Mark O’Meara couldn’t hold it in any longer. Friends don’t consider the 67-year-old World Golf Hall of Famer to be all that emotional, but O’Meara himself said later that he’s more emotional than people realise.

Playing Pebble Beach for the final time in an illustrious 44-year career which included 16 victories—five at Pebble Beach—and two major championships would be more than enough to bring anyone to tears.

Scores after two days at the Pure Insurance Championship were 80-73, but that doesn’t matter. O’Meara drained a 40-footer for birdie on the historic par-3 17th hole, then had difficulty holding back his emotions as he went to the iconic 18th hole for the final time as a competitor. He’s now retired.

O’Meara made 674 starts on the PGA Tour, which included 26 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Of his 284 starts on the PGA Tour Champions, this was his 17th at Pebble.

“It’s a little overwhelming, coming down the last hole,” he said.

“I’m thankful for every moment that I have walking, certainly around this place. It’s not like I’ll never come back to Pebble Beach again, but the fact that, to be able to end a competitive 44-year career at Pebble Beach, I couldn’t have picked a more special day and a more special place.”

O’Meara’s five victories at Pebble on the PGA Tour between 1985 and 1997 are a record that ties Phil Mickelson. O’Meara also won the California State Amateur there in 1979.

Main Image: Lachlan Cunningham