Watson rolls back the years

Tom Watson put on a links course masterclass in the worst of the conditions at Royal St George’s on Saturday.
Tom Watson put on a links course masterclass in the worst of the conditions at Royal St George’s on Saturday.
As the wind and rain arrived as forecast, most of the early starters struggled to keep their scores respectable, but 61-year-old Watson fired the lowest round of the day, a two-over 72 that gave him the clubhouse lead.
The five-time Open champion, the first of which came in 1975 – six years before his playing partner for the day, Ricky Barnes, was even born – lies on four over par for the tournament.
Watson opened with six straight pars, a fantastic effort in itself, before making a birdie at the long downwind seventh.
Three bogeys in five holes on the back nine halted his progress, but a 20-footer for birdie on the 16th kept his round going.
And despite finishing with a three-putt for bogey on the last, Watson’s 72 is a score that many ahead of him would definitely have settled for.
“These kids hit it so much further by me but it takes some guile and experience on these courses and it takes some luck,” he said after his round.
“A lot of times these young kids try to hit the ball hard but that doesn’t flight the ball in the wind very well.
“In my case I can’t hit it hard because I’m 61 so I flight it naturally and that is good in conditions like this.
“The most important thing here is you have to manage the holes properly.
“I do enjoy it, the challenge of dealing with these conditions is fun – it is a game.
“I beat the course a few times today and it was very good for me.
“I managed to get around with my putter today, which was spot-on.
“It saved me and now I know why I won all those Opens – that putter has been good to me.
“Today is one of those days I’ll remember because it was a good day out there.”
He could have done without the rain, however.
“It was impossible to stay dry so the caddie didn’t make any difference as everything got wet,” he added.
“You just try to do the best you can do, keep your grips dry and your wits about you because par is a good score out there.
“I liked the forecast yesterday – dastardly as Peter Alliss would call it – but without the putter doing what it did it could have been a 77 easily.
“If the wind stops blowing and the rain stops this course will be there for the taking.”
Latest
-
News
Westwood, McDowell back petition to allow English golf courses to open
The duo have added their names to a petition that has passed 100 000 signatures.
-
News
Xander Schauffele pledges to ‘fake it until I make it’ after contracting Covid
Schauffele is one of 16 players in the Sentry Tournament of Champions who failed to win an official event last season.
-
News
After years with TaylorMade, Jon Rahm joins Callaway
Spaniard will have Callaway woods and irons in his bag at Sentry Tournament of Champions.
-
News
What to expect from the 2021 OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic
There are more prestigious events on the European Tour, but there’s no denying that the Dubai Desert Classic just has something about it.
-
News
Organisers delay ticketing process for 2021 Masters as another fan shutout looms
Augusta National Golf Club is considering its options before making a call on 2021 Masters.
-
News
Tiger Woods’ former swing coach: I think I over-coached him
Sean Foley reckons he didn’t give Tiger the help he really needed.
-
News
Greg Norman returns home from hospital to await coronavirus test results
The 65-year-old spent Christmas Day in hospital after experiencing symptoms.
-
News
Greg Norman in hospital with coronavirus
The 65-year-old shared a photo of himself in a hospital bed on Christmas Day.
-
News
Lee Westwood sees age as no barrier to his golfing aspirations
Westwood, at the age of 47, has been crowned European Tour’s Golfer of the Year for 2020.
-
News
Tiger Woods and son Charlie finish seventh in PNC Championship
Tiger said it was “incredibly special” to spend quality time with his son on the golf course.