WORLD number one Greg Norman could well have to pull out of the opening event of the European Tour, the £600,000 Johnnie Walker Classic, starting in Singapore today. Norman, suffering from a chest infection, has only a 10 per cent chance of playing, according to his manager Frank Williams.
"He's on the mend, but not enough I think," said Williams, who is also suffering from stomach trouble after a trip the pair made to India at the weekend.
"Greg's temperature has come down only from 104 to 103 in the last day and he's only just started eating again. He feels bad about letting Johnnie Walker down, but he's got to think long term. At the end of the day all he's got to look after are his name and his health."
Two years ago, in Phuket, Norman was on the verge of withdrawing from the same event, but ended up winning the title.
"I told him to withdraw there, but I don't think we have another Phuket now," added Williams. "Greg didn't want to go to India because of the virus, but the owner of the resort pleaded with him. He received injections from his doctor, but he gradually got worse during the 36 hours we were there."
The event has already lost Jose Maria Olazabal through injury and Colin Montgomerie because his wife has just given birth to their second daughter - and for a while it looked as though Sam Torrance might pull out, too.
Torrance arrived from Malaysia with a swollen and septic toe, but a visit from a doctor brought the swelling down and the 41 year old Scot now hopes to tee off. He will play the Tanah Merah course blind after scratching from both the celebrity shoot out and yesterday's pro am.
In much better spirits are defending champion Fred Couples, Open champion John Daly, and Ernie Els, winner on Sunday of the South African Open. But Ian Woosnam was again suffering from a bad back after his final practice round.
"This is my first tournament since I pulled out of the World Cup in November because of my back, but it's really sore again," said the Welshman. "It's just something I've got to live with a specialist I saw said I could have an operation, but said, "I wasn't bad enough for that yet. I'm having massage virtually every day, and I hope it will loosen up.
Daly has high hopes of per. forming with more distinction in this Johnnie Walker tournament than he did in their world championship in Jamaica last month. He failed to break 80 in any of the four rounds there, finishing 40 over par compared to Couples's winning score of five under.
Having started this year by also finishing last in the Mercedes Championship in California, Daly needs to repair his reputation and he said: "I think this is a good course for me. I had health problems in November and December, but I've been practising hard for the last two weeks." He looks the better for it too, and has had all his trousers taken in by two inches.
