And now the end is here, and so JoAnne Carner faces the final curtain.
The 83-year-old shot her age for the fifth time at the U.S. Senior Women's Open Friday at NCR Country Club. But after missing the cut, the 43-time LPGA winner announced that this would indeed be her swan song.
"I never say goodbye," she said, "but goodbye!"
Why isn't she giving it another run?
"It was too hard work this year trying to get my game in shape," she said after back-to-back 10-over 83s.
Arguably the greatest women's player in USGA history, Carner has high standards for herself and wanted to go out on a higher note — even though most would say shooting your age two days in a row isn't too shabby.