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MATCH of the Day host Gary Lineker suffers from such bad arthritis he has had to quit golf.

Lineker, 59, is a member at exclusive Berkshire club Sunningdale — but said his condition has hampered his ability to play.

 Gary Lineker's arthritis agony left him with no choice but to quit golf as he is unable to hold a club
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Gary Lineker's arthritis agony left him with no choice but to quit golf as he is unable to hold a clubCredit: BBC

He said: “I don’t play any more because actually my fingers are so arthritic I can’t even hold a club. I don’t play but I have kept that membership.”

Asked if he would ever play again, he said: “Only watching.”

Lineker presented the BBC’s coverage of golf’s majors from 2005 to 2010 and plays off a handicap of four.

But the ex-England and Spurs striker, whose football career ended early because of a toe injury, said: “I had to work very hard at it. I loved golf."

“If I do something I want to do it as well as I can. It used to frustrate me though so much, golf."

“My golf was a bit like my football, I always felt. I was hopeless from long range but once I got close in I was quite good."

 The ex-England and Spurs striker, 59, said he loves golf but will only be watching from now on
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The ex-England and Spurs striker, 59, said he loves golf but will only be watching from now onCredit: Getty Images - Getty
 The Match of the Day host has kept his membership at exclusive Berkshire club Sunningdale even though he does not play
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The Match of the Day host has kept his membership at exclusive Berkshire club Sunningdale even though he does not playCredit: Getty Images - Getty

"It’s a great game, golf, but I found it hugely frustrating.”

The BBC’s highest-paid presenter told the Rain Delay podcast: “I will tell you something about golf, it brings out the worst in you."

“There have been so many times I would walk off a golf course and think, ‘God, you behaved a bit like a prat today, get a grip’.”

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