Norman pulls out of Australian Open with shoulder healing slowly

SYDNEY -- Greg Norman's slower-than-expected recovery from shoulder surgery will force him to miss next month's Australian Open.

Tournament officials said that Norman was advised by his doctors not to play competitive golf again this year following arthroscopic surgery in September.

The Australian Open will be at the New South Wales Golf Club in Sydney from Dec. 3-6. Golf Australia said Norman will also sit out his signature event in Florida, the Shark Shootout, in the week after the Australian Open.

Geoff Ogilvy, Adam Scott and John Daly are entered in the Australian Open, the second of three tournaments on the Australian late-year circuit.

The Australian Masters, featuring Tiger Woods' first appearance in Australia since the Presidents Cup in 1998, is next week at Kingston Heath in Melbourne.

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