Rafferty calls it quits

Ronan Rafferty pulled out of the Volvo Masters before his third round at Valderrama today – but it was not likely to cause the same fuss as his walk-out from the 1991 US Open.

The former European number one went into retirement four years ago, but accepted an invitation to play in Spain as a past winner of the title.

However, his rustiness was there for all to see as he compiled opening rounds of 83 and 89 for a 30-over-par halfway total of 172, 34 more than leader Justin Rose.

Rafferty then told officials he was scratching from the tournament because of a problem with his left wrist.

Sixteen years ago, when he was one of the circuit’s biggest names, he quit the US Open after nine holes of his second round. Playing partner Craig Parry said later that the Northern Irishman had merely said he was going to the toilet.

That cost Rafferty, winner of the Volvo Masters in 1989, a £5,000 fine. This time his two rounds, bad though they were, earned him just over £11,000.

His withdrawal reduced the field to 54 and it left Sandy Lyle, another past champion, in last place at 22 over, and that after playing the first eight holes of his third round this morning in an impressive one under.