Old Tom Morris vs. Poor Tom Watson?
What a week for the Open Championship. If watching Turnberry in Hi-Def doesn't make you ache to go over to Scotland to play golf, you might need to take up tennis. Today, the Monday after, the story is "Poor Tom Watson". I admit, I was rooting for him too... how could you not? When you think of the Open, "old" Tom Morris, one of the founders, comes to mind... but when he was winning opens, "old" meant he was in his 40's. At just shy of 60, Tom Watson came out of nowhere to not just sneak up on the field, but almost go wire-to-wire for the win! Amazing. However, it was not to be, and Stewart Cink is your winner. Should we feel sorry for old Tom Watson?
Please! That would make history, and a great story, but would that really change Watson's life? He's won the thing 5 other times! He's won the Masters twice, the US Open at Pebble! He's going to be just fine. What's one more claret jug to throw on the pile? Meanwhile, if some real jerk came in and won instead, maybe you could get mad, but how do you root against Stewart Cink? He's one of the nicest guys on the tour, with all the talent needed but just never came through in a major... until now. Unlike Watson, this totally changes Cink's life. He goes from just another golfer with a few middle-range tour event wins under his belt to a major champion. If he wins one more in his career, we're now talking possible hall of fame stuff. This could send his confidence up to where he becomes a 2 or 3 time winner every year on Tour. Plus, he realizes the downside for Watson, and spoke of it. Hey, I say give him credit... he didn't sneak in, he made that putt on 18 with just as much pressure as Watson's, and he buried it. My one issue with Cink's victory? That lime green shirt - hat combo. Really? On Sunday at the Open? Sir, you are going to be in every paper and in history books if you win, and you let Ian Poulter's hairdresser pick your Sunday wardrobe?
If you want to feel bad for a guy, feel bad for Lee Westwood! He probably played better than anyone on Sunday, but couldn't get it done in the end. What must sting this morning is knowing now that just 2 putting the 18th green would have gotten him into the playoff. I can't fault his logic, though... he was trying too hard to make that first putt, thinking Watson would easily make par from the fairway behind him. So his agressive play was not rewarded, and now he will think about what might have been if he had played it conservatively for a long time.
One last thing... immediately after Tiger missed the cut, I saw articles popping up "He's not recovered from knee surgery!". Okay, but did you watch the event? He played like crap. Simple. End of story. I love Tiger, but stop with the excuses for him! He's allowed to play poorly one in a while. Don't sound like my mother-in-law, who every event that Tiger's not leading says "What's wrong with Tiger??" Then I have to explain for the 500th time how it's amazing how often he does win, that his winning percentage is crazy for golf, tha blah blah blah... enough already. He stunk. He'll win at Firestone, probably win the PGA at Hazeltine, and guess what? The Open is back at St Andrews next year, and he will win that too.
