Golf: Luck turns for Norris

Spectators watch the action on day two of the New Zealand Open in Queenstown yesterday. Photo / Getty Images

Australian golfer Jason Norris would appreciate the humour of comedian John Clarke, aka Fred Dagg.

Before exporting his unique brand of comedy to Australia, Clarke was the brainchild behind Dagg, offering a uniquely rural take on the New Zealand psyche.

And as for Norris, yes, he does know just how lucky he is, mate.

The joint second-round leader at the New Zealand Open here yesterday, Norris, 36, regularly counts his blessings after surviving a horrific accident which threatened not only his golfing career but also his life.

Sixteen months ago Norris was skylarking about on a bicycle in the evening after play at a tournament in Queensland.

A fork on the bike broke, hurtling him face first into a concrete barrier.

The damage was considerable - a jaw broken in 13 places, his nose was pushed back into his skull dangerously close to the brain, and he required five plates to be inserted to help restore the damage.

"I think the accident definitely helps me," Norris said after shooting a seven-under-par 65 to top the leaderboard on 134 and share first place with American Jeff Gove, who exploded with a 63 which included a hot streak of 29 on the first nine holes.

"If I am going bad I look back at those times.

"It is still pretty hard to think about. Things are moving on but I think it helps me because you go back to the time when I was in that much pain so things now are pretty good."

A one-time winner on the Von Nida Tour across the Tasman, Norris is in the form of his life.

He tied for seventh at the New Zealand PGA Championship in Christchurch last week, his first top-10 placing in a regular tour event, and now promises to match or better that result.

The sun came out from hiding yesterday for the first time this week to help heat up the action at The Hills on the outskirts of Arrowtown.

After a week of cold, blustery winds, the weather relented for an afternoon as conditions turned for the better - and the players responded, too.

New Zealand's Steve Alker, who won last week in Christchurch, did without his ill caddie for the last seven holes of his round but still posted a 67 to be tucked one shot back of the leaders.

Three players shared fourth on 136 - American Martin Puller and Alex Prugh, plus Australian Stephen Dartnall.

Sixth players were tied for seventh on 137, among them Tauranga's Josh Geary, who shot a 65 to remain on track to repeat his tie for second in Christchurch.

Only five of 19 New Zealanders made the cut, with Grant Waite 16th after two rounds on 139, David Smail 29th on 141 and Michael Long 41st on 142.

The cut line was at one-under 143, meaning early exits for the likes of Danny Lee, Sir Bob Charles, Phil Tataurangi and Gareth Paddison, among others.

- NZPA