still, clearly the best player in the game) you have guys who have created whole cottage-industries criticizing him, his life, his game, and just about everything about him. Brandle Chamblee.

In fact, Chamblee was doing in such an over-the-top manner that he basically accused Tiger of being a cheater...and only back down when he found himself staring down the wrong end of a potential (and potentially successful) libel suit.

[joey2aces]

there's an old saying... believe half of what you see and none of what you hear.

[billyhandsomeface]

Sometimes I feel bad for Tiger because everyone wants to give him unsolicited advice. No offense to Greg Norman, but Tiger must feel like he has 2 million mother in laws.