Norman's ex tees off on Evert

The Age

ENGAGING COUPLE: Former tennis and golf superstars Chris Evert, left, and Greg Norman are engaged but they have been advised not to marry quickly by Norman's ex-wife.

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Greg Norman has been advised not to remarry quickly by his ex-wife after news that the former world golf number one had proposed to his girlfriend Chris Evert, the former world number one ranked tennis player.

Norman's ex-wife Laura, who now uses her maiden name Andrassy, and was embroiled in a bitter divorce battle with Norman this year, told London's Sunday Telegraph yesterday: "If I had any advice, I'd tell them to enjoy a long period between the two - marriages."

Andrassy, a former flight attendant, said she had been expecting the announcement.

"I don't really care," she told the paper.

"But if that's what they want, then so be it."

Norman, 52, and Evert, 53, announced their engagement on Saturday at a news conference to announce Evert would be building a tennis centre at the Pearl Valley Golf Estates, where Norman was competing in the South African Open.

Asked whether there were any marriage plans between her and Norman, the American, sporting a large diamond on her left ring finger, replied:
"Well, it is an engagement ring. We were engaged on Sunday night coming over here, en route to South Africa.

"We don't know when and where we'll be married though."

Evert, the winner of 18 grand slam singles titles, jokingly asked Norman: "Why don't you say something to them (the media)? Gee, you're a big chicken!"

The couple's combined wealth is estimated to be about $NZ302.3 million even after Norman agreed to a reported $NZ130m divorce settlement with Andrassy in September.

Their relationship became public in January, after months of speculation, when they were photographed at a restaurant in Sydney. They had been introduced by her ex-husband, who was a friend of Norman, and formed a business partnership to set up tennis academies in the golfer's resort developments.

Evert divorced her second husband, Andy Mill, a former US Olympic skiing champion, in December with Mill accusing Norman of stealing his wife.

Andrassy meanwhile accused Evert of betrayal and pursuing her husband during visits to the Normans' home on Jupiter Island in Florida.

-with Reuters