July 16 (Bloomberg) -- Five-time winner Tom Watson took the first-round lead of the British Open.
The 59-year-old American, the oldest golfer on the course, was at 5-under-par on the 17th. Australian John Senden and England’s David Howell were tied for second, a shot behind him.
Like Greg Norman last year. I hope he can hang in there till day 4.
That would be excellent! Go Tom.
ReplyDeleteWould be great. But he can't putt in the clutch.
ReplyDeleteOxey--it is Saturday and Watson has made a couple of long putts, but blown at least one makeable one. He just birdied 16 with a long putt to regain a share of the lead. Just amazing. I always have admired Watson as a player...stoic, competitive, gentlemanly. Hope he can finish strong today and hold it together tomorrow. Would be unreal if he could win it.
ReplyDeleteCan't putt in the clutch?????? He's already won 5 of these things.....c'mon. Anyway, I have a friend in Steamboat that I worked with at the Catamount country club. Dr. Brian Edwards, a retired oral surgeon who once carried a bag for a few years on the tour. Brian's brother, Bruce, caddied for Watson for over twenty years before dying in 2004 of ALS. Brian told me on several occasions about Watson's outstanding character and his ability to still treat golf as what it is....a game. I can't help but think that Huck Finn has one more big one in him and that Bruce might be walking with him at Turnberry. My money is on Watson, maybe the best links player ever to play the game. Tomorrow should be fun!
ReplyDeleteI stand corrected.....Oxey you are right.....he can't make a putt in the clutch. What was so depressing is that his putt on 18 wan't even close! Two words.....the YIPS! Still it was great drama and Stewart Cink is a good champion....and an American, which I'm sure drives guys(and I use that term loosely) like Colin Montgomery crazy!
ReplyDeleteWell, that was dramatic! The mid length putt that has been such a torment finally got him.In his hey-day he makes that putt. I felt he got a little unlucky wihen that second shot never took a hop but just ran through the green like a scalded dog and nestled up against the first cut in a way that meant one could not risk hitting too softly. As for the putt ,yeah he flinched on it. I don't know how he stood over it and hung on to the club. i have never been so nervous watching a putt and I was 5000 miles away. Watson needed to step away, say something to someone or have someone speak to him. Anything that would have taken the Golfing God's breath off his neck.
ReplyDeleteI believe he is the best links player ever and there is always 2010. I mean he will only be 60.
I almost wish he had gotten tired and lost it earlier. You know, everyone would have said he had a great run, it was amazing, yadda yadda yadda. But to lose it, on the 18th, with a really BAD putt, not even a good effort. I couldn't even watch the playoff. Watson just looked so defeated. I have nothing against Cink, but he is a little jesusy for me.
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