TURNBERRY, Scotland -- The man is staying in a suite named after him at the posh Turnberry Hotel. The man had a hip replaced in October. The man is starting to believe.
Tom Watson is the man again. Fifty-nine years old, and he leads the British Open going into Sunday's final round. He shot 71 Saturday, leaving him 4-under for the tournament, one stroke ahead of Matthew Goggin and Ross Fisher.
"It just might happen,'' Watson said.
Understand, this is not the same guy who arrived at Turnberry, who talked before the tournament about the good old days. Watson has lost about 15 years from his face, his posture since then. Since Wednesday, he's also grown about a foot taller.
It just might happen. It is such a metamorphosis that he would say such a thing. Just two days earlier, he said he might get too nervous if he stays in contention. On Friday, he said he couldn't think about winning. On Saturday, after the crowd at the 18th green did the wave for him, and someone yelled, "You're a teenager, Tommy,'' and Watson thought about his former caddie, Bruce Edwards, who died of Lou Gehrig's Disease, well, he got a little emotional. He broke into tears.
And then he said this:
"It'll be something special if I do what I intend to do tomorrow.''
He intends. This is just too much, here on this course, this country, filled with golf's ghosts. Watson is one of them.
Have you pinched yourself, Tom?
"I don't need to,'' he said. "I'm awake.''
Stronger. He is much stronger than he was three days ago, too.
It just might happen. I was thinking just that standing off the 15th green. Watson stood calmly a few feet away while his playing partner, Steve Marino, was falling apart. Marino couldn't find his ball in the tall grass cliff to the right of the green. Watson helped him look for it.
When Marino finally prepared to hit a shot, he couldn't see where the hole was. Watson stood in front of the flag to help him line up the shot, and then, eventually, grabbed the flag and held it over his head to help Marino. A few minutes later, Watson was joking with a tournament official.This long delay was exactly the excuse Watson could have used to fold up, let his thoughts and nerves get to him. The nerves are what finally finished him off about a quarter of a century ago. He did make a bogey there, but then drained a long birdie putt on 16 and held his arms in the air in victory. At the tee on No. 17, a marshal giggled, saying he got 400-1 odds on Watson before the tournament, and "put down a fiver.'' Then, Watson nearly made an eagle, settling for birdie.
He is not planning to go away.
"My first day here, it was like, 'Ah, let the old geezer have his day in the sun,'" Watson said. "The second day, 'That's OK.' Now, it's "Hey, this old geezer might have a chance to win.''
Sure, that's what people thought. But come on, Tom. You've been thinking the same thing.
"`Well, my confidence is ... yeah, it's a little better,'' he said. "I haven't played a competitive round since the Watson Challenge in Kansas City about a month ago.
"I'm building on it. The first day it was great to start off that way. And the second day, I struggled but then came back, so that was confirmation. Today, I made some good putts. Tomorrow, maybe I can go out there and complete the gameplan.''
Watson is saving this tournament. No Tiger, no interest. That could be golf's motto.
Not this time. Fisher said that Woods is missed, that tournaments have an extra buzz when he's in them, and that players figure that beating Woods is the goal.
Watson didn't feel that way, as he's never on the leaderboard fighting with Tiger for titles, anyway.
"I never play against Tiger,'' he said. "So I don't give a damn about Tiger.
"The most important thing is to drive the ball in the fairway. Tiger isn't here because he he couldn't drive the ball in the fairway. But for some of us, it's been a good week that way.''
Here's another change in Watson. Earlier in the week, he said that golf is a young person's game, and that it was a good rule that prevents him from playing the British again after next year. Rules prohibit players over 60. On Saturday, he said he had "laid the gauntlet down,'' to the media to get the rule changed.
If he wins Sunday, by the way, he get a 10-year exemption, allowing him to play till he's 69. If not, then he's out after next year, thrown overboard for being too old to compete.
Latest British Open Photos
Tom Watson of the U.S. acknowledges the gallery after finishing the third round of the British Open Golf Championship at the Turnberry Golf Club in Scotland July 18, 2009. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne (BRITAIN SPORT GOLF IMAGES OF THE DAY)
Reuters
Tom Watson of the US, right, is seen aboard a golf cart with his wife Hilary, left, following a press conference after his third round of the British Open Golf championship, at the Turnberry golf course, Scotland, Saturday, July 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
AP
Tom Watson of the US speaks during a press conference following his third round at the British Open Golf championship, at the Turnberry golf course, Scotland, Saturday, July 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
AP
Tom Watson of the US, right, is seen aboard a golf cart with his wife Hilary, left, following a press conference after his third round of the British Open Golf championship, at the Turnberry golf course, Scotland, Saturday, July 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
AP
Steve Marino of the US, center, is helped by marshals and spectators as they search for his ball in the rough on the 15th hole, during the third round of the British Open Golf championship, at the Turnberry golf course, Scotland, Saturday, July 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
AP
** RECROPPED VERSION ** Tom Watson of the United States, reacts after putting on the 18th green, during the third round of the British Open Golf championship, at the Turnberry golf course, Scotland, Saturday, July 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
AP
Tom Watson of the US gestures during a press conference following his third round at the British Open Golf championship, at the Turnberry golf course, Scotland, Saturday, July 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
AP
** ALTERNATE CROP OF TBY339 ** Tom Watson of the US celebrates holing a putt on the 16th during the third round of the British Open Golf championship, at the Turnberry golf course, Scotland, Saturday, July 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
AP
Tom Watson of the US reacts during a press conference following his third round at the British Open Golf championship, at the Turnberry golf course, Scotland, Saturday, July 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
AP
Tom Watson of the US, right, is seen aboard a golf cart with his wife Hilary, left, following a press conference after his third round of the British Open Golf championship, at the Turnberry golf course, Scotland, Saturday, July 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
AP
How's that for funny? The real gauntlet here is to the current generation of golfers. Tiger's gone. Phil Mickelson is home taking care of his sick wife. So who takes charge?
