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".

The transition team has released a list of 29 world leaders to whom the President-elect and Vice-President-elect Mike Pence have spoken, with Mr Turnbull at number two.

Norman, one of the world's best golfers throughout the 1980s and '90s, has been friends with Mr Trump for a decade. The TV personality's business empire includes more than a dozen golf courses and the pair have played together regularly.

Mr Turnbull said the unlikely diplomat "has been a great help" and Australia has "great networks, great connections".

"Greg Norman is a great Australian. He is a great advocate for strengthening the Australian-American alliance. One of our greatest assets is the more than million Australians who live overseas. Greg is one of them," he said.

In a statement to ABC, Mr Norman said it was a "pleasure and an honour to facilitate the connection".

"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, so I was happy to put them in touch to further the incredible long-standing relationship the two countries have experienced," he said.

The government had been building contacts with both the Republican and Democratic teams for months but it was ultimately the golfer who gave Mr Hockey the number that allowed rapid contact with the man set to shake up his country and the world.

Britons were feeling snubbed last week after their Prime Minister, Theresa May, was unable to talk to Mr Trump in the 24 hours following his win. Nine other world leaders, including Mr Turnbull, did.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said the way his counterpart got in touch with Mr Trump was "a little unorthodox".

Mr Turnbull and Norman dined together at Mr Hockey's residence in Washington, DC, in September.

Norman, known as "The Shark" wrote for Newsweek on Tuesday, saying he and his friend had spoken on several occasions since the election and declaring that America's new leader "will surprise many".

The Prime Minister described his 15-minute call with Mr Trump last week as "very warm, constructive and practical". They discussed Islamic State, the Asia-Pacific and trade.

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