British Open Review 2009
What an incredible British Open! It was always obvious that TW was going to perform well wasn’t it?
The only surprise was that it was Tom Watson and not Tiger Woods. Woods long game frailties became evident and it is clear that it is still nowhere near where it should be. What concerned me was Woods inability to hit different types of shot. Remember that stinger 3 wood that was so effective….or a few years back, the raking 3wood draw shot he practiced for months before the Masters specifically for the 13th hole at Augusta….or those three quarter long iron shots he was so precise with……well, none of these were evident. In fact, it was all very “ordinary” and if truth be told, he was lucky with many of the lies he was getting when he sprayed the balled during the first 26 holes. Add to this, his attitude whereby he was throwing clubs, was in my opinion disgraceful and is something the authorities should address because he is the role model for so many young kids. Woods will be back but I’m hoping with a better long game and better attitude……something more in line with the champion Jack Nicklaus perhaps?
So what of the other TW. at 59 years of age, Tom Watson almost completed a fairytale win and really showed Tiger the importance of hitting fairways and controlling your iron shots. It was an incredible performance and all of our hearts dropped when he missed that putt on the 18th.
However, you cannot deny Stewart Cink his win. When he needed it, he produced a birdie of the highest quality on the 72nd hole. What people fail to then recognize was his performance in the play off, which was top class. He barely missed a shot, despite knowing the crowd were willing Watson on, yet still produced the goods. He has always had the potential and with his putting problems now seemingly behind him, I don’t think anyone will be too surprised if he pushes on from here.
Loved watching Tom Watson using his Driver and woods when others used their irons and not as effectively. Was disappointed that he did not win, but I think everybody will remember his performance.
Kerie
They definitely will Kerie. I agree, it was nice to see a premium on actually hitting the ball straight and not 350+ yards.
Poor ol’ Tom will never again get such an opportunity I fear. It would have been an incredible win.
To more fully appreciate Tom Watson’s emotions during this significant day, we might recall his emotions on a similar day, over thirty years prior.
Tom beat Nicklaus at the 1977 British Open in Turnberry, the match generally considered the greatest duel in golf history. They were tied after two rounds where Jack shot a 65-66. Watson shot a 65-65 and won by one. You know what Jack said? He said admiringly, “You did it to me again, you little SOB.”
Watson said later, “That shot, that day, that moment with Jack was the highlight of my life as a golfer.”
Here you have two great golfers, winning and losing graciously. That’s golf at its best.