SYDNEY – Australian golfer Peter Senior, a winner of more than 30 tournaments worldwide, has announced his retirement after a hip injury forced him to withdraw during Friday's second round of the Australian Open.
The 57-year-old Senior — a two-time Australian Open champion — limped from the Royal Sydney Golf Club course after only six holes in his second round and told reporters he is retiring, effective immediately.
"It's just horrendous. I can't hit a golf shot out there," Senior said. "It's no good me being out there annoying the other guys because they're playing pretty well so this is it for me. I'm not playing any more golf."
He said he suffered the injury while playing in last week's New South Wales Open.
"I battled through the tournament last week, didn't do much practice on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, played the pro-am," Senior said. "It's a tough pill to swallow.
"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, a great career. I've enjoyed every minute of it. People have been fantastic, (but) you just can't play like that."
Senior had intended to retire at the end of the year but hoped to finish his career at the Australian PGA Championship in his home state of Queensland.
Senior became the oldest player to win the Australian Open when he claimed the title for the second time in 2012. He was still at the top of his game last year when he won the Australian Masters for the fourth time, becoming the oldest player to do so at 56.
Senior played professionally for 38 years, winning tournaments on the European, Japan and Australasian tours.
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