Norman in appearance money row

Golf

Greg Norman is understood to be threatening legal action against the European Tour in another confrontation over appearance money. The world No 1 has accused the Tour's executive director, Ken Schofield, of discriminating against him by writing to the sponsors of the three European tournaments he was paid to play in last season.

"Other players in those events were paid, but I seem to have been singled out," Norman said. "I suggested to Ken several weeks ago that it seemed like discrimination to me and that it might be restraint of trade. I have not taken this matter any further, but I can tell you that Schofield disagreed that he was discriminating against me."

Norman was reported as receiving more than pounds 200,000 to appear in last season's Dubai Desert Classic, Murphy's Irish Open and Canon European Masters, a sum he described as "ridiculous".

"Out of the 24 tournaments I play in, I get appearance money in eight and in two of those I give it to charity," Norman said.