Sam Torrance says it was an easy decision to retire from competitive golf.
The 66-year-old chalked up 44 wins during an illustrious professional career, although it was the Ryder Cup that provided the most fond memories of Torrance’s career.
He represented Europe in the match on eight occasions, holing the winning putt at the 1985 Ryder Cup to secure a first European victory for 28 years.
He was also victorious as the non-playing captain in the 2002 match against the United States at The Belfry.
Torrance was one of the leading players on the European Tour with his 21 victories between 1976 and 1998 leaving him 10th on the all-time list for wins. But the Largs-born golfer admits he has lost the love of playing competitively and has decided he won’t tee up in any senior events in the future.
He said: “It wasn’t a difficult decision at all.
“It has been over two years since I have played in a tournament and I always said that if I didn’t think I could win I would stop.
“Golf has been my life. It has been my blood for so long.
“It has been very difficult to say to myself that I can no longer win so I eventually spoke to my manager, Vicky Cuming and said that I needed some info, please.
“I said to her to give me my last three years of results including my score to par and best finishes and I was more than 200-over-par and my best finish was 35th in a 54-man field (2017 Farmfood European Masters at Forest of Arden).
“So, I said: ‘No, that’s it’. It was still difficult because I didn’t even play the Senior Open here (St Andrews) last year. It wasn’t as though I was not ready. It was just enough.
“I am very happy with my decision but I don’t miss the competition now. I am actually delighted I never have to hold a pencil in my hand ever again.
“I watch golf on the telly and when I do commentate, I see the pressure there and I am so delighted I don’t have that in my life any more.
“When I go to play Sunningdale with my mates, I feel pressure and I feel nervous, and it’s just beyond belief.
“I ask myself why but it’s there and I can’t help it.
“So, all I am giving up is tournament golf and the only golf I now play is with my mates for a bit of cash.”
The Scot still remembers fondly the start to life as a professional golfer in 1971.
He said: “I don’t remember the opening tee shot but I do remember missing the cut in my first nine events and then leading in the 10th. That was the John Player Trophy and it being very windy.
“I was leading with nine holes to go. I think I finished in the top 10 so I knew there was something there.
“I was very lucky to win prize money in my first year.
“The first one I won as a pro was in 1972, Lord Derby’s Under-25 Match Play Championship at Birkdale and I beat Bernard Gallacher in the semi-final and he was No. 1 in Europe at the time.
“That was awesome and a huge feather in my cap.
“Then I won the 1976 Piccadilly Medal at Coventry Park (winning £6,000). I was lucky also to win twice that year (winning the Martini International a month later).”
Torrance was awarded an MBE in 1996 and an OBE in 2003 for his services to golf.
He added: “I can’t say what my legacy will be. ‘He never won a major, but he had fun?’”
