Greg Norman said yesterday that his break from golf after shoulder surgery was "the best thing that ever happened to me."

Norman makes his first tournament appearance in Australia since the surgery last April when he contests the Australian Open at Royal Adelaide starting tomorrow.

"I feel fairly strong in my head about the way things have gone," said Norman, who underwent surgery to remove bone spurs from his left shoulder.

"It (the lay-off) has been the best thing that ever happened to me. I got my life back. I got away from being under the microscope."

Norman teamed last month with fellow Australian Steve Elkington to win his first competition since April, his own Shark Shootout in California.

He also played in the weekend's Skins Game in the United States. Although he failed to win any money, he believed it was another significant step on the road to recovery.

Norman is chasing his sixth Australian Open title.