Key hole in British Open

He nearly cried on the 18th tee when I said no tears. But then one day in 1980 changed his mind.

“The golf course is too big for me, and with my declining skills and length, I won’t be playing that”, said Watson. “To be in front of you for the last time, I wish I could be a little bit more eloquent in what I’m saying”.

Needless to say, they played. “I think I hit a few of them”. “About halfway up, just across the road, I’m looking all the way up the right side and then to the back and the road is all jammed with people”.

But, just in the background is the departure of two icons-one for his exploits on the course, the other for the manner in which he updated golf’s oldest organization and with that helped elevate the standing The Open occupies today.

Watson was so overcome by emotion, and understandably so, that he bogeyed his last five holes, including the easy 18th after his stop on the bridge, and shot a 42 on the back nine for an 80.

He finishes four clear of the field leaving Trevino, Crenshaw, Carl Mason and Nicklaus in his wake.

Watson missed the cut this week and narrowly completed his second round Friday night due to a three-and-a-half hour rain delay.

“Those are ugly masks”, joked Watson, whose round today will now be his last in a championship he first won on
his first visit in 1975 at Carnoustie. In addition to his five Open championships, he also won the Masters twice and the 1982 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach.

Watson said it was “a time for joy, not sadness”. I am not going to play any more after that. “The game is in good shape, I’ll give it my best and see what happens”. “The only regret I have is that it’s the end”.

The oldest course in St. Louis, Glen Echo Country Club, opened in the identical yr because the “teenager” at St. Andrews.

The 65-year-old Watson moaned about his performance, calling himself “a hack”.

Each of them knows what is required at this level and can only hope for the chance to show that this week. “For Brits especially it’s the major you want to win and here at the Home of Golf it’s a little bit more special”.

Watson was given an exemption to play this year. St. Andrews is supposed to be brown and firm in July, conditions that demand creative shots from PGA Tour players who are accustomed to receptive greens and lush fairways.

It was a proper goodbye for a proper legend, though I wouldn’t have minded Phil Mickelson hanging out of a window down in town booing his head off. I’m kidding, it was pretty much flawless.

Watson finished with a 12-over 156 total. Watson has won the British Open three times before, although he shot eight over par Saturday to finish at 12 over par after two rounds.