"The game at the top level has almost become one for bombers. You can’t survive out there if you are short by tour standards."

You have to admire Andrew Coltart for not being ashamed to admit his game doesn't work with today's equipment and setups, but don't you also have to wonder if there's something wrong when the game becomes so blatantly one-dimensional? John Huggan profiles the professional, who discusses his "lack of competitiveness.

“The new technology in golf has never been a help to me. I just don’t create enough clubhead speed to take advantage of the big-headed drivers and the new balls. As someone once told me, you can almost read the name of the shaft on my downswing!

“And the courses these days are set up to benefit those who hit the ball miles. Length is everything. The ability to shape shots and hit different types of shots isn’t nearly as important as it once was. None of which suited me. Over the last decade or so, my strengths have become less important and my weaknesses have been exposed.

“For me, golf is not just about hitting a long ball. It’s about knowing how to hit straight shots, draws and fades, high and low shots. But a lot of that has gone from the game at the professional level. It’s very one-dimensional these days.”

And Lee Westwood concurred.

“It’s a shame that Andrew is having to give up,” says world No.2 Lee Westwood, who doubles as Coltart’s brother-in-law. “But the game at the top level has almost become one for bombers. You can’t survive out there if you are short by tour standards, which Andrew is, unfortunately. He has nothing to be ashamed of though. He played the game to a high standard. He was a Ryder Cup player and won tournaments.