The Man
First Deals Behind Tiger’s
Agent Hughes Norton breaks his silence with a new autobiography
By Hughes Norton and George Peper
Editor’s note: It is no exaggeration to say that Hughes Norton operated at the epicentre of professional golf for nearly 20 years, helping legendary super-agent Mark McCormack grow the personal-management business McCormack created that at its height called the major- ity of the top 25 players in the world clients. While at IMG, Norton represented Greg Norman when the Aus- tralian World No 1 was at the peak of his powers and built a relationship with Earl Woods that resulted in the highest-profile new-professional-golfer-representation agreement of all time. Norton also led the negotiations that would make Tiger Woods the highest-earning ac- tive golfer on the planet before he hit his first shot for
pay at the 1996 Greater Milwaukee Open. In this excerpt from his upcoming memoir, Rainmaker, Norton offers the first glimpse inside the negotiations and machina- tions that launched Woods’ branding juggernaut – with dollar signs attached that still stick out even in a world of LIV Golf mega-deals. – MATTHEW RUDY
GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA 45
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024
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