Ok. The most amazing things I’ve ever witnessed in sports…. the 1980 USA Olympic Hockey team’s beat down on the Russians…Game Six of the ’86 World Series and Mookie Wilson’s tapper going through Bill Buckner’s five hole…. and 59 year-old Tom Watson winning the 2009 British Open….
Tom Watson denying us memories on 18
After watching Watson’s putt to win come up woefully short (and right) on the 72nd hole last weekend at The Open in Tunberry, Scotland, I couldn’t help myself from reminiscing about the infamous choke by Jean Van de Velde and his triple bogey seven (and complete yack job of blowing the 1999 British Open needing only a double-bogey six to win the Claret Jug). Sorry Jean, that truly was a choke for all time. I don’t think Watson’s bogey on 18 was as epic as Van De Velde’s collapse, but Watson’s inability to par the closing hole on Sunday robbed golf & sports fan’s around the world the privilege of witnessing history and celebrating with a man who is a class act on and off the course.
It’s safe to say that we will never see another 59 year old with a better chance to win a Major Championship. Watson played almost flawless golf for four days. He admittedly had a game plan coming to Turnberry and showed he still is one of the best ball strikers on the planet. Shot after shot after shot ended in up in the middle of the green. With European stalwarts, Lee Westwood & Ross Fisher, sporting big white belts and huge Euro choppers, spraying shots in the deep fescue, Watson’s final round seemed almost boring. Even Watson’s putting looked adequate enough to win, as he made a few unexpected bombs on the back nine on Saturday. However, his effort on the 72nd hole showed the world why a 59 year old cannot win a major…. nerves. Whether you are playing for a $1 skin and the local muni or staring over a putt to win the Clarett Jug, you feel it. The ABC commentators, Jack Nicklaus via phone call, and the Turnberry crowd, which witnessed Watson’s unbelievable triumph in ‘77 by besting Nicklaus in the “Duel In The Sun,” felt helpless as Watson stood over the final putt in regulation. And Watson’s Achilles Heel poked its ugly head. Watson would have had many more victories than his already impressive totals of 39 PGA Tour wins and 8 Major Championships if he was able to make that late five foot birdie on Sunday or make that four foot sand save putt to keep it going during a final round.
Even with Tiger missing his second cut as a professional at a Major, golf fans were stoked to witness Watson’s improbable victory. Watson is likeable. He gives excellent interviews, as he has been honest about the nerves in his putting, his willingness to continue to play and his love for links style golf. However, Watson will be most remembered for his relationship with his long time PGA Tour caddy Bruce Edwards. Edwards was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease in 2003. With Edwards still on the bag, Watson fired an opening round 65 during the 2003 US Open bringing the gallery and fellow Tour players to tears. A few weeks later, Watson contended in the US Senior Open. After that, he was in the mix at the Ford Senior’s Championship. He desperately wanted to get a last win for Edwards. Finally, later that summer, he won the Senior British Open and dedicated that win to his friend who could not make the trip. In April the following year, Edwards passed away at the age of 49. Since then, Watson and author John Feinstein, the author for “Caddy For Life,” which chronicles Edwards’ life, joined forces and created the Bruce Edwards Foundation for ALS Research. Since its inception, the foundation has raised more than $2.5 million, which has gone directly to research.
Golf fans were not just rooting for a 59 year old to win the British Open, they were rooting for Tom Watson, the man.
Dan Walters – Bucks County/Jack of All Sports correspondent
Filed under: Golf Tagged: | Bruce Edwards, Golf, PGA, The Open, Tom Watson
dw,
cant tell you how disappointed I was that he bogied hole 72. That iron was right at the flag (just like 17) but the adrenaline, firming of the greens made it carry.
I thought he still had it in the bag and would get down in 2 from there to par the hole. We covered the drama live on the show last Sunday. I was so deflated because I wanted to witness history. It wasn’t meant to be. Thanks for contributing to the site. Good stuff. You know I love Bucks.
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