Quite a show today by Tiger Woods: oh yeah, mainstream, big media is dead folks. As long as there is an Open - The Open Championship - on a scratch of seaside turf, swept by winds and gulls and sand, millions will tune in to watch from all over the world. This morning, Tiger Woods did not disappoint. Fred Wilson is also a fan, I see: he correctly argues that we root for Tiger like we used to root for Jack Nicklaus, who retired from major championship golf this week with a fianl turn down St. Andrews fairways.
Except, I didn't really root for Jack. Although I admired Nicklaus, I rooted (not shockingly) for young Tom Watson, out of Kansas City.
And it was fitting that Tom Watson, my favorite pro and the reason I've endured endless golfing jokes over the years, walked with Nicklaus on the last round. Even more fitting that Watson made the cut, and finished today with a surprising and strong one under par, 13 strokes back of the winner. Watson won five British Opens in his prime, more than any modern player and remains a long-time crowd favorotie in Scotland and England.
Watson is an athlete of rare character; when his home country club in Kansas City was derided for no accepting Jews in the 1980s, Watson very publicly quite its ranks. And when his longtime caddie Bruce Edwards contracted ALS, Watson supported him, kept him at his side, paid his medical bills, and raised money for research into the insidious disease. In an era of egos, Watson is uniformly regarded as a gentleman. Now 55, he plays the Senior Tour, a few PGA events, and the majors.
Including the Open Championship. I'm not sure there's a better event on televised sports. But next year, I'm determined to skip the telly (though I do miss ol' Jim McKay) - the Open returns to Royal Liverpool at Hoylake (where I took this picture two years ago), just down the lane from where my wife's family lives on the Wirral, between Liverpool and Wales. I walked the dune trail along the edge of the course about a decade ago. Next year, I'm determined to see it all in person.
UPDATE: Tom Watson won the Senior British Open today at Royal Aberdee, his second such conquest on the over-50 circuit, and his seventh national British title overall. Good for him. I also received a lovely little note from a reader who thought I was Mr. Watson, the golfer. As I am Mr. Watson, the duffer, I will pass along this excerpt, quite nice:
I am 53 years old and ... have been following your career since the early years. Actually my father was a fan first, and he passed away in 1980, so you know how long we (got my family involved) have been pulling for you. In the beginning, the difficulty closing the deal, Pebble and some others if my memory is correct, to you becoming a terrific champion and ambassador of the game. I guess the best thing in my mind about hoping you win is you are so human and human about it all (the status & fame) ... I believe I know as much about the golf swing and have experimented with the golf swing as much as anyone but I share your quick tempo and need to play with that feel. I was so happy you won today, gave us a couple shivers along the way, I have the same putting woes. All those years we cheered and hoped you would get it back (never lost confidence or hope, how about that downhill putt at the Memorial, I think I was more relieved than you, easier to play than watch), something we are all striving for. I was really moved by your performance and last round with Jack Nicklaus at the British Open. That look in on your face at the 18th was priceless and is the same respect us average Joe's have for our playing friends who respect the game, competition and friendships. Everyone I spoke with felt the exactly the same way. Anyway, I am thrilled you won today & hope you play a little more on the Senior Tour (a good reason to watch), in fact the regular tour is OK too ... By the way, that was a great thing you did for Bruce, a great lesson for my son in relationships and lifelong friends (he is 11).
