Early retirement for the “old men” of golf

Graham Otway meets the retiring Damien McGrane and Anders Hansen 

Statements issued by Ireland’s Damien McGrane and the Dane Anders Hansen during the Portugal Masters would seem to directly contradict the long held belief that ‘golf is an old man’s game’.

At the age of just 44 and 45 respectively, both announced they would be imminently

retiring after playing a combined total of more than 810 tournaments over the past two decades on the European Tour.

And although they might have won four tournaments and a total of more than €15 million in prize money between them, neither is considering playing on to reach the world’s senior circuit where currently both Colin Montgomerie and Bernhard Langer are still earning millions well into their 50s.

However, while Hansen has vowed not to pick up his clubs in anger again while he pursues ‘various interests’ outside of golf, McGrane had a quick change of plan when some news emerged from Wentworth that was of

interest to all his fellow countrymen on the pro circuit.

Originally the winner of the 2008 Volvo China had an equally determined mindset to put his clubs in the garage at his Meath home this week.

He said: “It’s been made up a while. I still want to keep my own self-respect and go out and compete as best I can. But it is a different game today than it was when I started 15 years ago.

“The players now are getting younger and more powerful and I am getting older and shorter, and my belly is getting bigger, and it is not going to change.

“And it is great to see. The game is in good hands and there are so many brilliant players. In order for these guys to get their opportunity on the big tour, guys like me have to step out of the way and let them on.

“That’s how I got my start back in 2003, by somebody losing their card. It has been very good to me and I have never lost my card since. I will be 45 after Christmas and I am absolutely happy with what I have got.”

But then it was announced by Wentworth over the weekend that Rory McIlroy had been part of a deal that will take the Irish Open to the K Club next May at the start of a three-year contract which will see sponsors Dubai Duty Free annually put up a massive €4 million prize fund.

McGrane, who finished a creditable 29th place in Portual, after shooting a closing 66, had not intended to go to Tour school next month after finishing in a lowly 161st spot in the annual Race to Dubai.

But his resolution went out of the window when the Irish Open news broke, as he said: “The only reason I will go to Tour School is that I will be looking for an invitation into next year’s Irish Open.

“So my visit to Tour School is purely to play next year at the K Club. I have no other plans – I am going to go home and watch the Discovery Channel for a few months and then maybe someday I will have a vision and I will make a good decision.

“But I am not going to rush into anything because, sure as hell, I will make a wrong decision. So I am going to take it easy for a while. And I won’t come back as a caddie either. I am not able to carry my own golf bag never mind anybody else’s.”

McGrane’s tongue in cheek humour was similar to that of Hansen when the winner of the prestigious PGA title at Wentworth in both 2002 and 2007 was asked by me why he had decided to call it a day.

He recalled that we had twice been partnered to play together in the pro-am at the Qatar Masters and joked: “The good thing about retirement is that I won’t have to go through that ordeal again!”

But with Sunday’s shotgun start meaning his career ended on the par three 13th green at Vilamoura, it was clear he had made an emotional decision and it was not the fact that he missed a five foot birdie putt that would have wrapped up his career in style that saw him break into tears.

His South Africa playing partner Thomas Aiken and his long- time caddie Nick Mumford both put consoling arms around him, but Hansen was clearly still upset when he told his friends on Facebook: “Thanks to the people who helped me through golf life, who have dedicated hours and hours to make the best of me. It has rained, been snowing, cold and hot. I’ve found you, been with you, you know who you are!

“Thanks to my colleagues. Thank you for the many years. It has been a fantastic journey we’ve been on, but everything has a beginning and an end. I wish you all the best and look forward to following you.”

Hansen would not go into details of his future business plans, but having banked more than €11 million he did admit that he had amassed some properties that will need to be managed.

*This article was in TGP on Wednesday October 21

Tagged Anders Hansen, Damien McGrane