Norman withdraws from Oz PGA

Coolum - Illness forced former world number one Greg Norman to withdraw from the Australian PGA Championship on Thursday after just two holes of his first round.

Norman, 57, made two bogeys on the resort course at Coolum on Queensland's Sunshine Coast before pulling out because of suspected food poisoning.

"He is quite ill, we understand," PGA of Australia chief executive Brian Thorburn said. "He is getting medical attention. We wish him a very speedy recovery this morning.

"One person described him as being as sick as a dog. I think Greg was trying to soldier through and clearly it wasn't possible."

The tournament is co-sanctioned by OneAsia and the PGA Tour of Australasia and offers prize money of US$1 250 000.