Woosnam confirms he has played his final Masters

Phil Casey 08:33 09/04/2016
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  • Bowing out: Ian Woosnam.

    Former champion Ian Woosnam has called time on his playing career at the Masters, 25 years after winning the Green Jacket at Augusta National.

    Woosnam added an 81 to his opening 82 to finish 19-over par, but the 58-year-old was pleased to at least finish with a par on the 18th, just as he did in 1991 to edge out Jose Maria Olazabal.

    “The 18th was as well as I played this week,” said the former Ryder Cup captain, who has now missed the cut in 14 of his last 15 Masters appearances.

    “It’s just getting really tough. That’s my last go. I am not fit enough to play with my bad back. Every time I play this course it just seizes on me and I can’t swing the club properly. I am in pain all the way round so it’s time to say bye-bye really.

    “There’s not much they can do. I have ankylosing spondylitis and I can’t play with all the slopes here. I was swinging it beautiful before I came here. I am always taking pain killers just to play golf but it’s just too tough here for me.

    “I said in the past that if I started shooting in the 80s I would call it a day. It’s time for me to sit back and watch. I’ll still keep coming to the tournament obviously. It’s a shame to finish off playing like that but you can only do your best. Never mind, I’ve still got a Green Jacket.”

    Woosnam carded a double bogey, eight bogeys and a solitary birdie on the 15th in his final competitive round at Augusta, but could take the positives from pitching to eight feet to save par on the last.

    “That was a great way to finish,” he said. “The drive wasn’t actually that bad because I have to hit it down the left side of the fairway to have a shot at the green.

    “I was trying to keep it tight to the left and just caught a tree and instead of bouncing right it bounces left. I had to hit a rescue club to get it up there but I suppose it was a pretty exciting way to finish.”

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