Bummed For (And Impressed By) Tom Watson

Thanks to my Dad, I've been watching golf on TV since I was a little guy. Some of my earliest memories are of Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson battling it out for some of the big tournaments in the late 70's. In those days I would always root for Jack, but both guys have always been class acts.

I don't watch golf as much as I used to, but I try not to miss Sunday afternoon of the four majors (Masters, US Open Open Championship, PGA Championship). This weekend I was rooting for Tom. And as he says in the video below, "What a story it would have been."

He held the lead going into the 18th hole of The Open Champtionship (the "Brisitsh Open" for some)... and just needed to par the hole to be the oldest golfer (59) to ever win a major championship. If he did it, he would have been the oldest golfer by more than a decade to win a major! His last major victroy was 26 years ago (Open Championship '83).

He missed the putt and went into a 4-hole playoff with Stewart Cink... and the wheels came off starting with his second shot from the fairway on the first playoff hole. He was never in it after that.

I am bummed out for Tom. I love stories like this. A player who wins against all odds. This would have been one for the ages. But it doesn't take away from the classiness of Tom Watson as a golfer and competitor. He's one of those all-around good guys. He seems to always be honest and down-to-earth. You can see this even in his disappointment following the completion of the tournament today.