Revealing interview with Tom Watson by USA Today's Steve DiMeglio across the pond in which Watson discussing competing this year in the British Open. Oh, and the five time Open winner thinks he could make a run at the title this week too.Apparently, during his first venture on the links, he smacked a ball down the center of the fairway, only to lose it and then laced his third shot all the way to the green ... only he found it in a bunker.
"I remember thinking, 'This, I don't like this.' "That is quite the stout statement. Sure, I have a grandfather who's shot his age for years, so it's certainly doable, but to expect a guy like Watson to roll into the British and dominate the world's best, and youngest, players is pretty unlikely. Especially at age 58.
[...]"Common sense," Watson said when asked what changed his mind about the seaside links golf that is so popular over the pond. "I was making too many excuses. I learned to live with the bounces out there and told myself to stop blaming the golf course. Play what the course gives you.
"I went back to my roots. As kids, you had to land it short of the green and run it up, squeeze it between bunkers. That's what I started doing."
[...]His best golf days behind him, Watson insists that given the right course conditions, he can compete this week against a field that includes "players that weren't even born when I won my first Open title."
But crazier things have happened. In fact, Watson might be a better bet than banking on Philly Mick to make any noise overseas.
