WARRINGTON'S Derrick Cooper has packed his clubs away for the final time after retiring from golf at the age of 51 at the British Seniors Open at Turnberry.

Cooper, who will now work for the European Seniors Tour as a match referee, carded a 15-over-par 295 after four competitive rounds in Scotland.

After impressive rounds of 70 and 71 on Thursday and Friday, Cooper capitulated in the torrential rain at the Aberdeen Asset Management event to finish with two rounds of 77.

Cooper, who became a tournament director on the European Tour in 2000, has promised he has swapped his official's buggy for the tee for the last time.

He said: "That is my last event and that's final. I'm going to work on the European Tour now and not get my clubs out. I'm not going to frustrate myself any more on the course and that decision is final.

"I shall not miss it because I'll be around the circuit refereeing but basically I'm not good enough any more. I can't compete competitively so I don't want to play like that."