Ian Woosnam calls time on Masters

• Says he’s playing in pain “all way round”
• Won Green Jacket in 1991, first Welsh major champ
• Decision comes 25 years after Masters triumph

Ian Woosnam has called time on his Masters career exactly 25 after slipping on the Green Jacket.

The 58-year-old said it was “getting really tough” to compete at Augusta National due to back problems. So much so that he says he’s now done.

“The 18th was as well as I played this week. In the crapper! It’s just getting really tough. That’s my last go,” said Woosie. “I am not fit enough to play with my bad back. Every time I play this course it just seizes on me, and can’t swing the club properly. I am in pain all the way round so it’s time to say bye-bye really.

The popular Welshman won the Masters in 1991, with his last win on the European Tour coming in 1997. He says his doctors can’t do much to solve the problem and that he’s in “pain all the way round and you can’t expect to play well”.

He opened his account yesterday with an 82 and today shot 81. He had one birdie all week, at the 15th, 16 bogeys and two doubles.

“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 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.”

Woosie said he was chuffed to finish with a par on 18, which has been one of the tougher holes this week.

“That was a great way to finish,” said the former world No.1. “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 in some ways!”

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Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.

Editor of bunkered