Ricky Ponting swaps baggy green for golf cap

Three days after his emotional Test farewell in Perth, Ponting swapped his battered baggy green for a golf cap and was out tramping the fairways at the Australian Open at The Lakes in Sydney.

He was strictly a spectator as he followed his mate Mark Leishman, the only Australian to win on the US PGA Tour this year.

Ponting's form with the bat might have waned in recent times, but Australia's greatest run-scorer is no mug with a golf club in his hands.

He is a scratch marker at the neighbouring layout The Australian.

He hasn't touched a club in two months, but is itching to get back into golf.

After watching some of the world's best, including Leishman, 14-year-old Chinese prodigy Tianlang Guan and the legendary Tom Watson, he can't wait to get back on the course.

After trailing Leishman and Robert Allenby, he was planning to head out to his own course to get a few holes in.

"There'll still be a few hours of daylight," Ponting told Channel Seven.

Ponting said he would never forget the gesture of the South Africans who gave him a guard of honour at the WACA ground on Monday when he walked out to bat for the last time in a Test.

"It's been an emotional week for me. I'm not sure it's sunk in yet," he said.

Ponting's golfing skills have prompted speculation that he might follow in the footsteps of his old teammate Dean Jones and turn pro.

But he's having none of it.

"I'm not good enough for that," he said.