The Australian, winner of two Majors, has been hired by the Chinese Golf Association (CGA) to act as a mentor and help develop a training programme for its young players as they try to qualify for Rio when golf returns to the Games for the first time since St Louis in 1904.

The 58-year-old, who is based in Florida, will be an exclusive advisory coach to the China National Golf Team and will visit their training centre in Nanshan in Guangdong province, on the mainland near Hong Kong, on a regular basis.

"I look forward to helping develop the CGA's training programme and playing a mentoring role for the national team," Norman told Golfweek.

"I genuinely believe that China as a nation will continue to grow as a major contributor to the game of golf on a worldwide basis."

Norman, who won the British Open in 1986 and 1993, also plans to appoint two assistant coaches to help him oversee the programme.

"I've always advocated for the growth and accessibility of the game and look forward to working with the CGA to bring my experience and longtime support of junior golf to China," said Norman.

"My role is not only to help prepare the China national team for international competition, but to also teach social skills, etiquette, honesty and self-confidence in giving young Chinese golfers a pathway to their future as adults."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
January 2011: Chinese teenager already carrying country's golf hopes for Rio 2016