Golf legend Seve Ballesteros has admitted he may have played his last competitive round as he battles with the effects of arthritis.
The 46-year-old Spaniard has not played on the European Tour for more than nine months and is pessimistic about his future.
”I have to face up to the fact that I may never play again in competition,” Ballesteros told the Daily Mail.
”My back is riddled with arthritis and I have no feeling in the middle of my neck — I have hardly any mobility.”
Ballesteros, winner of five majors, added: ”I wouldn’t say I am destroyed mentally but I am very low. I have started thinking about doing other things away from golf because I have to.
”Everything has a beginning and an end, although it would be sad if this is it. I am not confirming that this is the end because you always hope for a miracle cure, but what can you do?
”Always waiting, waiting, waiting — but there is only pain and the constant worry that if I do it a little practice it will only make it worse.”
At an age when Jack Nicklaus was still winning the Masters, Ballesteros is unable to manage even 18 friendly holes alongside his 13-year-old son Javier.
It is 25 years since Ballesteros claimed his unforgettable first of three British Open wins at Royal Lytham.
Ballesteros also revived Europe’s Ryder Cup team back in 1983 and captained the winning side in 1997 in Spain, the first time the Ryder Cup had been played outside Britain on this side of the Atlantic.
But Ballesteros has not won a tournament for nine years and has not made a halfway cut in a major championship for eight years.
He won the British Open in 1979, 1984 and 1988 and the US Masters in 1980 and 1983 and claimed 56 PGA European tour victories.
In 2000 he was named European player of the century. — Sapa-AFP