Shark's Open shut

A delay in his recovery from recent shoulder surgery will prevent five-time champion Greg Norman from teeing up at next month's Australian Open.

Norman has withdrawn from the Open, to be contested at the New South Wales Golf Club at La Perouse on 3-6 December, on the advice of his doctors after undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery in September.

The 54-year-old, who recently separated from his second wife, former tennis great Chris Evert, is not expected to play competitive golf again in 2009 which means that he'll also miss his signature event, the Shark Shootout, to be held the following week in Florida.

Golf Australia chief executive Stephen Pitt said he was disappointed Norman could not attend, but the search was already underway to make other world-class additions to the field.

"Naturally we’re disappointed that Greg will not be able to join us," Pitt said.

"We wish him well in his recovery and look forward to seeing him back in the Australian Open field in 2010."

"While the championship will undoubtedly miss the magnetism of Greg it will mean some of the spotlight will return to the outstanding Australian depth in the field."

The Australian Open field will feature Australia’s top-ranked players including Geoff Ogilvy, Michael Sim, Mathew Goggin, Marc Leishman and Americans John Daly, Steve Marino and Kevin Stadler.

Adam Scott and two-time Australian Open champion Aaron Baddeley will be taking part in the event for the first time since 2007.