Norman would need to win four qualifying matches to reach the main draws of the ranking events in the new season. He came closest to doing so in the first two events of the year, the Australian Goldfields Open and the Shanghai Masters, where on both occasions he won two matches before losing in the third qualifying round. His performances throughout the season were not enough to see him enter the top 64 in the world rankings who retain their places for the 2012–13 season and dropped off the main tour.