Greg Norman has traveled globally for many years as a professional golfer and businessman. So the emergency landing his private jet was forced to make recently was not his first mid-flight incident.
Still, it doesn’t make it any easier for the Palm Beach Gardens resident and former LIV Golf CEO.
Norman, 70, posted on social media he was traveling from Los Angeles to Palm Beach International when the windscreen shattered and the plane was forced to turn back to make an emergency landing at LAX.
“It’s certainly not my first rodeo with events like this,” Norman told Australian Golf Digest. “The last (mid-air emergency) I had was in my plane climbing at 30,000 feet and – BANG! – we dived to about 10,000 feet and slowed down.
“I’ve had more interesting things, as much as I’ve flown over the years – lightning strikes, cabin fires, breaking the ceiling barrier to see the curvature of the earth, losing hydraulics after taking off from an aircraft carrier …”
Norman, who is from Australia, wrote on Instagram it was the second time in four decades for this type of emergency.
“Inflight LAX — PBI loud pop = shattered windscreen. Only the second time in 40yrs of private travel. Returned to LAX to the professionals to make sure all ok. Thanks all.”
Norman, who was traveling with two pilots, said his first thought was: “F****** land!”
The two-time major champion and former world No. 1 recently was replaced as CEO of LIV Golf, ending a controversial run as the architect, CEO and commissioner of the league that launched more than three years ago as a rival league to the PGA Tour and forever changed the face of professional golf.
Norman was replaced by Scott O’Neil, a longtime sports and entertainment executive, and the league continues to struggle with ratings and credibility midway through its fourth season as LIV and the PGA Tour remain far apart in their negotiations to unify golf.
Norman’s contract with LIV expires in October.
Tom D’Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at tdangelo@pbpost.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Greg Norman on emergency landing on flight from L.A. to Palm Beach: ‘Not my first rodeo’
Reporting by Tom D’Angelo, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
