Norman plans rare European Tour foray in Shanghai next week

BEIJING (Reuters) - Former world number one Greg Norman will make a rare European Tour appearance when he competes in next week's Asian Open in Shanghai.

The 53-year-old Australian, who spends much of his time working on golf course designs, will be playing only his third tournament of the year.

"I feel good about the game," Norman told the tour's official Web site (https://www.europeantour.com) on Saturday. "I expect to have a good showing in Shanghai."

Florida-based Norman, who is engaged to former tennis great Chris Evert, has been playing more tennis recently.

"In the last year and a half I have begun to play a great deal more tennis," he said. "I always have new challenges and I very much enjoy the challenge of learning this sport and improving my game.

"While I am playing less golf, I enjoy the golf I do play. This year I will be playing more events, focusing on the tournaments and the golf courses I enjoy."

The twice British Open champion, who has missed the cut in two U.S. PGA Tour events this year, said he was impressed at the way golf had grown in China.

"I believe China is unrivalled in producing world class athletes and golf is no exception," said Norman, who finished joint seventh in his last European Tour appearance at the South African Open in December.

"Like many countries it requires a very strong junior development program. I think if golf were to be an Olympic sport we would have seen greater progress but still we have seen constant improvement from young Chinese players."

(Writing by Tony Jimenez in London, Editing by Ken Ferris)