By Adam Pengilly
Australian golf's golden oldie Peter Senior sensationally walked off the Australian Open course mid-way through his second round on Friday morning, confirming his crippling injuries meant it would be the last time he would play in a professional tournament.
The 57-year-old - who has won all three of Australia's big events in his 50s including the Open, Australian Masters and Australian PGA - won't play in the latter in a fortnight's time after quitting on Royal Sydney's 16th hole, his seventh of the day on Friday.
"[Thursday] I scrambled around, but today it's just friggin' horrendous and I can't hit a golf shot out there," two-time Australian Open champion Senior said. "It's no good me being out there annoying the other guys [John Senden and Stephen Allan] because they're playing pretty well.
"This is it for me. Bending down to even pick the ball out of the hole hurts. I have to tee it up on one side because I can't bend down on the other. I won't be playing any more golf."
Bowing out gracefully: Peter Senior.Credit: Getty Images
Senior had said on Monday his litany of injuries meant he could no longer keep matching it with the professionals, but had designs on going out on his own terms over the weekend in front of a packed Royal Sydney gallery.
But after hitting his drive on the 16th, he picked up his ball and headed back to the course's famous old clubhouse.
"It's a tough pill to swallow," he said. "The last two years I've had that many injuries ... I'm just sick of it. It's a game you can't play with injuries.
"I've had a great run and great career and the people have been fantastic. But you just can't keep playing like this. I can't hit a shot every time I get to the ball. It's just a bolt of pain through my hip.
"I had it twice [on Thursday], but I've had it two or three times already [on Friday]."