Tom Watson

Sorry, but I cannot resist commenting about Tom Watson at The Open. While I am not a big golf fan, this story has caught my eye. It has elements that would serve a great Hollywood film.

• Mr. Watson was one of the elite golfers of his generation, and one of the greatest golfers of all time.
• He previously won The Open five times
  
• The oldest man ever to win a Major was Julius Boros at the age of 48
• The oldest man to ever win any American or European tournament was 52
  
• Mr. Watson will be 60 in September
• Mr. Watson has had hip replacement surgery

Tom Watson is also a true country gentlemen. I listened to him speak today after finishing the third round with the lead and he oozed a zen like confidence.

This course is like a familiar lover to him and he is trying to win her back with guile and experience. He knows her intimately, previously having conquered her with proweress, but he knows that he is not the same man that he once was, that time has imposed its limitations upon him.

And now he is back, knocking on his ancient lovers door, a changed man, but no less a warrior. Will she answer him one more time?

Make no mistake, if Mr. Watson can win this tournament, it will be remembered as one of the greatest athletic feats of all time. And I think that I see a glint in his eye that says this ancient mariner has one more good round in him.

Mr. Watson tees off in a few hours, and I know the whole world wishes him luck.

POSTSCRIPT

Alas, it was not to be, nonetheless the warrior fought to the end. Mr. Watson came oh so close. He played well enough to win on a day when others faltered. Heading into the final hole Mr. Watson was in the lead and he gave himself a chance to make history. He had an eight foot putt on the last hole that would have won him the tournament, and made a story for the ages. Sadly he missed, creating a tie that forced a four hole playoff between Mr. Watson and Mr. Cink (himself a fine gentleman by all accounts)

Somehow I could feel the vigour go out of Mr. Watson when he missed that putt, and I gave him little chance in the four hole playoff. Considering the rigours of a 72 hole tournament on a soon to be 60 year old coming off hip replacement surgery I didn't like his chances. The warrior had missed his moment.

Nonetheless, Mr. Watson still created the most compelling chapter of his exemplary career. In time he will see this loss was also one of his greatest victories, the proverbial icing on an exquisite cake. I congratulate him on his inspiring effort.

More importantly, I salute him for being a man of decency, a man of grace; in short he was a true gentleman. His presence reminded us all that sport used to be played by gentlemen.

Mr. Watson also taught me something else this weekend, that we must press on with everything we have to the very end in hope that we may yet succeed in the face of increasingly long odds.

Miracles can happen anytime, so don't give up and be grateful that you're still here. Thanks Tom!