Norman decides not to play in PGA Championship

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JUPITER, Fla. (AP) -- 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 favor of adhering to the professional and personal commitments I made prior to The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale," Norman said on his Web site. "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 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.