A guy from a quarter of a century ago.
Seven weeks from his 60th birthday, Watson is just that close to providing an incredible moment in sports history.
On Thursday, the old Watson said his nerves could get to him. On Saturday, the younger, stronger Watson was able to joke that: "I feel like my nerves are too well fried to feel them.''
Other than a marshal with a fiver, who would have thought this? For the old geezer, it really just might happen.
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Comments (Page 1 of 1)
As a 53 year old golf fan , I always pulled for Tom Watson, but it`s been so many years since it seemed he was a factor, that this is truly unbelievable. Even if he falls off the bus tomorrow ( which I think he will), to be leading a major after 3 rounds is simply amazing and one of the all time feel good sports stories . Considering he`s already won 5 British Opens, it perhaps makes sense that if he ever made a run it would be here. He won in 1975, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1983............he was leading at the 71st hole in 1984, and he last was a major factor in 1989...............this is 2009 ! If he ever could hold on and win, shattering Julius Boros record as the oldest player to win ANY major,( by 11 years),this would certainly have to be thought of as one of the greatest triumphs in sports history), made better by his reputation as a true gentleman of the game.
If Tom Watson could walk up the 18th fairway tomorrow still with a chance , I guarantee that will be a moment all golf fans , or any sports fan, will remember forever. Go get em , Tom.
Good comment by Watson, he is a class act, were as Tiger is a filty mouth rich boy!
Way to go Tommy! Win!
Tom Watson is one of the best ever in the game. There is no reason he can't win because he has the shots to "get 'er done" His place in history will get a much larger dias should he complete this Open as the victor.
Be it magic, spiritual, or just chance, let's give him all the credit for doing what he has done so far in the game, and showing us that no matter the age, people can win, and win with dignity and humiliation.
Go TOM !!!!!!
If there is a God, and we all know he's a golfer, I hope he's with Watson all day Sunday in Turnberry. Ya gotta believe in miracles for them to happen.
Good luck to you Tom Watson!
Go Tom !!!! Wish I would have laid down a fiver at 400 to 1 .... Wonder if he wagered a chunk on himself....A thousand on Tom hmmmm 400,000 !!!!! Bet he has something on himself...Git er done...
Seriously, the last time I saw or even heard the name Tom Watson was easily 25 years ago when I was about 13 years of age.
I don't follow golf much especially the senior circuit.
But I am pulling so hard for him to win, "Hey Tom you've inspired a lot of people myself included to get up off our ass and compete and I'm talking about in life."
im betting on him,my buddie put up 500 dollars to my one hundred,he happens to be wealthy,thats not bad odds eh,what
i think tom will not fall off the bus tomorrow as he still has nothing to loose,it is great for the game to see him there.i think anyone who has ever played golf will be cheering him on.Go Tom may the wind blow gently on your back and the sun soft on your face.slan agus beannacht
I was a big Nicklaus fan and hated it when Watson deprived him of several major titles. But I'll be pulling for Tom tomorrow. It would be something very special to see him win a sixth Open title at 59.
With today's equipment, and Tom Watsons drive it is plausible...He knows the course, is major savvy and Tom was always an aggressive putter, why not at 59. Kick some ass tomorrow, enjoy the moment.
I have followed and enjoyed Tom Watson for years and while some of the interview might have been verbatim...I can't believe Tom would say the things about Tiger that are reported in this article. Either they caught him after he had a few scotches(i think he quit drinking?) or more likely it is inaccurate!
I would not count Watson out at all. He won 5 in the past because he understands what links golf requires.
It's going to be a good finish. Hope
he can get some good bounces and pull it off.
*This is just a great, great story. I'm not an avid golf follower, but I do know that Tom Watson holds a special place in the history of the game, and if he pulls this off, what an incredible chapter he will have added! I'm all for it--go get'em, Tom!
Oh jrseym, I think the word is humility--leading the British Open is far from humiliating. Peace.
Hey! What happened to Tiger, the greatest golf player ever? LOL
Tiger blew up. Too bad. Tom, just drive the fairways. You have nothing to lose. This one's for all of us "old geezers" as the snot-nosed youngsters like to refer to the over 50 crowd. You've got a huge support group. JUST DO IT!
I can not think of someone more deserving of this attention and acclaim than Tom Watson. If somehow he were to pull this off, it would be the sports story of the decade. Tom Watson is a class act and surely an example for the entire sports world. Many of todays athletes (including professional golfers) could learn a great deal by watching the way Tom Watson carries himself. This is a true gentleman of class, character, and integrity.
As a side note, without taking anything away from this amazing run that Mr. Watson is in the midst of, i must add that this speaks volumes about the quality (or lack of quality) of the professional golf played today. I don't think that there is a single player on tour today (US or European) who could have competed in Tom Watson's heyday. There were so many good players then, some for years, some for a briefer time, that today's best would have been little more than 'also rans'.
Godspeed to you Mr. Watson. You have already awoken every old golf fan in the world and made us all proud with your performance. Now, go win this one for yourself.
I love Tom, but there is a very real possibility he could throw up all over himself on Sunday, and implode like Norman at the Masters. I hope not, but it's must see TV..
Cubfan ,as your name implies, you no nothing about sports. Only at a Links course where length off the tee isn't necessary could someone like Watson be competitive. He, himself, made that statement. As for your imbecilic comment about today's golfers not being competitive with those from his generation I'll chalk up to your lack of knowledge of golf!
I love all these golfers complaining about how much Tiger influences fan involvement.
sorry also-rans, but I, like most sane people, need to be see someone great play to make golf even remotely interesting to watch.