Tcali Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 you gotta love it....59 yrs old.....hang in there old buddy!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 Who would've thunk that the TW not named Tiger would be the one in contention, and the other guy would be packing his bags and heading home early? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LewPort71 Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 He is thinking it is 1977 again. Â In '77 Tom and Jack played the greatest two head to head rounds in British Open Championship. IMHO anyways Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dante Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 I guess courses over there don't reward distance as much as accuracy. Kind of a equalizer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOBILLS78 Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 Chasing the Claret Jug like it's filled with whiskey. Go get 'em, Tommy. Hopefully your liver can hang in there a couple more, ahem, rounds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbb Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 Chasing the Claret Jug like it's filled with whiskey. Go get 'em, Tommy. Hopefully your liver can hang in there a couple more, ahem, rounds. Â Is he supposed to be a drunk, I take it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tcali Posted July 18, 2009 Author Share Posted July 18, 2009 He is thinking it is 1977 again. In '77 Tom and Jack played the greatest two head to head rounds in British Open Championship. IMHO anyways yes....Tom just into his prime and Jack still there...ages 27 and 37. Tiger doesnt have a rival like that. Watson at some point got the yips..He was primed to be the next Jack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOBILLS78 Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 Is he supposed to be a drunk, I take it? Â As far as I know, he's recovered. But his exploits in the '70s and '80s are legendary on tour. I believe he quit around '98 or so after his longtime wife filed for divorce. You gotta pull for this guy. What an amazing story it would be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 And your leader after 54 holes is ... Tom Watson. How freaking cool is this? Â From Friday: http://www.kansascity.com/180/story/1331751.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOBILLS78 Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 Leading at nearly 60 years old. I can still cling to hope that I can win a major. I have 33 years to fix my 25 handicap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kegtapr Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 What an amazing display of golf he put on today. I hope he can top it tomorrow. Â You can't root against him. Helping Marino look for his ball was pure class. Not many players of today would do that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 Is it right that I heard somewhere that you can't be 60 or over to compete in the British Open? That doesn't sound right. Anyway... TW is 59! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booster4324 Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 Is it right that I heard somewhere that you can't be 60 or over to compete in the British Open? That doesn't sound right. Anyway... TW is 59! Â Yep, he is excluded after next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike In Illinois Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 Somewhere Bruce Edwards is smiling down on Tom, imploring one more good round from him. Â Keep it up, Tom! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpbillsfan Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 I think I'm going to answer my own question, but what would be bigger Watson or John Daly winning the open? I'm going to say if Watson won it would be one of the biggest sports stories in the last 25 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Last Guy on the Bench Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 Yep, he is excluded after next year. Â I think it is just that past champions don't automatically qualify after 60. You can qualify at any age if you meet different criteria (e.g., 10 ten in British Open the previous year, major winner in previous 5 years, certain world rankings or money list rankings, etc.). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 I think I'm going to answer my own question, but what would be bigger Watson or John Daly winning the open? I'm going to say if Watson won it would be one of the biggest sports stories in the last 25 years. Bigger than Nicklaus winning the '86 Masters, and they're still talking about that 23 years later. Nicklaus was 46, a mere pup compared to Watson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
todd Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 you gotta love it....59 yrs old.....hang in there old buddy!!!! Â I've got 20 years to hone my game for the tour! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
todd Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 I guess courses over there don't reward distance as much as accuracy. Kind of a equalizer. Â Links style courses reward course management, not distance. To a lesser degree they reward accuracy. So many crappy courses in the US are all about using the driver off the tee. Not the case on a links course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 I think it is just that past champions don't automatically qualify after 60. You can qualify at any age if you meet different criteria (e.g., 10 ten in British Open the previous year, major winner in previous 5 years, certain world rankings or money list rankings, etc.).  From the AP's Tim Dahlberg: There will surely be plenty of tears Sunday if Watson manages to pull this one off. There will also be plenty of cheers from a Scottish crowd that has urged Watson on every step of the way. They love him not only because he has won this Open five times, but because he truly appreciates links golf and everything that goes with it. Watson's career was made on their soil, and they feel a kinship with him.  Before Saturday, Watson figured that relationship would have to be celebrated long distance. The Royal & Ancient has a rule that players can't compete past age 60, and Watson was reconciled to the fact next year's Open would be his last.  But the guardians of golf in Britain apparently had an epiphany. They declared late Saturday that if Watson wins he will have a 10-year champion's exemption and can play until he's 69. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/golf/2009-0...554907385_x.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOBILLS78 Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 From the AP's Tim Dahlberg: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/golf/2009-0...554907385_x.htm  Oh no! That's the good news he should receive AFTER the fact, not before! