British Open: Oh, well
Tom Watson said at the end of the third round of the British Open that he had a 36-hole gameplan for the second half of the tournament. Unfortunately, he did not have a 40-hole gameplan.
Watson and a lot of golf fans will remember his second shot on 18, which he hit too well. It was right on target, but rolled past the hole and trickled down the back of the knoll and slightly into the rough. If he had come up short -- even short of the green -- he might have won his record-tying sixth Open Championship.
The playoff with Stewart Cink was never close. Watson clearly was fatigued and disappointed after the 72nd hole. Cink picked up a stroke on the first playoff hole and won the tournament when Watson blew up on the third, ceding a four-stroke lead on the par-5 17th.
What a great week for golf, but Watson will have to get past the staggering disappointment of coming up a nine-foot putt short of delivering one of the most inspiring victories in the history of professional sports.
Don't forget Cink's long birdie putt on 18 to stay in contention. He very much earned his first major victory, even if most of the golf world was not rooting for him to get it.
Comments
Pete.
Who would've Thunk it though? 59 year old Tom Watson, it was great! In every sport announcers constantly harp on the favorites whether it be the Yankees, Lakers or Tiger Woods and as they say this is why they play the game. Never a Tom Watson fan except for this week but he made a great run at it!
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Pete's reply: He certainly did. Very impressive, but also must be devastating to fall short because you hit a shot just too good.
Posted by: Keith Rowe | July 19, 2009 4:03 PM
Hey I"m not a huge Watson fan either and would rather play golf than watch it but I was rooting for him to win. I guess this will somewhat silence the critics who oppose long-term exemptions for guys like Watson who are usually there for sentimental reasons.
Anyway, on the subject of the state of the O's, does Baez have a future with us beyond '09? He started off great and then has hit a rough patch but maybe we sign him for a mil or so for '10?
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Pete's reply: I really have no feel for that. I'm guessing he is not back after this year, but I really don't know.
Posted by: TerryP | July 19, 2009 4:33 PM
The true and terrible part of sports is the disappointment when something amazing doesn't quite happen. I know - great job by Watson - but I will remember it as something that should have happened, not for something amazing - he choked on the 18th it's that simple - and it was not his age that caused him to fly the green he hits 99/100 times. Yes, that's cruel to say but he did not close the deal when he should have...and that's what I'll remember about it.
Posted by: Gary | July 19, 2009 4:36 PM
Pete, I heard Watson later say that he was thinking of using his nine iron for the approach shot at 18, but settled for the eight iron. A nine iron would have probably been just right.
And his first putt on that hole has to get past the cup if he's going to miss; has to have a chance to go in. That putt was in a way his worst shot of the tournament because he didn't give himself a chance. I know he didn't want to run it too far past the cup either, but he's got to give himself a chance.
Actually, a few holes before that he had a very makable putt for birdie that he just missed. Make that and he would have had a two-shot cushion going to the 18th.
Yeah, Cink earned it, but he would never
have been in that position had Watson not choked. Cink won it, but even more, Watson lost it. And the way he had it in hand at the 18th only to let is slip away is the bitterest part of this for him, but still he was co-leader up to the playoff and that's not bad.
Still a great, even amazing tournament for a man two months shy of 60 and with a hip replacement. If he stays in shape I can almost see him being in the hunt next year, too, because he plays links golf like he was born over there.
I was thinking, if Watson wins The Open, then maybe Trembley should hand a glove to Palmer and tell him to start warming in the bullpen.
jj thomas, What's your problem? I don't think Pete said that to be knocking Watson in any way. Try going back to bed and getting up on the right side.
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Pete's reply: Don't worry about JJ, he said some things that disqualified him from the site a while back, so his posts get deleted as soon as I see them. I gave him one more chance to be part of the conversation, but he clearly doesn't want to show any respect for the other people here. It's not about agreeing with me. You all know that. But you have to show some respect for what we're doing and he obviously can't do that.
Posted by: Ken Francis | July 19, 2009 6:53 PM
Pete, The more I keep thinking about this, the more I can't help but wonder why Watson didn't choose 9 iron and run the ball up on the green. He's the best links player of the past 50 years, yet chose to fire at the pin. Hindsight's usually 20/20, but man oh man does this one hurt.
It also makes me appreciate every other golfer when they miss hit a shot on the final hole, be it Philly Mick or Monty at the US Open or Greg Norman at numerous majors, even Arnie had his share. Watson is a seasoned pro and we see what happened here. I think there are only 2 players in the last half century would be undeterred by such pressure, and they happen to have the most majors . . . that's not a coincidence!
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Pete's reply: I don't like this being called a choke. The guy pulled out an eight-iron for a 190-some yard shot and hit it straight as an arrow. It landed short on the green and just rolled a few feet too far. The game is pretty precise, but I chalk that up to bad luck. Coming up short on the putt wasn't good, but I think the guy was just running out of gas.
Posted by: TikiTim | July 19, 2009 10:07 PM
to tikitim. only a schmuck would 2nd guess watson as to what club he should use unless you are yourself a world class golfer or top ten golf instructor. my guess is you couldn't shoot at 70 at putt putt. what a schmuck. pete before i read this nitwits post i couldn't think of a way to keep the mel brooks dream alive. but this schmuck gave me reason
Posted by: fkterp | July 20, 2009 6:17 AM
That missed putt was probably the most disappointing thing I've seen in 60 years of watching. Winning the Open at his age would have been one of the greatest achievement in sports history. And how can you not pull for such a gentleman.
Posted by: Paul B Towson | July 20, 2009 2:28 PM
fkterp, Why are you getting so personal? I am very bummed out over Watson's loss, but nothing like the absolute hate you are pouring out here. Watson himself said he probably should have hit 9 iron on the last hole (read Ken's post above). He also said that he appreciates what Tiger goes through in situations like this having a bullseye on him. As for your comment about the state of my game, I'm trying but can't play as much as I'd like to. I'm a 16 handicap. That's not that great of handicap by any means, but I do love the game. In your book, that disqualifies me from being a fan. I don't have a 90mph fastball, should I turn in my O's season tickets? I can't throw a football 50 yards, but I'm keeping my Ravens season tickets. Dude lighten up. Don't be hating.
Posted by: TikiTim | July 20, 2009 2:55 PM
To bad Watson didn't have Johnny Miller on his bag and he would have hit a nine iron. Tom went flag hunting not playing it safe. But what a show and what a class act the old man is.!Damn it hurts!
Posted by: bob harrigan | July 20, 2009 9:40 PM
To bad Watson didn't have Johnny Miller on his bag and he would have hit a nine iron. Tom went flag hunting not playing it safe. But what a show and what a class act the old man is.!Damn it hurts!
Posted by: bob harrigan | July 20, 2009 9:41 PM