Click here to download a PDF copy of this Media Release. Australia s most iconic golfer will once again play in our nation s most treasured championship when Greg Norman heads the field in the 2009 Australian Open to be played at the NSW Golf Club December 3-6, 2009. Norman is a five-time winner of the Stonehaven Cup and at 54 commands enormous respect and huge galleries wherever he plays in the golfing world. He has a well known love affair with the spectacular links course at La Perouse, a course recently ranked Australia s number one course and the only non-British course in the World s Top 10 golf courses outside the USA.* Norman has committed to play the next three Australian Open Championships held in Sydney with the 2010 Championship set down for the stunningly re-modelled layout at The Lakes. “I look forward to returning to Sydney to play the AO this December. I&aposm particularly pleased that Golf Australia have selected the NSW Golf Club as the venue. Not only is the venue a favourite amongst the players it will provide an excellent backdrop for showcasing Sydney and NSW as an extraordinary golf destination.” Norman said In addition to his commitment to our most famous Championship, Norman will also become an ambassador for Tourism NSW. Premier Nathan Rees said the NSW Government was thrilled to have Greg Norman back in Australia s global city. Greg has won more tournaments in Sydney than any other city in the world, Premier Rees said. No Australian sportsman is held in higher regard internationally and he will bring tens of thousands of spectators through the gates over the four days of the Championship. For the millions watching around the world, surely there is no more picturesque backdrop to showcase Sydney than the New South Wales Golf Club, Mr Rees said Golf Australia Chief Executive Stephen Pitt said the return of the Great White Shark was a wonderful fillip for the Australian Open and the organisation for this year s event is taking shape. We are naturally delighted Greg will be with us again at NSW and the championship promises to be a true spectacle, Pitt said. NSW provides some of the most stunning coastal vistas of any course you could imagine and it will make great viewing for spectators and television viewers alike. We re delighted to welcome Network Ten as our broadcast partner for the Australian Open for the next five years. Network 10 s commitment to golf and the Australian Open make them an ideal partner for us, particularly when you factor in the immensely successful ONE HD 24 hour sport channel. We especially like their vision for the Australian Open and we are excited about the benefits the partnership will bring to the Championship and the game of golf. In addition to this we have joined forces with the World Sport Group who will assist us in taking the tournament to viewers around the world. Andrew Georgiou, Chief Operating Officer, World Sport Group said, We are delighted to be working with Golf Australia, the owners of the Australian Open. With their support and the support of the PGA of Australia, China Golf Association, Korea Golf Association and Korea Golf Tour, we are ready to build this event into a truly international tournament. The unique opportunities being presented by OneAsia together with World Sport Group s unparalleled pan-Asian reach, we are very excited about the future of the Australian Open. Stephen Pitt continued: We will also soon be announcing a few more exciting developments at the championship that will make it more accessible, fun and available to golf lovers and casual spectators alike. I am also pleased to be able to announce the appointment of TRP Sports as tournament organisers of the Australian Open, working in conjunction with Golf Australia s Tournament Director Trevor Herden. Managing Director of TRP Sports Tony Roosenburg said his organisation was thrilled to be running their first Australian Open. I am proud to have been appointed as tournament organisers of The Australian Open. My company is now in the unique position of organising the two major golf tournaments in Australia and I strongly believe this will be beneficial for both events in relation to the raising of sponsorship funds and the further development of the newly formed OneAsia, together with World Sport Group, Roosenburg said. Further reinforcing the inclusion of the Australian Open in OneAsia Ben Sellenger, Commissioner PGA Tour of Australasia and representative of OneAsia stated, OneAsia seeks to raise the level of elite professional golf in the region and in the Australian Open, an event steeped in tradition and historically one of the most coveted titles in world golf, we have the perfect partner.” “Working together, the Australian Open will continue to enhance its reputation as one of the region s most significant events, on what is the third force of world golf. We welcome Golf Australia s vision in coming with us on this journey. * Rankings from US Golf Digest May 2009.