Chrissie + Greg announce split after 15 months of marriage

Chris Evert + Greg Norman have announced a formal separation after only 15 months of marriage according to a statement released through Greg's LA spokesperson Bart Collins.

The couple requested privacy for themselves and their families and said, "We will remain friends and supportive of one another's family." The pair have not indicated whether they will divorce.

The history of the relationship has been well-documented, including claims made in 2007 by Chris' ex-husband and Greg's former best friend, Andy Mills, who blamed the golfer for ruining his 18-year marriage to the tennis Hall of Famer.

Last July, Chrissie publicly admitted to the affair for the first time but tried to explain it away during an interview with Vogue saying, "It was like an irresistible force. How do you explain something like that?"

Upon hearing of the separation, Greg's ex-wife Laura Andrassy had her own explanation. "They say opposites attract. Here were two people very much alike - high profile and narcissistic people - and that would make a relationship difficult," said Laura.

It was Chrissie's third marriage and second for Greg.

Ouch. Well, I can't say the news of their separation is a shocker. Unfortunately, it's not at all.

(Photo: static.guim.co.uk)

THE LOW DOWN: The inauspicious start to Chris Evert's relationship with Greg Norman

The marrying kind: Today tennis legend Chris Evert and golf legend Greg Norman, who got gushy on a recent NBC Sports show, announced their engagement; this will be Evert's third marriage and the second for Norman. The new power couple's relationship did not, however, have an auspicious beginning.

(Greg and ex-wife Laura with Chris and ex-husband Andy, 2001)

The couple have known each other for many years - in fact, Norman was best friends with Evert's last husband Andy Mills. This past August, Mills claimed Norman ruined his 18-year marriage to the 18-time Grand Slam champion in an interview with News Ltd. newspapers. The reason? Evert filed for divorce from Mills in November 2006 but the media were already spotting the new couple together in October. Mills told the paper,

“Greg Norman at one time was my best friend and a year-and-a-half ago I would have taken a bullet for this guy, [...] But I didn't realise he was the one who was going to pull the trigger.”

Evert and Aussie Norman publicly came out at the start of 2007 with a high-profile date at Doyles fish restaurant which is within sight of Sydney Harbour in Australia.

It's good to know Evert and Norman, who will have 5 marriages between them, are continuing to exercise their right to marry and keeping the institution of marriage alive and well. Who wouldn't want to have that right?