Ballesteros calls it quits

The career of the most charismatic figure in European golf history went into sharp decline in the late 1990s when he started suffering from serious back problems and has never recovered during lengthy lay-offs.

He made yet another comeback at the Masters in April, but after finishing last with rounds of 86 and 80 decided that his game was not good enough for a course as tough as Carnoustie.

Ballesteros turned 50 the Monday after Augusta and a month later made his debut on the US Seniors Tour, but he finished joint last with 67-year-old Lee Trevino and admitted he had been contemplating his future since then.

Ballesteros, who made his Open debut as an 18-year-old at Carnoustie in 1975, said: "For a few months there was something confused inside me, an internal fight.

"My head said 'I think you should retire' but my heart was telling me you would be better to continue playing and competing.

"It was difficult for quite a while but finally I decided this year to go and try the Champions Tour. I went there, and the weather was nice, but I only played one tournament and I came back.

"That really made me think very deeply and really question either you continue or you stop playing. I made probably the hardest decision of my career and I decided to retire.

"I have to say that golf has given me so much over the years that it's really hard to give back even 25% of how much I got. It gave me the pleasure of competing and feeling the glory of winning.

"It gave me the chance of travelling around the world and meeting people and the great feeling of people who showed me understanding and appreciation of what I have done in the game of golf. I feel a very, very lucky person and very grateful for those things that happened over 30 years."