US Masters:Three-time winner Gary Player will play his 52nd and final Masters this week, he announced today. South African Player, 73, first played the Augusta National event in 1957, aged 21, winning the event for the first time in 1961 and collecting two more Green Jackets in 1974 and 1978.

“I’ve decided that I would like to make this my last appearance in the tournament,” Player said.

“I’ve enjoyed it so much.

“We all have our favourite tournaments, majors, tournaments around the world, but this has been the best-organised golf tournament that I have ever played in.

“This will be my last major championship that I will ever play on the regular tour. Obviously I’ll play some on the Senior Tour.”

Despite shooting a 78 last year in the Masters second round, nine-time major winner Player said the course was getting too tough.

“The hole is getting the size of a Bayer aspirin, you wonder whether you can press it in there or squeeze it in there.

“I’m exercising profusely, but it’s very difficult at 73 to build strength. The golf course is so long. It is just so long. I mean, I’m hitting a wood to almost every single hole.

“It’s just too long for me. I cannot get around. I’ve managed to break 80 the last two years, but it’s getting to a stage now where I don’t know whether I can do that out here, it’s so long and I’m getting weaker.”

That said, Player credited his physical fitness for allowing him to play as long as he had at the Masters.

“It is encouraging when you have exercised as hard as I have and watched my diet pretty well, that I’m able to play 52 Masters. It’s a very encouraging thought.

“I stood on the tee last year when I was waiting to play and there was a bit of a hold-up, and I thought, damn it all, most of my friends at 72 are dead and I’m playing at the Masters?

“Most guys at my age, 73, have not seen their knees, never mind their private parts, for seven years,” he joked.

“There’s a lot of feeling going on. At least I can see where I am.”