Born in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, in 1929, Norman developed his golf from childhood at the Rockway municipal course in that city, starting as a caddie in his pre-teen years.

[1] He refined his skills competing against talented area players such as Gary Cowan and Gerry Kesselring.

[5] Norman's first win was in 1949, when he won a one-day amateur event at the St. Thomas Golf and Country Club.

Late in his life, Norman found better financial security when Natural Golf, an instruction company, and Titleist, a major golf manufacturer, signed him to a lifetime contract after he allegedly told a reporter, "Titleist never did nothing for me."

In January 2005, Tiger Woods, the biggest golf star of the modern era, told Golf Digest's Jaime Diaz that only two golfers in history have "owned their swings": Moe Norman and Ben Hogan.

[5] He devised what is known as "The Single Plane Golf Swing" —- rigid arms extended far from his body, a very wide stance with minimal knee bend, shorter-than-usual backswing and extended follow-through with minimal hand action, which produced amazingly accurate ball placement.

[5] Norman played the PGA Tour beginning in 1956, as an amateur, with two appearances by invitation as an amateur in the Masters Tournament: After a tournament in New Orleans, PGA officials gave Norman a dressing down regarding his playing antics.