Greg Norman to miss Australian Open

Next month's $1.5 million Australian Open lost some significant lustre on Thursday
when Greg Norman withdrew from the event.
Norman has been advised by his doctors not to play again in 2009 after undergoing
arthroscopic shoulder surgery in September, forcing him out of his
highly-anticipated return to the NSW Golf Club at La Perouse.
At 54, the five-time winner would still have been the No.1 drawcard at the December
3-6 tournament and a handy riposte to Tiger Woods' appearance at next week's
Australian Masters.
Golf Australia chief executive Stephen Pitt couldn't mask his disappointment at the
announcement.
"He is a drawcard and it is a shame. A lot of people would've loved to have seen how
he played the NSW Golf Club," Pitt told AAP by telephone.
"He's actually a member there and it's the sort of course that suits his game to a
large extent.
"There's that disappointment that he won't be there and I'm sure Greg's disappointed
as well.
"He loves the Australian Open and I'm sure he's disappointed that he can't take his
place."
The slower than expected recovery from surgery will also force Norman to miss his
own event, The Shark Shootout, to be held the week after the Open in Florida.
Thankfully for Open organisers, it doesn't spell the end of Norman's long
association with the tournament, having signed a deal back in June to compete in the
next three Australian Opens.
Following the Shark's announcement, Pitt was turning his attention to the quality
field that will tee up in Sydney.
Adam Scott, who showed a promising return to form in his third-placing at last
week's Singapore Open, will play after a knee injury kept him out of the 2008 Open.
Geoff Ogilvy, Aaron Baddeley, Stuart Appleby and John Senden are also competing
along with John Daly and his fellow Americans Steve Marino and Kevin Stadler.
But it is two other Australians that are of particular interest to Pitt.
Marc Leishman and Michael Sim both had break-out seasons in the United States in
2009 and represent some of the next generation of Australian golfers and both will
be at the NSW Golf Club.
"From our perspective we're still really excited about the event and it's still a
great field," he said.
"The silver lining (of Norman's withdrawal) is some of the focus goes on some of the
younger players coming through who probably haven't had as much attention as they
deserve.
"A couple of examples would be Michael Sim and Marc Leishman, who have been in
dominating form over the last year and look like they have a really bright future
for Australian golf.
"Maybe more focus goes on them and people will be able to see them play for the
first time."
Organisers were still looking into the possibility of enticing some other top-class
international players to the event.
"If we can attract someone to the field that helps bring a little bit more drawing
power we'll do it, but we're really happy with the field that we've got," Pitt said.