Brian Barnes made a painful exit from the Senior British Open at Royal Co Down last July.

It was with the near certain knowledge that his days as a tournament golfer were drawing to a close.

Just five holes were enough for him to declare ruefully that he was losing a battle against rheumatoid arthritis.

Notwithstanding that decision, Barnes opted for a return to the US Senior Tour for one last crack at the big bucks. He gave it his best shot but knew in his heart of hearts that the problems that had plagued him since early 1999 had hunkered down in the giant frame that body builders would give their eye teeth for.

When Barnes returned to his Storrington home and the club at West Chiltington he helped create with father-in-law Max Faulkner, he spoke in terms of only a miracle cure. That was just before Christmas and while, later this month he goes back to America, it is to discuss a career in commentating on golf instead of playing the game he has so richly adorned for many a long year.

Golfers in Sussex have not seen a great deal of Barnes whose career has obliged him to fish in deeper, richer waters. But West Chiltington remains his base, if not spiritual home and the members there think the world of the charismatic standard bearer who has thrilled golfing galleries the world over.

For quite some time Barnsey looked forward to his 50th birthday and a ride on the US gravy train and who could blame him chasing the kind of money that doesn't exist in Europe?

Initially, he struck oil, invested in a mobile home and followed the sun instead of being shackled to a stultifying routine of airports and motels. Barnes and Phil Ramm, a West Chiltington pal who acted as co-driver and general factotum, hit route after route and, after the day's work was done, were able to relax in a palace on wheels that had everything except a bar.

This would have been a priority with the Brian Barnes of old. Had he continued hitting the bottle it is doubtful if he would have made senior status. Instead, he saw the light just in time and, in 1993, renounced the demon drink.

A decade ago he could not swing a club without a drink or three. He freely admitted on kicking the habit that there had been a time when he needed to fortify himself with half-a-dozen brandy-laced coffees just to work up enough enthusiasm to make the practice area. It was not unusual for his caddy to tote a six-pack in the bag and by no means out of the ordinary for Barnes to put away 15 pints after lunch with an evening binge to come.

By sheer willpower he changed his doom-laden lifestyle turning instead to orange juice and iced tea and coffee. He revelled in new-found fitness and vital weight loss and began to play like the Brian Barnes of Ryder Cup fame.

For his shining example in beating alcoholism, would it be too much for Barnes to be included in the next honours list?

Here is a man who has proved it possible to turn his back on one of the biggest killers of all. By singling him out it would provide an inspiration to others. At any rate it would be a nice change as the family have not exactly gained deserved recognition in the world of golf.

Max Faulkner has shamefully and uniquely been passed over whereas other old Open champions have all had a call to the Palace.

Maybe Barnsey wasn't always politically correct on some occasions as a player. But what the hell. Stuffy officialdom once fined him for entertaining the crowd at Gleneagles by playing one-handed. This drew a single complaint from a misery guts who said he hadn't paid good money to see the best players poncing around.

Barnes, then £250 lighter, had the last laugh. "They said I'd brought the game into disrepute by that one shot. But that evening the guy from Double Diamond, the tournament sponsors, told me it was the best publicity they'd every had and slipped me £300."

Barnes once took out a folding chair in protest against slow play and, even in the dark days, his popularity showed no signs of waning with the golfing public.

It is a tragedy that five years into his career as a senior such a dreadful affliction should render pain-killers almost useless. His fingers swelled to the size of sausages, so much so that he could barely get a glove on this year in America. The spread of the disease has accelerated for Barnsey was able to lift the Senior British Open in 1995 and successfully defend the title the following year and win the AT&T Canada Senior Open two years back.

From 1969 to 1981 when Barnes played the European Tour he gained ten victories and won nearly £500,000 in prize money. Add to that around £200,000 earnings from the Senior Tour and it becomes obvious that Barnsey had to turn his back on Europe and seek more lucrative rewards in America.

As a 20-year-old he started out with an attachment to Baurnham & Berrow shortly after leaving Millfield. Brian's dad was secretary at Burnham and he taught his son the rudiments of the game. Later Brian went to Max Faulkner for lessons and also fell in love and married his daughter Hilary and came to live in Sussex.

For a while Brian was attached to West Sussex at Pulborough and then came a string of various backers. He became part of golfing legend with six Ryder Cup appearances and uniquely beat Jack Nicklaus twice in one day during the 1975 matches.

Brian's standing in America has always been high. His opinions on the game are respected and there is no reason why he shouldn't embark on a new career that will keep him part of the game to which he long ago dedicated his life.