Round 4: U.S. Open
June 20 2010
8:58 pm
End of an era for Watson
It didn’t hit him until his approach at the 18th found the bunker. Then, and only then, did Tom Watson allow the moment to sink in.
Father’s Day. His son Michael on the bag. At Pebble Beach.
For the last time at a U.S. Open.
Watson choked back the tears as he took in the beauty of the waves lapping at the beach in Stillwater Cove. As he and Michael made that walk to the green. As the crowds welcomed a special player to a very special place for what’s likely the final time.
“It was overwhelming today coming up the 18th hole,’’ said Watson, who closed with a par, a 76 and an 11-over-par 295.
Yes, it was. The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and winning here with longtime friend Sandy Tatum. The 1982 U.S. Open. Really all the U.S. Opens here. The 1977 PGA too. His dad winning the Crosby Clambake in the California Desert at Rancho Santa Fe.
Like he said, a special place. History.
And at 60, his last chance to place this course in a major.
“I owe a lot of ‑‑ probably most of what I have to my dad as far as my ability to play golf,’’ Watson said. “My love for the game, my passion for the game, my ability to play the game, that came from my dad.’’
His dad always said Pebble had the three best par-4s in a row – the eighth, ninth and 10th.
“They call them the Cliffs of Doom now,’’ Watson said. “I think that’s a little bit over the top, but they’re just three beautiful par‑4s. I didn’t play them too well today.
“But I did make a birdie at 9, and I did make a birdie at 8 today; and so I birdied 9 ones and 8 ones in the eight attempts at those holes. So pretty happy with that. ‘’
Pretty happy, period, to be the only player to have played in all five U.S. Opens here. Watson, who was given a special exemption this year, made the cut in all but one – 1992 – and hit the shot heard round the world in 1982 when he chipped in at the 17th to win his first major.
He had a chance to finish with a birdie. Marvelous bunker shot. Not so marvelous birdie attempt. But the par putt swirled around the hole and fell in.
“I drew a blank on the putt,’’ he said, “and pushed it out there and made it coming back.’’
Watson more than held his own this week. He held his head as high as he at Turnberry last year when he came within one hole of becoming the oldest man to win a major. Instead, he lost the lead on the 72nd hole and lost a playoff to Stewart Cink.
The crowds gave him an ovation on almost every hole. Their smiles and cheers reminded him of what he’ll miss.
“There’s a lots of sadness today,’’ he said. “A lot of sadness. Yet it’s based on a lot of memories and great memories that I’ve had here, and it very well may be my last time playing Pebble Beach in a championship of this caliber probably.’’
Now that this major is done, Watson’s schedule calls for four more in a row – the British Open, at St. Andrews, the British Senior Open, the U.S. Senior Open and the Tradition. And he said he needs to get his game in gear.
“I need to start playing a little bit better than I am right now,’’ he said. “I just am a little bit off, and I just didn’t have good control this entire week even though I shot a couple good middle rounds. It was done somewhat with smoke and mirrors and a lot of experience playing Pebble Beach.
“I didn’t hit the ball with the irons and put it in play enough times off the tee on the back nine, and it cost me. It cost me a lot of shots. ‘’
He wasn’t alone. Tiger Woods. Phil Mickelson. Ernie Els. Dustin Johnson. The list goes on.
And no one knows the pressures of an Open as well as Watson. Especially here.
“It really is everything is on the line, the pressure’s as high as it’s going to get and you’re playing a very, very difficult golf course,’’ he said. “Can you handle it? Can you handle it?
“I mean I’ve been in positions, and I couldn’t handle it. Fortunately, I was in the position one time when I could handle it. And it was ‑‑ it’s what we’re out here for. It’s what we’re out here to play golf for is to play in championships such as the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach.’’
He smiled through the questions. Pausing every so often to compose himself a bit. You had the feeling the tears would flow later. In private.
But in typical Watson fashion, he finished the round off by tossing his golf ball into the ocean. Just like he did in 1982.
“What you do, you give the ocean its due because you never know when it’s going to take it from you,’’ Watson said.
“I’ve hit it into that ocean off the tee a few times, and throwing the ball in the ocean is kind of a thank you for not taking it one more time.’’ – Melanie Hauser
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piss
A great, great player. Hope he thrills us again at St. Andrews!
I’m your biggest fan Tom. I still believe your going to put it alltogether and win your 9th major. I’m praying. Dan
Why does this have to be the last?
C’mon, let’s see you age shoot at the majors.
With the integrity you showed at the last couple of majors, it can happen.
Tom, you and Jack are simply the best, on and off the course. Rooting for you at the old course…
I first met Tom in the spring of 1966 as a high school sophomore happy to break 90 as a member of my high school golf team. Naturally, Tom consistently shot par or better, but could still always find something positive to say about my mediocre game. Over the past 4 and a half decades I’ve followed his career and literally lived and died with each win and loss. Through his success as a multiple winner of the Missouri State Amateur, and his subsequent success as a professional golfer, Tom has conducted himself on the course as a man who best represents what is good & great about this game we all love. Forty four years later you remain my ultimate sports hero.
Golf is a game for the ages; “rock on” Tom.
Howard
MR> WATSON: Even tho you didnt win the US Open you have provided many years of outstanding golf and memories. Your professionalism and dedication to the game of golf will live forever. Good luck in the future championships. Heres hoping the magic and the golfing gods hand you another major. It has been a privilage to watch you play.
Mr. Watson:
I have watched you play this great game since I was knee high to a grasshopper. You inspired me to become PGA professional which I have been a part of since 1996. You are without a doubt a great man and one of the greatest to ever lace them up a pair of golf spikes. I wish you well in all the rest of the majors this year and especially at the Open Championship where you will compete and win your 9th major. Give them Hell Tom!!
Watson won plenty of majors before 1982. That was his first U.S. Open. Also, I think you mean “once” not “ones” after birded 9 ones and 8 ones.
Geez, Melanie, spellcheck wouldn’t have helped your typos and the Media Guide would have: a couple of OPENS across the pond before TSW won in 1982. No worries, that doesn’t diminish the fact that Tom is a CLASS ACT who will always, always be my hero and who is undoubtedly my fave since the early 1970′s. I had the pleasure of traveling with Bruce for a decade, and caddying for Tom three different times (a top ten @ Kemper when Payne won his first major will always be on my highlight reel). I just wish I would have bought EVERY copy of Caddy For Life when they were on the Dollar Tree shelves…I’m down to only two copies to give away!
One of the best “gentleman” in the game. Whatever Tom does in the future, this player wishes him the best as he has always represented the proper way to act and gave everybody respect while playing the game. I first seen Tom way back in 1976 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, he was a gentleman then and always continued to be. Thanks Tom for all the memories.