Ailing Shark

Greg Norman had played four straight events but his surgically repaired back said 'enough is enough' for now and forced the Great White Shark to pull out of the PGA Championship.

SPRINGFIELD, N.J. (AP) -- Greg Norman withdrew from the PGA Championship on Tuesday, saying he was dealing with muscle fatigue after playing four consecutive tournaments.

Norman had back surgery earlier this year and did not play until the British Open at St. Andrews last month, where he tied for 60th. He followed that with the Senior British Open and the Senior U.S. Open, then missed the cut at the International on the PGA Tour.

"I knew going into this stretch that it was going to be rigorous, and I had no idea how my body would react so quickly after surgery," Norman said. "In conference with my neurosurgeon and physical therapist, they both believe I simply played too much too soon."

Norman, 50, received a special exemption to play in the PGA Championship. He was replaced by Kevin Sutherland, who will play the first two rounds with Tiger Woods and Michael Campbell.

The PGA traditionally puts the first three major champions of the year in the same group, but there was an opening because Woods won the Masters and the British Open.

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