Even in times of relative triumph, Tiger Woods can't escape his legacy.
The former No. 1 golfer in the world took a two-month hiatus from the game to come back at the year's first major - the Masters - and remarkably is on the cusp of a top-five finish. He shot back-to-back sub-70 rounds at Augusta National for the first time since 2011.
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And Greg Norman, arguably golf's most notorious "bridesmaid," feels sorry for him for being a fallen idol.
Reuters.com reported that Norman said as much in an interview with News Ltd media, saying that even the greatest individuals can be humbled when their weaknesses are exposed.
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"I do feel sorry for Tiger, where he's sitting at the moment. I hate seeing someone who, at the pinnacle, can fall off and look so disgustingly bad," Norman said.
He added: "I don't know Tiger, but he is a public figure, and you have to accept that. But do it in the right way, do the right things."
Golfdigest.com has suggested that Norman and Woods have a strained relationship, even though Norman reached out to Woods in 2011 to help him reclaim his place in golf after is infamous 2009 car crash that exposed his extra-marital affairs when he was married to Elin Nordegren.
But Norman gave a harsh assessment of Woods' fall 5½ years ago, hinting that Woods "went off the rails" following the death of his father in 2006 and lacked guidance after Earl's passing.
"You do need somebody to slap you across the face, and realign you," said the 60-year-old Australian.
He continued: "You don't need your minders to say 'It's OK, do whatever you want to do, we will cover up for you'. Unfortunately it shows you no matter how great an individual you become, our weaknesses get exposed."
Norman's weaknesses were relegated to the golf course, in which he was criticized for his inability to close the deal in numerous events.
"The enduring criticism of Greg Norman is that he too often finished second -- 31 times against 20 wins on the PGA Tour, including eight particularly painful runners-up along with two wins in majors," another Golfdigest.com report stated. "It was the most in each category by any player in our Golf World Modern 100 for the period beginning in 1980."
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