Wedding plans: Greg Norman and Chris Evert were first exposed as a couple in Sydney in December 2006

The couple are planning to wed this year after the retired tennis star, 53, accepted the golfer's proposal in December.

The lavish 28,000 square foot Villa Venezia was sold within minutes of going on sale in Florida this week, prompting rumours Norman had bought the estate as a new family home for him and Evert.

Norman, 53, was present during the auction at Palm Beach, but played down expectations of a purchase, saying: "I'm just an interested bystander."

Despite being purchased by a property firm called New Stream Capital, Norman was seen deep in talks with their lawyers after the auction. The company is expected to sell the estate on.

The luxury palazzo boasts 52 rooms and is located on 3.77 acres between Palm Beach's Manalapan Beach and a lagoon.

Villa Venezia, inspired by the Doge's Palace in Venice, was designed by architect Jeffrey W. Smith and features pineapples atop the garden room's arches.

It was previously owned by publishing tycoon Randolph Hearst's widow Veronica until it was seized to pay back the £22million she owes New Stream Secured Capital, which held three mortgages on the property.

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Check out the view: The 28,000 square foot Villa Venezia estate in Palm Beach, Florida is bordered by the sea and a lagoon

Lavish gardens: The 3.77 acres, gated estate includes well-manicured lawns and an array of horticulture

Norman and Evert came out as a couple in December 2006 - the same month Evert divorced second husband Andy Mill and Norman announced he was divorcing wife Laura.

After filing for divorce from Laura, the Australian sports star allegedly changed the locks on their Jupiter Island, Florida home and bought a £3.5million mansion close to Evert's Boca Raton home.

Both couples were all friends before the splits and both Laura Norman and Andy Mill have publicly blamed their love rivals for "stealing" their spouses.

Norman divorced Laura last year and she was awarded a £50million settlement and primary custody of their children.

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Fancy a dip: As you'd expect from a millionaire's mansion, the estate comes with a swimming pool

In an interview with the Mail last September, an angry Laura said: "She (Chris) came after him. I have never seen anything like it.

"I would never have thought anyone would be so aggressive (in pursuing him) in front of me like I didn't exist. It just turned into a fiasco. I really don't have a lot of respect for her as a woman. She is not a great person."

Evert's second husband, Olympic ski champion Mills also spoke to the press about their high-profile split and admitted he felt betrayed by Norman.

He said: "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."

Former friends: (L-R) Greg Norman and his ex-wife Laura were good friends with Chris Evert and her ex Andy Mill