Cork-born Cott caddying for the Great White Shark

CORK-BORN Jackie Cott has been living the dream of many golfers this week by caddying for Greg Norman at the Heineken Melbourne Open.

Cott, who now lives in Sydney, has been a long-time friend of Greg Norman and has previously travelled to the US Masters and the Open in Britain with the Great White Shark.

Their friendship blossomed when Cott was working with sports promoters IMG (International Management Group).

“I met Greg there and we have been great friends since,” said Cott.

“I have been all over the world with him, sailing on his yacht down the coast of France, I have been to the British Open and the US Masters, and next week we will be flying with him in the private jet to the US for his 50th birthday party. He is a fantastic guy and a great friend.”

Cott first came to Sydney as a young 19-year-old backpacker and lived in Coogee and Bronte.

He fell in love with Australia and has been living Down Under for over 20 years now.

Cott, who works for Sports

Entertainment Limited (SEL), said: “Greg has asked me to work for him on numerous occasions but that means moving to the States. We are settled in Sydney now.”

Cott, originally from Mallow, played football and hurling for Carrigtwohill growing up and has fond memories of Cork.

“We go home a couple of times a year. We have a beautiful house in Sligo and love to see everybody. I was delighted to see Cork looking so well for the Capital of Culture when I was home last. Patrick Street was looking great,” said Cott.

This was Cott’s first time caddying for Norman whose former caddy Tony Navarro is now working for fellow Australian Adam Scott.

This is not the first time Norman has asked friends to caddy for him.

Recent runner-up at the Australian Open in Melbourne, Lleyton Hewitt has also caddied for him in the past.

Before he came to Australia, Cott had never played a game of golf.

Norman wore a microphone for the Heineken Open which gave golfing fans a close-up and personal account of a round of golf with a professional golfer.

Asked if that made him nervous, Cott replied: “I’ve been around too long for that.” Unfortunately Norman missed the cut, derailing Channel Seven’s plan to wire him up for sound this weekend.

The Shark followed his first-round 76 with a 73, finishing at seven over par and well out of the running for the group of 70 players who will progress to play on the weekend.

Norman, 49, had been wired up by Fox Sports in Thursday’s opening round after he volunteered to be the guinea pig.

Colin Montgomerie insisted he had never been happier on or off the course after claiming a share of the halfway lead.

A rejuvenated Montgomerie, second in the defence of his Caltex Masters title in Singapore on Sunday, fired six birdies and no bogeys in a flawless 65, for a nine-under-par halfway total of 133. That was later matched by in-form Australian Peter Lonard who recorded a 68.

South African Trevor Immelman is a shot behind on eight-under alongside 23-year-old Australian rookie Jarrod Lyle, who led with six holes to play before two late bogeys.

Defending champion Ernie Els was also back in contention after what he described as a “grinding 64.”

The world number three recovered from an opening 72 to finish three shots off the lead in his quest for a record-equalling fourth straight victory.

Six-time major winner Nick Faldo finished in style with birdies at the last two holes for an excellent 66 but at two-over-par missed the halfway cut by two shots.