Brian Barnes' golf career is over unless a miracle cure can be found for rheumatoid arthritis.

He is not returning to play the US Senior Tour next year. Instead, he hopes to do some commentary work.

At 55 this is a dreadful blow for Barnes to bear but he has been aware for some time that he was fighting a losing battle. He has been back at his Storrington home for a couple of weeks only to find conditions at West Chiltington hardly conducive to even knocking the odd ball about.

And, to make matters worse, Brian hasn't been able to follow his favourite relaxation as the water is too cloudy for fishing.

"I played 18 tournaments last time and I had to pull out of some. Unless medical science comes up with a miracle cure I shan't be playing tournament golf again I'm afraid," he said.

The arthritis is in his wrists and fingers and that is the worst thing to afflict a golfer. He has had specialist advice here and in America but without an appreciable improvement in his condition.

Pain killers helped him soldier on but the sight of his fingers swelling to the size of sausages, so much so that he could barely get a glove on, indicated that the trouble was worsening.

The disease crept up on Barnes as, within two months of his 50th birthday, he made a sensational start to his seniors career by winning the British Open at Royal Portrush and retaining the title the following year.

His only victory in the US came in 1998 in the AT&T Canada Senior Open championship. Even then he had problems with phlebitis and damaged tendons in the left leg.

As a 20-year-old, Barnes started a tour career with an attachment to Burnham & Barrow followed by a couple of years at West Sussex and then a string of various backers. He became part of golfing legend with six Ryder Cup appearances and uniquely beat Jack Niculaus twice in one day during the 1975 matches.

At the moment Barnes is down, but not out. He returns to America in the New Year when, hopefully, the start of a new career will be launched.