On Monday, hours after losing the British Open in a playoff to Stewart Cink, Tom Watson (don't know if you heard, but he's 59 years old) hopped a flight to make the short trip from Turnberry, Scotland to Sunningdale, England to prepare for the Senior British Open. Last year, then 53-year-old Greg Norman logged a third-place finish at the British before tying for fifth at the Senior British. And through the first round, Watson is on a similar path. He's currently tied for sixth, three shots behind leader Fred Funk, after signing for a 67. (Interestingly, Norman also shot 67.)
"I made a few early putts maybe I shouldn't have made and I missed some I should have made," Watson said. "I had birdie chances on the last four holes but didn't make them. It was a good score. Maybe it could have been better," Watson told the Associated Press.
Of course, the conversation is never far from the eight-footer he didn't come close to making on the 72nd hole last Sunday. And Watson talked about that, too.
"I don't want to [see a replay of that putt]. That was the ugliest stroke in the world. I don't want to relive that thing," Watson said, before admitting he initially wanted to play it over again. "Then I said, 'To heck with it. That's history. That's over and done with.'"
Doug Sanders feels your pain, sir. (Except the part about Watson having eight majors to his name and Sanders having none.)
Whatever, Watson tees off tomorrow at 1:50 PM local time, and if you're in the States and in the mood for some early-morning golf viewing, TNT will start their coverage at 9 AM ET. It'll be just like the British Open but without Curtis Strange. Until the weekend, anyway.
