Greg Norman
is negotiating with the Australian Golf Union to renew his contract
to play the Australian Open.
Norman's six-year deal expired after the Open at Kingston Heath
last November but the AGU is confident he will be back shooting
for a sixth national crown this year.
The tournament
is be played on a course Norman designed - The Grand on the Gold
Coast.
The charismatic
former world No.1 has been the greatest drawcard on the Australasian
tour for many years, his presence virtually guaranteeing the success
of any tournament.
Greg
Norman in action. Allsport.
A group of youngsters
headed by Aaron Baddeley and Adam Scott is moving up the pecking
order but Norman has star quality and a history which mean an Australian
Open would hardly seem like an Open without him.
"We're
in negotiations with him at the moment," said AGU chief executive
Colin Phillips.
"Greg
hasn't missed many Australian Opens so you'd have to say there's
a fair chance of him playing again this year."
