Shell Houston Open

HOUSTON -- Greg Norman has committed to tee it up in the Shell Houston Open the week of April 1-5 at the Redstone Golf Club -- Tournament Course.

Norman, who spent 331 weeks as the No. 1 player in the world in the mid-80s through early 1990s, will be making his first appearance in the Shell Houston Open since 2002.

While Norman's other business enterprises keep him busy these days, he played in the 2008 British Open at Royal Birkdale. The 53-year-old Australian held the lead through three rounds and finished third.

That earned Norman an invitation to play in The Masters tournament, which follows the Shell Houston Open on the PGA TOUR schedule.

Norman, who boasts 20 PGA TOUR victories and 89 professional wins worldwide, has a runner-up finish in Houston on his resume. Norman and Curtis Strange engaged in a sudden-death playoff in 1988 that Strange won with a birdie on the third playoff hole.

For tickets and other information on the Shell Houston Open, the PGA TOUR's 10th oldest tournament, please visit www.shellhoustonopen.com.