If there was a poll to decide Australia’s most popular golfer over the last 50 years, Peter Senior would win hands down.
He didn’t have the charisma of a Greg Norman, the elegance of an Adam Scott, the sweet swing of a Peter Thomson, nor the silky putting touch of a Kel Nagle.
He was distinctly Peter Senior with a head-down-bum-up dogged approach from tee to green, who never said die. He never ever gave up.
Until yesterday.
Having played six holes of the Australian Open second round at Royal Sydney, Senior’s 57-year-old frame had more than enough, his hip was hurting, and he joined another dyed-in-the-wool Queenslander Pat Welsh to announce his retirement on Channel Sevens live coverage.
With wife June by his side, Peter was struggling – after all he had been a golf pro since 1978, winning tournaments in five successive decades – a feat in itself.
The first of 34 successes worldwide was the 1979 South Australian Open, the last the Australian Masters for the third time, 20 years after his second – with son Mitchell on the bag.
That was one of the most emotionally charged presentations ever – “that old bastard (56) has won again, but it’s even better this time as a family affair”
But Senior made a habit of winning, and representing.
He won three Australian PGAs in 1989, 2003, and 2010, two Australian Opens in 1989 and 2012, and those three gold Masters jackets in 1991, 2003, and 2015.
Do the maths – three national titles aged over 50.
During his career Senior’s represented Australia at two World Cups in 1988 and 1990, two President Cups in 1994 and 1996, and two Dunhill Cups in 1987 and 1993.
He would dearly loved to have taken on the likes of Jordan Spieth, Adam Scott, and the fast growing list of exciting young Australian talent led by Curtis Luck over the weekend, but the body was done and dusted.
“I’ve had a great run injury free, until the last couple of years,” he told Pat Welsh,
“Now it’s fishing”.
Yesterday during the opening round, Ian Baker-Finch made the comment on air that Peter was 57 and he’s been having a lot of problems lately with shoulder, elbow, and wrist injuries.
Wayne Grady was at his impish best when he added – “No wonder he has those injuries, he’s been counting his cash”.
Little did either know that the next day would be Peter Senior’s swansong, ending a stellar career of a highly respected ambassador of golf around the world as a gentle man, and a gentleman.
Thanks to the ‘Grades’, we all know there’s plenty of cold hard left over to buy a new boat as Peter Senior embarks on another career.
But he’ll be mighty hard-pressed to match his past one.
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