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



Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr Eyes Asian Glory amid Revitalized Saudi Pro League Campaign

Al-Nassr's Portuguese forward #7 Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Saudi Pro League football match between Al-Nassr and Al-Qadsia at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh on November 22, 2024. (AFP)
Al-Nassr's Portuguese forward #7 Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Saudi Pro League football match between Al-Nassr and Al-Qadsia at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh on November 22, 2024. (AFP)
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Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr Eyes Asian Glory amid Revitalized Saudi Pro League Campaign

Al-Nassr's Portuguese forward #7 Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Saudi Pro League football match between Al-Nassr and Al-Qadsia at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh on November 22, 2024. (AFP)
Al-Nassr's Portuguese forward #7 Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Saudi Pro League football match between Al-Nassr and Al-Qadsia at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh on November 22, 2024. (AFP)

Cristiano Ronaldo’s hopes of winning a first major trophy since arriving in Saudi Arabia in 2022 were given an unlikely domestic lifeline on Saturday and, on Monday, the Portuguese star can help Al-Nassr stay on course for a first Asian title.

Ronaldo scored his seventh goal of the season against Al-Qadsia on Friday in a battle against Spanish defender Nacho but his former Real Madrid teammate was celebrating at the final whistle.

“It was a different and difficult game against Ronaldo,” Nacho said. “He is my friend and I had the best part of my career playing with him but here we have a different experience and are playing for different teams. It was an honor to play against him.”

Al-Nassr looked to be slipping out of the Saudi Pro League (SPL) title race. Al-Hilal, unbeaten in 46 league games, would have gone nine points clear on Saturday with a win against Al-Khaleej but despite leading 2-0, Hilal fell to a shock 3-2 defeat, a first since May 2023.

“We knew that the victories would not continue because this is football,” said Hilal forward Marcos Leonardo. “We have to work and achieve victory in the next match in the AFC Champions League Elite.”

Saudi Arabian clubs have yet to lose in the western zone of the Asian competition — the 24 teams in the tournament are divided into two groups of 12 with eight from each progressing to the Round of 16 after playing eight matches — and occupy the top three spots.

Al-Nassr is third with ten points from four games and will be almost certain of a place in the next round if it defeats Al-Gharafa of Qatar.

Al-Hilal, a four-time champion and top of the group with four wins, also travels to Qatar to face 2011 winner Al-Sadd. Unlike SPL games, Neymar is eligible to play in Asian competitions but the Brazilian is still recovering from the injury sustained against Esteghlal of Iran earlier in November.

Al-Ahli of Jeddah is second with the maximum 12 points and faces defending champion Al-Ain of the United Arab Emirates. Al-Ain is bottom of the group and lost 5-4 to Hilal and then 5-1 to Nassr, defeats which cost Hernan Crespo his job as head coach earlier in November. The Argentine has been replaced by Leonardo Jardim, the Portuguese boss who led Al-Hilal to the 2021 continental title.

In the eastern zone, there is another former champion in 12th and last place. Ulsan HD, winner in 2012 and 2020, has lost all four games. Ulsan has just won a third successive South Korean title and needs to defeat newly-crowned Chinese champion Shanghai Port to keep chances of the second round alive.

Australia’s sole representative Central Coast Mariners is also in need of victory as it has just one point. The A-League team however has a daunting trip to Japan to face group leader Vissel Kobe.