Greg Norman and Nick Faldo to miss Open at Sandwich

The 56-year-old Australian underwent further shoulder surgery in February and, like Faldo, has not filed an entry for the 14-17 July event.

Norman's 267 total 28 years ago remains the lowest score in Open history and he is also the only man to have won the title with a closing 64.

It was to prove his last major victory. He lost a play-off to Paul Azinger in the US PGA a month later, was runner-up to Corey Pavin at the 1995 US Open and then, perhaps most famously of all, lost by five to Faldo at the 1996 Masters after going into the final day six shots clear of the field.

Just three years ago - and not long after marrying tennis great Chris Evert - he was leading with nine to play at Royal Birkdale before slipping to third.

Norman did not play at St Andrews last July following a right shoulder operation the previous September, but his latest surgery was on his left shoulder - the same one that was operated on in 1998.

"For more than six months now I've known that such a procedure would be required," he said at the time. "I'm hopeful that with aggressive rehabilitation I will be able to play towards the end of July."

He and Evert were divorced at the end of 2009 and last November he became married for the third time to interior decorator Kirsten Kutner.

Faldo finished two strokes behind in 1993 and in the second round equalled the major record with a 63, but with his TV commentary work he has not played a tournament since missing the cut at St Andrews last July.

Two-time champion Padraig Harrington is making a trip to Kent today, not just to take a look at the Sandwich course but also to the adjoining Prince's club. Harrington is unveiling a new bunker named in memory of Gene Sarazen, who won the 1932 Open on the course with the help of a club he invented especially for the event - the modern sand wedge.