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Greg Norman - Source: Reuters
Major drawcard Greg Norman has pulled out of next month's Australian Open in Sydney following a slower than expected recovery from shoulder surgery.
Golf Australia said the two-time British Open winner was advised by his doctors not to play competitive golf again this year following arthroscopic surgery in September.
It's a big blow for the national championship to be played at the NSW Golf Club at La Perouse in Sydney from December 3-6.
Five-times Australian Open champion Norman was signed amid much fanfare in June to play in the next three Australian Opens held in Sydney as part of a deal which would also see him serve as ambassador for Tourism NSW.
It was touted as a big win for NSW, with the sort of publicity Norman attracts at least providing some counter to Victoria's coup in attracting world No.1 Tiger Woods to next week's Australian Masters.
Norman will also sit out his own event in Florida, The Shark Shootout, to be held in the US the week after the Australian Open.
"Naturally we're disappointed that Greg will not be able to join us," said Golf Australia chief executive Stephen Pitt.
"We wish him well in his recovery and look forward to seeing him back in the Australian Open field in 2010.
"While the championship will undoubtedly miss the magnetism of Greg it will mean some of the spotlight will return to the outstanding Australian depth in the field."
The Australian Open field will feature most of Australia's top ranked players including Geoff Ogilvy, Adam Scott, Michael Sim, Aaron Baddeley, Mathew Goggin, Stuart Appleby, John Senden, Marc Leishman and Americans John Daly, Steve Marino and Kevin Stadler.
And Pitt said Golf Australia would continue to pursue other world class players to add to the field.
Norman's withdrawal comes a month after the announcement of the break-up of his 15-month marriage to tennis legend Chris Evert.
