Australia’s ambassador to the US, Joe Hockey, believed to have contacted Norman asking for Trump’s private mobile number

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

The Australian golfing great Greg Norman is believed to have helped Malcolm Turnbull become one of the first world leaders to talk to Donald Trump after his US presidential election victory.

The prime minister praised Norman as a great Australian on Thursday but did not directly confirm reports about how the US-based golfer helped connect him to the president-elect.

“He is a great advocate for strengthening the Australian-American alliance,” Turnbull told reporters at Kirribilli House in Sydney.

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Some of the country’s greatest assets were Australians, such as Norman, who lived overseas, he said.

“He has been a great help,” Turnbull said. “Sure, it depends on good relations between leaders and ministers and so forth but, above all, it’s based on millions of people-to-people links.

“All I can say is we have great networks, great connections and Greg Norman is a great Australian.”

Norman and Trump are near neighbours in Palm Beach, Florida, and are also closely connected through the president-elect’s love of golf. Norman, who has a range of business interests outside golf, designed the Trump National Golf Club course in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The double major winner said it had been an honour to facilitate the connection between the prime minister and president-elect.

“I have great respect for both men who have been voted in by the people of their respective countries and I am fortunate enough to call Mr Trump a friend,” Norman told the ABC. “So I was happy to put them in touch to further the incredible long-standing relationship the two countries have experienced.”

Australia’s ambassador to the US, Joe Hockey, reportedly contacted Norman asking for Trump’s private mobile number.

The two leaders had a 15-minute telephone talk the day after Trump defeated Hillary Clinton, with the prime minister describing the discussion as “very warm”.

The federal government already has begun talks with Trump administration advisers as the new president prepares to take over the White House in January.