Australian
Steve Elkington has pulled out of the Greg Norman International because of an
ear infection.
Tournament director Monique Tomson said: "A very disappointed Steve Elkington
became ill during the Pebble Beach Classic (last week) and has been instructed
by his doctors not to fly."
The tournament, which starts on February 8, is jointly sanctioned by the European
and Australasian PGA Tours.
Although 1995 US PGA champion Elkington will not be making a rare appearance in
his home country, the field includes Spaniard Sergio Garcia, world matchplay championship
runner-up Pierre Fulke, and New Zealander Michael Campbell, who won the Heineken
Classic last week, in Perth.
Steve
Elkington at The Buick.Allsport.
Tournament organisers
had boasted last month how Norman had convinced close friend and fellow United
States-based Australian Elkington, a former Australian Open champion, to play
in his tournament.
Elkington fell out with Australian Open organisers when they failed to feature
him in tournament promotions after his 1995 PGA success.
