Five-times major champion Seve Ballesteros quashed retirement rumours by announcing yesterday he will play on next year's US Seniors Tour.
"The time has come to decide which direction I am going to take. Recently there has been a lot of speculation about whether I am going to retire or not, so to make it clear, I am going to continue," Ballesteros said.
"I am just going to continue in a slightly different manner. I am going to compete in the Champions Tour of the USA and aim to play 14 tournaments there next year.
"I will also compete in others such as the British Open and the Masters."
The 49-year-old six-times European number one has suffered from persistent back problems. He returned from a two-year absence to compete again in 2005.
"Effectively I have been retired for the last few years but now is the time to get serious. When I returned at the British Open recently and in the subsequent tournaments I have done better than I expected," Ballesteros said.
Ballesteros has played only three tournaments in the last three years, but rounds of 74 and 77 in the last of them - the British Open at Hoylake in July - prompted a rethink about retirement.
"At first I was unsure about this decision, but after playing at this year's Open Championship, where the crowds were so kind to me and cheered me on to play better than I had expected, I started to become very excited about playing competitively again.
"It's a new challenge and I am confident in my abilities. Only time will tell from here on." Ballesteros said he could not face the prospect of retiring: "Golf is my passion and I miss the competition. It's all very well getting up in the morning, reading the newspaper and having a drink but there is something missing," he said. "My advice to all you sitting there is don't retire. You must continue fighting."
When asked if he felt his back problems would hinder what promises to be a punishing schedule after he turns 50 in April, Ballesteros said: "Obviously, I will have to prepare well and I can't forecast what may happen. I haven't played much of late and my back has been better. It's not 100 per cent but then it never has been.
"My plan is to continue playing for another four or five years. That doesn't mean I'll retire then. I could decide to continue further. I just like to set objectives for myself."
