Golf News: - Posted 26th March 1998

Norman and Elkington withdraw from Players Championship

Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida - Two big names will not be on hand as The Players Championship gets underway today (Thursday) in Florida.

Steve Elkington of Australia, who captured his second Players Championship last year with a tournament-record seven-stroke victory, pulled out Tuesday after undergoing sinus surgery last week. Course-record holder and 1994 champion Greg Norman withdrew today.

Norman, the former top-ranked player in the world and the PGA Tour's all-time leading money winner, pulled out due to a left shoulder injury. Norman holds the tournament record with a 24-under-par 264. Scott Verplank, who is 51st on this year's money list, replaces Norman in the 144-man field.

Elkington was replaced in the field by Trinidad's Stephen Ames.