Norman offered US PGA chance

Greg Norman has received an invitation to play in next month's US PGA Championship at Oakland Hills on the back of his joint third-place finish in the Open.

The 53-year-old Australian, who rolled back the years at Royal Birkdale to lead going into the final round last Sunday, said: "I already had something scheduled for that week but I will talk with my manager, Bob Collins, because I don't want to hold up the PGA.

"It is a great honour to be thought of in that regard but that would be four weeks in a row."

He added: "I have had multiple surgeries and those do start to show up when I hit a lot of golf balls and I have to be careful, although fitness has never been a problem with me.

"I was one of the first ones to adopt a strong fitness regime and I actually putted very well the whole week at Birkdale, and I think that was because of my stamina and inner core strength."

Norman believes that he is capable of winning a third Major in spite of his advancing years and identified next year's venue Turnberry and St Andrews in 2010 as the Open courses which will suit his game most as neither course is overly long.

Norman revealed that he has received around 700 emails and texts during the past few days, including one from Seve Ballesteros congratulating him on his efforts in the Open.