Greg Norman believes the new crop of golfers headed by teenager Aaron Baddeley contains the player who can successfully carry the torch for Australian golf that he has borne for so long.

Norman (45) has taken on an unofficial role as mentor to the new generation, opening his Florida home to them and offering help and advice.

And no one is happier than the two-time British Open champion by the success of Baddeley, who won his second Australian Open on Sunday.

Norman yesterday praised the development work which was now producing a stream of talented, fearless and superbly groomed Australian golfers.

"We'll be okay now," said Norman. "I think these young kids will be able to carry the torch very, very successfully for Australian golf.

"I always had a reservation about who will be the next person to come along because we've had a bit of a void.

"There's a 20 to 24-year gap between myself and this young new fresh crop and I think that's a long time.

"We had other players in there - no disrespect to them - but there was never one who really carried it on."

Norman's assistance to the new breed has included such generosity as bringing rising star Adam Scott from the United States to Australia for the national Open in his private jet.

"These kids are very mature beyond their years and you can sit down and have a conversation with them, like Adam coming across from the United States," he said.

"It's not just being able to play. I like their attitude and their approach.

"Somebody must be doing a great job with the kids. Their approach on the golf course is ethically, morally and attitudinally fresh."

Norman warned Baddeley to be prepared for another level of pressure after his second Australian Open win.

"When he won as an amateur everybody put high expectations on him and now that he's won as a professional as well those expectations are going to be even higher," he said.

"It's always a great feeling to win early in your pro career because you know you have done it and it gives you a lot more confidence to go on about it but it is a real fine line about how you handle that confidence."

Conservative estimates put Baddeley's earnings through endorsements over the next three years as high as £12 million.

Norman plays in the Australian PGA that starts on Thursday at the Royal Queensland Golf Club.