Peter Senior pulls out of Australian Open, announces retirement

The golf champion not only withdrew from his Australian Open second round, he pulled the pin on his career.

Peter Senior, who has announced his retirement from golf, after his 2015 Australian Masters triumph. Picture: Colleen Petch

Two-time Australian Open champion Peter Senior has pulled out of the tournament and announced his sudden retirement from the game.

The 57-year-old, who shot an even-par 72 during his opening round at Royal Sydney, had played five holes in round two when he withdrew from the tournament.

He then revealed he would retire from the game: “This is it for me, I’m not playing golf any more.”

Senior was two-over par and seven shots off the lead when he hobbled off the course.

“It’s just horrendous. I can’t hit a golf shot out there. 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,” an emotional Senior said. Senior, a winner of 34 tournaments worldwide - including the Australian Open in 1989 and 2012 when he became the oldest champion in history - said he first suffered the hip injury during last week’s NSW Open.

“I battled through the tournament last week, didn’t do much practice on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, played the pro-am,” he said after taking a motorised golf cart back to the clubhouse from the 16th fairway.

The popular veteran had already planned to retire at the end of the year, but hoped to complete his career with an appearance in his home state of Queensland at the Australian PGA Championship.

“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, a great career. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. 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.’

Senior won 34 tournaments globally after turning professional in 1978, and was a dominant figure on the Australian tour during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

He wielded his broomstick putter with devastating effect, and was popular with local galleries.

Between 1989 and 2015 Senior won three Australian PGA titles, three Australian Masters trophies and two Australian Opens.

His Australian Masters win in 2015 capped an extraordinary return to glory, as he upstaged a field that included Adam Scott and John Senden.

Additional reporting: AAP