2009 British Open Winner Update – Tom Watson falls at last hole
Tom Watson
History faltered at Turnberry today when Tom Watson, bidding to become oldest man (and the first with a hip replacement) to win one of golf’s major championships, was finally vanquished by his countryman Stewart Cink at the 2009 Open Championship.
The 59-year-old American, whose last major championship victory came 26 years ago, had an eight-foot putt on the final hole to secure one of the greatest upset victories in the history of sport, let alone golf.
Alas for him, alas for sporting romantics around the world, his ball came up short, sending the two compatriots into a four-hole play-off.
Cink, younger by 23 years, won that easily — by six shots, to be precise – as Watson’s efforts over the previous 72 holes took their predictable toll.
Stewart Cink
To the winner went the famous claret jug and a cheque of £750,000. To the runner-up went £450,000 and the comfort of knowing that he had given inspiration to millions – as well as palpitations to those who had backed him at 1,500-1 before a ball was struck.
“The old fogey almost did it,” Watson said afterwards when asked to provide a headline for publications around the world which had catalogued his amazing efforts through the four days of the championship. “It would have been a hell of a story, wouldn’t it. It wasn’t to be and yes it was a great disappointment. It tears your gut, as it always has torn at my gut. It’s not easy to take.”
Tied for second place after Thursday’s first round, Watson lead the tournament for most of the next three days. He saw off Tiger Woods, who missed the halfway cut, and the vast majority of the other young tyros who dominate the modern game.
In the end, only Cink, the eventual winner, and England’s Lee Westwood, stood between him and a famous victory.
Westwood, who stood to make a £2m bonus from a sponsor had he won, needed to birdie the last. Instead, he could only bogey the hole and fell back into a tie for third alongside Englishman Chris Wood, 21. Disappointingly for Watson, Cink was not so accommodating, rolling in a 12-foot putt on the 18th hole of regulation play for birdie. He followed that with a series of wonderful shots in the play-off to take the prize.
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[...] History faltered at Turnberry today when Tom Watson, bidding to become oldest man (and the first with a hip replacement) to win one of golf’s major. Read more [...]