When Tom Watson tees off today in the Open Championship he will be taking another step into history. He already holds the record for the oldest 54 hole leader at a major championship, but that means little to him. He is looking for his sixth Open Championship, which would tie him with Harry Vardon and more importantly, shock the world of golf. Watson’s play as a fifty nine year old past champion is nothing less than miraculous. There is no golfer in modern golf history that plays a links course as well as Watson. His five Open Championships are a testament to his dominance.
The Scots adopted Watson long ago as one of their own. His popularity there is on a par with Nicklaus and
Bobby Jones. The media in Scotland is as taken with Watson as the fans on Turnberry are, and while Watson has spoken of the spirit of Turnberry, some think it may be Old Tom Morris himself helping Watson around these windy links. If the Golfing Gods are apt to show favor to anyone tomorrow it would have to be “Old Tom Watson.”
Hopefully, Watson will be able to steady his hands and blink through his misty eyes as he tees off on the first hole. At day’s end, Watson will be in the history books one way or the other. If the Golfing Gods and the Spirit of Turnberry show favor on Scotland’s adopted hero, Watson will be kissing the Claret Jug once again.
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