Greg Norman in Hospital With 'Mild Symptoms' After Positive COVID-19 Test

Australian former golfer Greg Norman is treated for Covid-19 in a United States hospital on Christmas Day. Photograph: Greg Norman/Instagram
Australian former golfer Greg Norman is treated for Covid-19 in a United States hospital on Christmas Day. Photograph: Greg Norman/Instagram
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Greg Norman in Hospital With 'Mild Symptoms' After Positive COVID-19 Test

Australian former golfer Greg Norman is treated for Covid-19 in a United States hospital on Christmas Day. Photograph: Greg Norman/Instagram
Australian former golfer Greg Norman is treated for Covid-19 in a United States hospital on Christmas Day. Photograph: Greg Norman/Instagram

The Australian golf great Greg Norman has revealed he tested positive for Covid-19 on Christmas Day. The 65-year-old two-times Open champion, who lives in the United States, announced the news in an Instagram post containing photos of him in a hospital bed.

“This sums it all up. My Christmas Day. On behalf of millions, fuck Covid,” Norman wrote to his 188,000 followers. “Get this shit behind us never to experience it again.”

On Christmas Eve, Norman posted a video in which he described having “mild symptoms of potentially Covid” despite a test returning a negative result.

“I feel very flu-like, I have a mild fever, I have a cough, I have aches and pains, I have a mild headache,” he said.

“So I am in self-quarantine. Ugly place to be on Christmas Eve but I just do not want to jeopardize affecting any of my family or friends and loved ones around me.”

Only last week Norman played in the father-son PNC Championship in Florida with his son Greg Norman Jr. The pair finished ninth in the tournament in Florida, two places behind Tiger Woods and his 11-year-old son, Charlie.

“Lets look forward to 2021 and beyond, and making this world a better, happier, more successful, happier place,” Norman said.

“Whatever the new normal is going to be, let’s make it the new normal. We’ve learned a lot of lessons this year, it’s been an ugly one. I for one, am looking forward to getting out of this quarantine, and looking forward to building whatever the great future is in 2021.”

The Guardian Sport



Hamburg Fires Steffen Baumgart as Coach after Five Games without a Win

08 November 2024, Lower Saxony, Brunswick: Hamburg coach Steffen Baumgart gives an interview before the German Bundesliga 2 soccer match between Eintracht Braunschweig and Hamburger SV. (dpa)
08 November 2024, Lower Saxony, Brunswick: Hamburg coach Steffen Baumgart gives an interview before the German Bundesliga 2 soccer match between Eintracht Braunschweig and Hamburger SV. (dpa)
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Hamburg Fires Steffen Baumgart as Coach after Five Games without a Win

08 November 2024, Lower Saxony, Brunswick: Hamburg coach Steffen Baumgart gives an interview before the German Bundesliga 2 soccer match between Eintracht Braunschweig and Hamburger SV. (dpa)
08 November 2024, Lower Saxony, Brunswick: Hamburg coach Steffen Baumgart gives an interview before the German Bundesliga 2 soccer match between Eintracht Braunschweig and Hamburger SV. (dpa)

Former Bundesliga heavyweight Hamburger SV has fired Steffen Baumgart as coach after five games without a win across all competitions.

The second-division club said Sunday it was letting Baumgart go because of a “crisis of performances and results” after the team’s 2-2 draw at home with Schalke on Saturday.

That left Hamburg eighth in the 18-team division, four points behind early leader Paderborn after 13 rounds.

“Steffen gave everything with great passion, energy and commitment right up to the end for HSV. However, our analysis of the current situation and yesterday’s game has once again made it clear that we believe a new impetus is necessary,” Hamburg sporting director Stefan Kuntz said.

The club said Baumgart, who was a Hamburg fan as a child, took the news “calmly” on Sunday morning.

“It was an exciting and very intense time,” the former Cologne coach said. “I remain connected to the club and hope that HSV achieves its goals.”

Hamburg has been bidding to return to the Bundesliga since its demotion from the top flight in 2018. It had been the only ever-present team in the league since it was founded in 1963, earning the nickname “der Dino.”

But every season since relegation has ended in disappointment. Hamburg rival St. Pauli was promoted last season to add to Hamburg fans’ woes.

Baumgart, a former Hansa Rostock and Union Berlin forward, took over as Hamburg coach in February, when the team was third, but ultimately it was unable to improve and finished fourth – one place behind Fortuna Düsseldorf in the promotion playoff spot.

Hamburg said Baumgart’s assistants Rene Wagner and Kevin McKenna were also let go, and that assistant coach Merlin Polzin will prepare the team for its next game at Karlsruher SC.

There was no mention of a permanent successor.