Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was able to jump the queue to speak to President-elect Donald Trump before other world leaders after Greg "The Shark" Norman was persuaded to pass on his golfing buddy's personal mobile number.

Joe Hockey, ambassador to the United States, acted quickly after Mr Trump's shock victory over Hillary Clinton, getting in touch with Norman to seek the details amid a government-wide effort to get the newly elected leader on the phone with the Prime Minister.

The revelation, confirmed by the Prime Minister's office, comes as US media reveal the chaos besetting the incoming administration's transition process, including puzzled American allies being forced to call Trump Tower blindly and getting patched through to the President-elect with little warning.

Mr Trump has rejected the coverage as "so totally wrong", claiming on Twitter that the transition was going "so smoothly".