Tom Watson
Factfile
Born
1949 - Kansas City Missouri
Turned Pro
1971
Career Victories
68 (eight Majors)
Ryder Cup
Four appearances and once as captain
It would be understandable if Tom Watson didn’t include Turnberry among his favourite venues following his heartbreaking play-off defeat in last year’s Open Championship. But the 60-year-old won the championship there in 1977, in the amazing ‘Duel in the Sun’ with Jack Nicklaus, and it holds a special place in his heart.
“Turnberry always brings back warm memories; especially 1977,” he said wistfully. “The Open Championship was at stake against the best player in the world. It was quite a weekend, wasn’t it… with all those birdies we made. It’s one of the most beautiful spots to play links golf, with Ailsa Craig out there in the ocean, and the white hotel on top of the hill, with the little par-three course beneath it. And the way the course hangs on the edge of the cliffs by the lighthouse… It’s one of my favourite places in golf.”
The same could be said of Scotland as a whole, for the eight-time Major winner cites this year’s Open venue as one of his other golfing loves.
“I’ve grown to love St Andrews,” he explained. “It’s the most important course we play. And the older I get, the more I reminisce. I have been up to see Old Tom’s grave. I will maybe walk around the town a little more this year like everyone else.
“But, as professionals, our first job is to learn the golf course. So we don’t always have time to get as wrapped up in the history of St Andrews. Except that when you walk on to that tiny first tee, you are aware that you are where just about every great player, professional and amateur, that has ever been, has stood on that same ground and hit a tee shot. There’s no other place like it. Just the history of the place.”
With five Open successes over links courses – Turnberry, Troon, Muirfield, Carnoustie and Birkdale – it is little surprise the affable American is regarded as one of the greatest players of links golf. And his suitability to it is matched only by his passion for it.
He smiled: “I love coming over to Great Britain and Ireland to play links courses. One of the big turning points for me was in 1981 when Sandy Tatum (former president of the United States Golf Association) organised a trip to Ireland and Scotland. We played Ballybunion, and then flew over to Prestwick, Royal Troon and Royal Dornoch. A wonderful delight to play links golf properly. I love links golf but you can never truly understand it.”
Tom Watson was talking to Paul Mahoney.
