Norman Says No to PGA Championship

Greg Norman today announced he is turning down the "special invitation" offered him by the PGA of America to play in the 2008 PGA Championship.

Said Norman on his Web site:

"While I truly appreciate the PGA extending me an exemption for this year's PGA Championship, I have elected to decline in favor of adhering to the professional and personal commitments I made prior to The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. I wish the PGA and Oakland Hills all the very best for what I'm sure will be a great week for golf."

Business before pleasure.

The decision isn't a surprise, really, given that Norman - less than a part-time golfer these days - would have to play four straight weeks if he chose to accept the PGA's invitation. The news item on Norman's site denies, however, that Norman is worried about being too tired to play:

The decision proved difficult for Norman, who labored over the honor and privilege bestowed by the PGA against prior professional and personal commitments. While the PGA Championship would have been Norman's fourth consecutive week of tournament golf, physical fitness was not a factor in the 53-year-old World Golf Hall of Famer's decision to decline the invitation.

I don't think Norman was worried about having the stamina to play in the PGA Championship. I think he was worried about having the stamina to play with new wife Chris Evert (wink wink, nudge nudge, know what I mean?). The guy's on his honeymoon. How tired must he be?