Australian Open: Peter Senior pulls pin as hip injury flares

Sporting retirements rarely come in the expected manner. Golfers are an exception because they can nominate the tournament.

Peter Senior was unable to complete his second round at the Australian Open yesterday. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Sporting retirements rarely come in the expected manner.

Cricketers are sacked before they receive a final innings. Footballers do their cruciate or selectors decide their involvement is no longer crucial.

Golfers are normally an exception to the rule because they can nominate the tournament in which they will make their final swing. But the manner of Peter Senior’s farewell at Royal Sydney yesterday was so harsh and ­unexpected that it bordered on the extraordinary.

The 57-year-old was in a chipper mood before the Australian Open. Burdened by hip complaints, he announced the Open and the Australian PGA tournaments would be his farewells to professional golf. On the driving range on Tuesday, he interrupted his practice for discussions about where he could enjoy a longish lunch, with the waterfront at Manly the preferred location.

There was a spring in the old boy’s step because he knew what was on the horizon — two prestige tournaments on home soil and the guaranteed warm ovations from Australian crowds to a player who has been both a 34-time global champion and a unique character.

Having waltzed around Royal Sydney with an even-par round of 72 on Thursday, he played only five holes yesterday before his hip gave him hell. There was no coming back. He wanted the PGA, to be held in a fortnight at Royal Pines on the Gold Coast, to be his last hurrah because he thought his body could no longer survive the four rounds of tournament golf.

In this he was correct, and then some. He lasted only 24 holes of the Australian Open before returning to the clubhouse and declaring: “This is it for me. I’m not playing golf any more.”

He deserved better than being whisked away from the 16th fairway on a motorised cart. He was emotional.

Yet nothing can change what he’s done. He won three Aust­ralian PGA titles, three Australian Masters trophies and two Aust­ralian Opens.

His Australian Masters triumph in 2015 was an incredible achievement against a field led by Adam Scott, but more recently he was barely able to reach down to pluck the ball out of the hole. He was two-over-par yesterday when he pulled the pin rather than shooting at it.

“It’s just horrendous. I can’t hit a golf shot out there,” he said. “It’s no good me being out there annoying the other guys.

“I battled through the tournament (NSW Open) last week, didn’t do much practice on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, played the pro-am.

“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. People have been fantastic, but you just can’t play like that. I don’t enjoy playing like this. I can’t hit a shot. Every time I hit the ball I get a bolt of pain through my hip. I’ve been out here for nearly 40 years and have enjoyed every minute. To see it come to and end — it’s pretty disappointing to finish this way.”