Norman receives US PGA invite

Greg Norman has received an invitation to play in next month's US PGA Championship at Oakland Hills on the back of his joint third-place finish in The Open.

The 53-year-old Australian, who rolled back the years at Royal Birkdale to lead going into the final round last Sunday, will make a decision within the next 24 hours.

Speaking on the eve of the Senior Open at Royal Troon, Norman said: "I already had something scheduled for that week but I will talk with my manager, Bob Collins, over dinner this evening because I don't want to hold up the PGA."

"It is a great honour to be thought of in that regard but that would be four weeks in a row and I woke up a little stiff this morning."

"I have had multiple surgeries and those do start to show up when I hit a lot of golf balls and I have to be careful, although fitness has never been a problem with me."

"I was one of the first ones to adopt a strong fitness regime and I actually putted very well the whole week at Birkdale, and I think that was because of my stamina and inner core strength."

Norman believes that he is capable of winning a third Major in spite of his advancing years and identified next year's venue Turnberry and St Andrews in 2010 as the Open courses which will suit his game most as neither course is overly long.

He does not expect to suffer any adverse reaction to his efforts last week in atrocious weather conditions and insisted: "I'm not worried about my play or my concentration this week. I'll be okay."

"My expectations are good. I like the golf course and I used the Open as a warm-up for the Senior Open although it should probably have been the other way round."

Norman revealed that he has received around 700 emails and texts during the past few days, including one from Seve Ballesteros congratulating him on his efforts in the Open.