Thomson leads tributes to Von Nida

Five-time Open champion Peter Thomson today led the tributes to Norman Von Nida, who has died at the age of 93.

The Von, as he was affectionately known, died in his sleep on Sunday at a retirement village on Queensland’s Gold Coast where he and his wife, Elva, had been living.

“It’s a sad day, but inevitable,” Thomson told the Sydney Morning Herald.

“He was the pathfinder, the first Australian golfer to make money out of playing golf rather than being a club professional.”

Von Nida had a chance to win the British Open in 1947, when he shared the lead with Fred Daly, Arthur Lees and Henry Cotton with 18 holes to play at Hoylake. He shot 76 to finish tied sixth and a year later finished third to Cotton at Muirfield.