The shark declines PGA Championship exemption

Greg Norman turned down an invitation Monday to play in the PGA Championship, deciding to stick to a previous commitment instead of competing for the fourth straight week.

The PGA of America offered Norman an exemption after he had the 54-hole lead in the British Open and finished third. Norman tied for fifth last week at the Senior British Open, and will play this week in the U.S. Senior Open at The Broadmoor in Colorado.

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

The PGA Championship will be played Aug. 7-10 at Oakland Hills in Bloomfield Township, Mich.

Norman, who played the British Open while on his honeymoon with former tennis great Chris Evert, said he would return to work next week as CEO of Great White Shark Enterprises.

Still to be determined is whether he will accept his invitation to the Masters for finishing among the top four in the British Open.

My Thoughts
Greg Norman was my favorite golfer as a kid growing up in Australia. The Shark is a man of his word and it is good of him to keep his commitments. He, like the rest of us, probably realized he didn't have much of a chance anyway. I do hope that he does take up the masters invitation though - I would love to see him play there again!

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