Golf: Charles winding up stellar career in distinguished company

Sir Bob Charles says he has plenty to keep him busy. Photo / APN

CARNOUSTIE: After shooting an opening round nine-over 80 in the British Seniors Open at Carnoustie, New Zealand golfing great Sir Bob Charles is unlikely to write a fairytale ending to a long and distinguished career.

Charles, 74, who won the event in 1989 and 1993, was invited to compete in Scotland this week in a quality field including defending champion Loren Roberts, Tom Watson, Tom Lehmann, American Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin and four of the last five European Ryder Cup captains, Ian Woosnam, Mark James, Bernhard Langer and Sam Torrance.

"This is my final event on the international stage," he said yesterday after his round.

"Other than playing in the Legends of Golf for the next few years, this will be it as far as playing in the international arena."

Yesterday's score left Charles trailing by 13 strokes behind the leading trio of Germany's Langer, England's Carl Mason and American Jay Don Blake, who had four-under 67s on the par-71 layout.

A round including five bogeys and back-to-back double bogeys at the 12th and 13th holes left him in danger of missing the cut.

"I can count the number of good shots I had today on one hand and that is not very good," Charles said.

It has been a sentimental return to Carnoustie for Charles, who first played the course in the 1968 British Open when he finished joint runner-up with Jack Nicklaus and two strokes behind South African Gary Player.

Charles has captured 65 tournaments in his career, starting with the 1954 New Zealand Open as an 18-year-old amateur and capping it with his 1963 British Open triumph at Royal Lytham and St Annes - the first major championship win by a left-hander.

Charles' last international success was in 1996 when he won the Maui Kaanapali Classic in Hawaii on the US Champions Tour.

In 2007 he became the oldest golfer to make a cut on the European Tour at the New Zealand Open at Queenstown.

Charles shot a 68 in the second round, beating his age by three strokes, and went on to finish in a tie for 23rd place.

Charles indicated that after competing at Carnoustie he will return home to his Canterbury farm.

"The farm back in Oxford keeps me pretty busy and there is always something to do, plus there is always work to be done on the golf course at Clearwater," he said.

"Besides, I am not going to miss all the travelling, particularly with the way things are in the world now.

"Travelling is no longer enjoyable what with all the security. I've enjoyed competing around the globe for the last 50 years but it's time to call it a day."

Charles was disappointed that for the first time in 21 years no New Zealander had teed up in last week's British Open.

"We will have to try and do something about that and while we have so many talented players and maybe, outside of Michael Campbell, they're lacking experience on the international golf scene," he said.

"I feel we need to see our younger players competing more here in Europe as the European Tour is a terrific training ground, because you are not going to learn all facets of the game by playing parkland golf courses."

- NZPA