Norman is bugged by McCumber card

Golf

Greg Norman, who accused the American Mark McCumber of "cheating" in the World Series tournament in Akron, Ohio, last Thursday, is determined that the incident will not be "pushed into history".

The world No 1, in Switzerland for the Canon European Masters in Crans- sur-Sierre, which starts today, said that McCumber had repaired a spike mark and refused to sign his card at the end of the round.

McCumber denied this and said he was removing an insect and was given the benefit of the doubt, but his card had to be signed by a US Tour official.

Norman said: "I have written to the US Board members and the Policy Board because I do not want to see the matter die. Technically it's history but I do not want to see anything like this happen again. I do not want to see this pushed into history.

"Nobody is above the game of golf. I have never seen anything so blatant in my life. The officials had to give the player the benefit of the doubt because it was my word against his.

"But I'm still mad about this incident. This game of golf is so pure and I do not want to see it slip. It has been built up over the decades by the likes of Bobby Jones, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. I was in a state of shock. I did not believe a professional could do something like that."

n Laura Davies makes her final appearance of the season on the American Express Tour when she attempts to secure a sixth win of the year in the English Open which starts at The Oxfordshire Club today. After missing her first cut for 17 months at the Du Maurier Classic in Canada last week, Davies is confident of gaining her third English title in four years over the Rees Jones- designed course.

"It is a fantastic course with lots of water and good bunkering. The greens are superb but the course could be a monster if the wind gets up," said the world No 1.