Peter Senior (56) to retire from tournament golf: 'I just can't put up with the injuries' FROM THE AUSTRALIAN AGE Just 12 months after his stunning win in the now defunct
Australian Masters at age 56, Peter Senior has conceded a virtual
inability to "even put his tee in the ground" due to chronic injuries
means he will play his final tournament in the next fortnight. The
elder statesman of Australian golf will begin his two-week farewell
tour at this week's Australian Open at Royal Sydney before teeing it up
for the last time locally at the Australian PGA on the Gold Coast.
Old Master: Peter Senior after winning the 2015 Australian Masters. Photo: Michael Dodge
"I just can't put up with the injuries," Senior said. "I'll play a
few of the senior events, but as far as tournament golf I think this
will be the end of me.
"It's just the injuries that have worn me down. I haven't been injured my whole life and the last two years I've had everything. "I'm getting miserable because I just don't feel bloody good all the
time. You just can't play this game injured. Every time I hit the ball
it feels like a bolt of lightning goes through the back of my hip.
"I
was playing well [at the NSW Open last week], but I couldn't even bend
over to tee the ball up with my right side. I had to tee it up left
handed. It's unusual to tee it up with the other hand. I was suffering
big time."
Senior's incredible longevity saw him net Australian Open, PGA and
Masters titles in his 50s and he became the oldest player to win the
national championship, his second one, at The Lakes in 2012 when he was
53.
But a string of shoulder, elbow and hip injuries in the last
two years has convinced Senior to embark on a low-key send-off over the
next fortnight before pledging to play the odd senior event overseas.
"I
haven't really said anything [about retirement]," Senior said. "It's
just worn me down. I still love the game. I would still love to play. I
still think I can play really well. As I said, you can't play this game
injured. I would still love another couple of years down here, but I'm
not going to put up with playing like I am. "When I stopped in June over at the Champions Tour I thought, 'Gee, I'm going to miss it'.
"But
I have actually enjoyed myself at home. Just waking up and going for a
walk with the missus along the beach and going for breakfast [is nice]
... just doing things, mucking around with the kids. I still enjoy their
company. I just want to do things that normal people do."
Despite playing against a backdrop of crippling pain, Senior only missed the cut at a rejuvenated NSW Open by a shot last week.
Hoping
to be remembered as a "fighter who just enjoyed the game", Senior's son
Mitchell will be on his bag at Royal Sydney in a field headlined by
former world No.1s Adam Scott and Jordan Spieth.
"I'm going to go
to the physio quite a bit [this week]," Senior said. "I just want to
feel a little better so I can put in a decent performance. I want to
make the cut and play pretty well.
"I'm going to struggle [with my
injuries]. It even hurts when I putt. I'm fine walking, but any
movement bending over [hurts]. I don't want to be a guy that just hangs
on and comes out here just to make up the numbers."
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