Almost the Greatest
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At the British Open on Sunday, 59-year old Tom Watson stood over his putt on the 18th green.
It was just eight-feet long – a gimme compared to the bombs Watson had been draining all week. But he took his time lining it up, and for good reason: If he could just knock the ball into the hole one more time, he would win the British Open, his ninth major championship, ranking him behind only Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Walter Hagen.
Watson would also become the oldest player ever to win one of the four major championships – by more than a decade. And, in accomplishing all that, Tom Watson would become the greatest golf story of all time.
It was a long way from Kansas City, where Watson grew up, and Walloon Lake, where he spent his summers. He graduated from Stanford with a degree in psychology, then joined the pro tour. They called him Tom Sawyer, for his home state, the gap between his teeth and his aw-shucks manner.
But in a blistering seven-year stretch, golf’s Tom Sawyer captured eight major titles, and became the top-ranked player in the world. After Watson won his last major title in 1983, however, he all but disappeared – until he resurfaced this week.
Watson finished the first round in first place, and held the lead after the second round, too – and the third, shocking the golf world. Meanwhile, Tiger Woods missed the cut in a major tournament for only the second time in his career. If you had bet ten bucks on Woods getting cut and Watson getting the lead at this year’s British Open, you would never have to work again.
Watson still had a one-stroke lead when he teed off on the 18th hole Sunday. He hit it perfectly – and then, just as he had done 32 years earlier on the same course, he walked up the fairway, with the lead, basking in the fans’ standing ovation.
“That warmth makes you feel human,” he said. “It makes you feel so good.”
Half a lifetime after reaching his prime, Watson had the chance to roll back the clock, return to the game’s biggest stage, and beat the best in the world –players who were now half his age. Life doesn’t often give us chances like that – and golf, almost never.All he had to do was knock in the eight-foot putt. But he hit it short and right -- his only truly bad stroke of the entire tournament. The instant Watson struck the ball, he dropped his shoulders. He already knew what the rest of us would soon find out: He was finished.
The clock had struck midnight on Watson’s dream. He suddenly looked 59, and in the playoff with Stewart Cink, he played like it, getting blown out by six strokes.
At the press conference, a choked up Watson said, “It’s a great disappointment. It tears at your gut. It’s not easy to take.”
Legendary theater critic and sports writer Heywood Broun put it best in 1921, when he said, “The tragedy of life is not that man loses, but that he almost wins.” Eighty-eight years later, it still rings true.
To his credit, Watson managed to smile and say, “Hey, this ain't a funeral, you know.” Watson’s 59-years might have prevented him from prevailing in the playoff, but they also gave him the wisdom to withstand it.
Watson couldn’t resist adding, “It would have been a hell of a story wouldn’t it?”
It still is -- one of the best sports stories ever told.
Copyright © 2009, Michigan Radio
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It was a heck'uva story. Alas, few people ever remember the runner-up.
Even in a situation such as this.
The only one I can think of would be Indiana State's loss to Michigan State in 1979. Aside from Larry Bird, however, what other members of that Sycamores' team does anyone remember?
Who did Team USA beat for the gold medal in Lake Placid in 1980? No, it wasn't the USSR.
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Doug,
Thanks for your kind words, and good insight. Sad to say, runners up get forgotten quickly. I can think of few who defy that, such as Joe Frazier, George Foreman and the Red Sox in 1945, '67, '75 and '86.
One of the easiest bar bets out there. Everyone thinks the US beat the Soviets for the gold, but in fact they played the Soviets on Friday night, and had to play still-favored Finland on Sunday. If they had lost that game they risked not even getting a bronze medal.
Nice drop!
-JUB
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I went fishing Sunday and recorded the final round...I was a nervous wreck all day that someone would tell me who won, but they didn't. What an event to watch! The entire final round Tom Watson was knocked down and even took a couple of 8 counts before getting back up and battling back to the top of the leaderboard. The second shot on 18 was struck perfectly, but about three rolls too many from an easy two-putt and the Claret Jug.
I think his worst decision of the week was putting from behind the green on 18 with that much grass between the clubface and the ball, and was a clear indication of how fragile his nerves were at that point, as he is known as one of the best chippers of the golf ball. That move told me he would unfortunately miss any putt outside of the leather. That miss made what would have been the "greatest" story in golf a "great" one that will outlive us all.
He showed a lot of class during and after the playoff. A lot of athletes from this era would need their team of psychologists on call for a longtime thereafter. The entire week of watching Tom Watson made me feel 30 years younger...It was a "Fountain of Youth" experience for everyone over the age of 50.
Speaking of great stories, how about the catch by DeWayne Wise to secure Mark Buehrle's perfect game? The rest of the year is all about who will come in second for an ESPY!!!
Love the stories!
Jim
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Thanks, Jim, for your generous review and savvy remarks.
I think you're right about Watson's work on 18. For the first time all week, his nerves failed him -- from his amped up approach shot, to his surprising decision to use his putter in the rough given his famous shipping skills, and the final putt. But whatya gonna do?
And DeWayne Wise's catch will always be linked to Buehre's perfect game -- nice justice because the great fielding plays are often forgotten.
Thanks for writing, Jim.
-JUB
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