Melbourne, Feb.28 : Golfing great Greg Norman and former tennis great Chris Evert will soon be sharing a 24.66 million Australian dollar beachside Florida love nest.

According to the Daily Telegraph, the 52-room, 2,600 square metre mansion was owned by the widow of publishing tycoon Randolph Hearst and sits on 1.5 hectares of lavish gardens and has spectacular water views.

A lagoon is on the property's west side, and Florida's exclusive Manalapan Beach borders the eastern edge.

New Stream Capital, a property firm, bought the mansion at the auction and Norman reportedly was seen in talks with the company's lawyers after the auction.

The company is expected to sell the estate.

The mansion is known as Villa Venezia and was inspired by the Doge's Palace in Venice.

Norman divorced his wife of 25 years, Laura Andrassy, last year, although some minor legal issues need to be finalised in a Florida court in coming weeks.

The divorce became a bitter legal tussle after Norman and tennis champion Evert went public with their relationship, sparking juicy headlines in the press worldwide.

Evert, 53, left her husband, American ski champion Andy Mill.

Villa Venezia also has a juicy history.

The property had been seized to pay back US 46 million dollars Hearst's widow, Veronica, owed New Stream Secured Capital, which held three mortgages on the property, according to the paper.

ANI