Greg Norman has turned down an invitation to play in the US PGA Championship, deciding to stick to a previous commitment instead of competing for a fourth straight week.
The PGA of America offered 53-year-old part-timer Norman an exemption in the year's final major championship after he surprised the golf world by holding the 54-hole lead in the British Open and finishing third.
Norman tied for fifth last week at the Senior British Open, and will play this week in the US Senior Open at The Broadmoor in Colorado.
"While I truly appreciate the PGA extending me an exemption for this year's PGA Championship, I have elected to decline in favor of adhering to the professional and personal commitments I made prior to The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale," Norman said on his Web site.
"I wish the PGA and Oakland Hills all the very best for what I'm sure will be a great week for golf."
The US PGA Championship will be played from August 7-10 at Oakland Hills in Bloomfield Township, Michigan.
Norman, who played the British Open while on his honeymoon with tennis great Chris Evert, said he would return to work next week as CEO of Great White Shark Enterprises.
Still to be determined is whether he will accept his invitation to the Masters for finishing among the top four in the British Open.
