WORLD number one golfer, Greg Norman, said yesterday that the South Australian government's decision to pay him appearance [money was a logical move to boost the field for this week's Ford Open in Adelaide.

Norman again found himself defending the principle of appearance money when he was asked about the state government's use of taxpayers' money to contribute to his reported $225,000 fee - which equals to the entire purse of the tournament.

Norman said the fee was the only factor behind his decision to appear and said he would otherwise have gone home to Florida after the Vines Classic in Perth last Sunday.

"I would have gone home, to tell you the honest truth, because my birthday's this weekend and I'd gladly rather be home with my children and my family than being here," he said.

Norman said the South Australian government was wise to invest its money to attract top players to the tournament at Kooyonga Golf Club as it searches for a sporting event to give South Australia exposure following the loss of the Formula One Grand Prix to Melbourne this year.

"I have no idea whether it's taxpayers' money or not and it's nothing to do with me, but I think from a business standpoint it's a very smart idea what the South Australian government have done by getting involved in another sporting event," he said.