Tom Watson received much fanfare entering what he said would be his final Masters start, but it turns out Watson is not the only former champion making his final trip around Augusta National this week.
Ian Woosnam won his lone major title at the 1991 Masters, a one-shot win over Jose Maria Olazabal that took him to No. 1 in the world ranking. After missing the cut following rounds of 82-81, the 58-year-old Welshman announced that this was his 28th - and final - Masters start.
Ian Woosnam: "I am in pain all the way round so it’s time to say bye, bye. That’s my last go. I am not fit enough to play with my bad back."
— Ewan Murray (@mrewanmurray) April 8, 2016
Woosnam earned his first PGA Tour Champions win last year at the Insperity Invitational, but he has struggled in recent years at Augusta National, where he has made the cut only once since 2001. His 1991 victory, which included an 8-foot par save on the 72nd hole, proved to be his lone top-10 finish at Augusta National.
Woosnam’s Masters triumph was one of 29 European Tour victories from 1982-1997. His lone other PGA Tour victory came at the 1991 Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
Along with Watson’s expected exit this week, Woosnam’s announcement continues a recent trend of Masters champions choosing to hang it up. Craig Stadler, a winner in 1982, played his final Masters in 2014 followed by two-time champ Ben Crenshaw a year ago.