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 Oh no! That's the good news he should receive AFTER the fact, not before! Not sure it matters. For some reason (the five Open championships he already owns, perhaps?), I don't see him coming down with a case of nerves. Â Chatting with a friend who used to write golf before going to the dark side (P.R. flack), and he says this: "Tom Watson isn't just a nice guy. He's one of the classiest professional athletes on the planet." All the more reason to root for this story tomorrow. Â Already gave the Dahlberg (AP) link. Here are a few others: Doug Ferguson: http://sports.yahoo.com/golf/pga/news?slug...p&type=lgns Paul Newberry: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/golf/...,0,594511.story Joe Posnanski: http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/07/18...my-dear-watson/ Â Twitter Dahlberg: http://twitter.com/timdahlberg Ferguson: http://twitter.com/dougferguson405 Damon Hack: http://twitter.com/si_damonhack Dan Jenkins: http://twitter.com/danjenkinsgd Newberry: http://twitter.com/pnewberry1963 Posnanski: http://twitter.com/JPosnanski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOBILLS78 Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 Not sure it matters. For some reason (the five Open championships he already owns, perhaps?), I don't see him coming down with a case of nerves. Â Oh, I know. I'm just saying nobody in charge of a tournament should ever put the cart in front of the horse like that. And that little bit of news should be something said when they're handing him the trophy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrader Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 It's a shame he missed that eagle on 17. He's going to need as much of a lead as possible with Goosen right behind him. I really hope he can hold on. The open has had some good stories going over the last two years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KD in CA Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 Amazing that he's alone in the lead after 54. And he'll have to earn it tomorrow as the leader board is filled with seasoned golfers. Last group goes off at 9:20am tomorrow. I can't wait. Go Tom! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbb Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 Unlike last year with the Shark, I actually think Tom is going to do this. That would be so amazing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckeyemike Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 Watson grew up in the Kansas City area, and Kansas City's weather is not great for golf much of the year. Â That's a big reason why Tom Watson has done so well at the British Open. He's the best bad weather golfer ever. Â A friend of mine posted on my Facebook page yesterday wondering if he had accidentally travelled back in time to 1979. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Poojer Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 someone made a statement to the effect "....of the 3 TW's at the Open who would have ever thought Tiger Woods and The Weather would be the ones excluded..." i thought that was pretty clever  Who would've thunk that the TW not named Tiger would be the one in contention, and the other guy would be packing his bags and heading home early? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 Hold off on the second one. A little breezy over there again today ... Â ... aand Watson misses an eight-footer for par to drop two shots behind Ross Fisher, who's started out birdie-birdie. Watson birdied No. 1 on Thursday and Friday. Not sure I like that omen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckeyemike Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 Three-way tie at -3...and Watson's among the three, through 11 holes. Â The others are Lee Westwood and Matthew Goggin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kegtapr Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 Hold off on the second one. A little breezy over there again today ... ... aand Watson misses an eight-footer for par to drop two shots behind Ross Fisher, who's started out birdie-birdie. Watson birdied No. 1 on Thursday and Friday. Not sure I like that omen.  Westwood is in the best position right now. If he eagles 17 say goodnight. If Tom can par out and Westwood faulters he'll win. I think Goggin will put up a big number at some point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Poojer Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 are these announcers watching the tournament? they just announced watson's 35 foot putt was virtually straight...they show it it broke pretty severely...then they say 'no way cink lands it on the green, no way...." he landed on the green pretty easily it appeared.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckeyemike Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 Cink just tied Watson, but he's finished his round. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 After 71 holes of The Open Championship, a man two months shy of his 60th birthday holds a one-shot lead. Â Awesome. Amazing. Bring it home, Toooom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booster4324 Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 Watson is up by 1. God I can't believe I am getting into this. When does football start? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 nooooooooo. Too much adrenaline pushed it through the green, and he played it too safe on the putt. Â Nothing personal, Stewart Cink, but I hope you find every single bunker on the next four holes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booster4324 Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 nooooooooo. Too much adrenaline pushed it through the green, and he played it too safe on the putt. Nothing personal, Stewart Cink, but I hope you find every single bunker on the next four holes.  :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 From Dan Jenkins: "If he wins the playoff against Watson, Cink has a chance to become the most hated man in the world." Â I was planning on covering a baseball game today. Hope they're still playing when this is over, because I'm not leaving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chilly Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 Stewart Cink is cool. I like him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Poojer Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 could you imagine the swagger of all the senior golfers on every course across america had watson been able to hold on????? that is the ONLY good thing to come of Watson not finishing it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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