Presidents Cup Notebook: Norman Sidesteps Questions

SAN FRANCISCO -- As scheduled, Greg Norman showed up Tuesday for the Presidents Cup media interview session.

Waiting on the International Team captain was the pink elephant he really hoped to ignore.

It didn't happen.

News broke last Friday that Norman and tennis star Chris Evert had separated 15 months after a lavish wedding in the Bahamas. At Norman's first public appearance since the announcement, it didn't take long before the inevitable inquiry was made.

"Well, I'm not going to talk about any personal life right now," Norman answered.

"The situation right now is we are here for the Presidents Cup and it's all about the Presidents Cup and my guys are in a great state of mind about being positive about getting out there and playing, and come Thursday, they are going to perform. I know they will perform in a positive fashion."

Norman also is dealing with the physical pain of shoulder surgery performed Wednesday of last week and has his right arm in a sling.

"Well, it's progressively getting better," he said. "It's hard to sleep, obviously, because I have to wear this [sling]. I was trying to defer it until middle of January, but it got to a position where I couldn't do certain things with my arm. And it's just a degeneration of the joint."

Norman was asked if players were offering emotional support.

"We haven't even talked about it," he answered. "We talked about my shoulder, absolutely. It's pretty hard to ignore that. But at the end of the day, somebody's private life is their private life. They respect that.

"So they just come in, knowing this is all about the Presidents Cup. This has nothing to do about me. Just because I'm the captain of the team, it's all about the team. And I'm making sure they know that."

MICKELSON'S OUCH

Phil Mickelson won the Tour Championship and looked like he was back in top form for this week's Presidents Cup.

He isn't.

Mickelson slightly strained his back in the days following his Sept. 27 victory at East Lake Golf Club, and it is bothersome enough that he is limiting his activity going into this week's action. He limited practice Tuesday to nine holes of play and will likely do the same Wednesday.

"It was a little bit of a concern until I saw him on the range today," American team captain Fred Couples said. "Anybody's going to tell you they're doing good. You have got to watch them, though."

WOODS: TEAMS GOOD

In his early years Tiger Woods once alluded to the lack of importance he placed on team events.

On Tuesday Woods altered that opinion, saying time and experienced changed his view.

"It's always been important, but it's different," Woods said. "I was never the team leader because I was always the youngest one on the team. Now that I've been around the teams, guys are starting to ask me how does it feel to be on these teams, what do we do and what can we expect.

"I was always on the other side. Now, I've been out here long enough where that has certainly evolved."

JORDAN'S ROLE

Michael Jordan has made a habit of showing up at Ryder Cups and Presidents Cups in the past, so this year U.S. captain Fred Couples made him official.

Couples called Jordan my "assistant assistant" and added him to the inner circle.

American player Steve Stricker isn't complaining.

"We have the best basketball player in history in our team room, to ask him questions, just try to get inside his head a little bit is pretty cool

"Why not have him here? I think he can only help with insight, some motivational talks, maybe something to get us going."