Mark O’Meara announces retirement from The Masters
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Mark O’Meara has announced his retirement from The Masters after missing the cut, 20 years after winnng his maiden major at Augusta National.
O’Meara, who said his farewell to The Open at Royal Birkdale in 2017, had hinted he would have something to say after Friday’s round after admitting the course was now too long and he no longer felt he was able to contend.
Following a nine-over-par 81 in his 106th competitive round at Augusta National, the 61-year-old decided that having finished 10 shots outside of the cut mark, he is ready to call time on his Masters playing career.
“There comes a point in time when you say enough’s enough,” said O’Meara, who birdied his final two holes in 1998 to win the Green Jacket ahead of Fred Couples and David Duval. “I just don’t want to go out and shoot 76s and 80s and 79s.
“Today I had no birdies and shot 81 – that’s not exactly very sterling. Even though the course is very demanding and very tough, it’s fair. The course has always been fair, but it’s an extreme test of golf.”
“That was it for me; I’m done. I love this championship. It’s just a tough golf course when you’re 61.”
