Norman to return from injury at Byron Nelson

BY iseekgolf.com | US PGA Tour | 2003 EDS Byron Nelson Championship | General | 12 May 2003

Greg Norman is set to return to the PGA Tour this week at the Byron Nelson Classic in Texas. Norman, who has only played one round on the PGA Tour in nine months, is returning to competitive golf for the first time since being diagnosed with a stress fracture on a vertebrae after The Players Championship.

“I’m excited enough to be practicing again,” Norman said on his website this week. “I’m going out there because I want to go out there, not because I have to go out there.”

Norman hasn’t played a 72-hole event on the PGA Tour since the NEC Invitational last August.

His only appearance on Tour this year came at The Players Championship in late March, when he shot a 78 in the first round and withdrew because of back problems. He was diagnosed with a stress fracture on a vertebrae. Norman started hitting chips last week, four days ahead of schedule.

“It feels better. With all the rest I’ve had, it better,” Norman said. “I’ve dealt with back problems in the past, so I kind of know what to expect. With this being a stress fracture, the only way it was going to get better was through time.”

Norman’s schedule after this week depends on his health. He said he expects to try to qualify for the U.S. Open in a 36-hole sectional at Lake Nona in Orlando in early June. He already has received a special invitation from the PGA of America into the PGA Championship at Oak Hill.

Norman is concentrating on being ready for the British Open in July at Royal St. George’s. Both of his major titles have come at the British Open, and this year marks the 10th anniversary of his win at Royal St. George’s, when he set the tournament scoring record of 267.

Source – Shark.com