Golden oldie Watson shines at weather-hit Open
Source: Agencies |
July 17, 2011, Sunday
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RAIN-LASHED Royal St George's was really no place for 60-somethings yesterday yet American Tom Watson produced a masterful display in diabolical weather to lift the gloom in the third round of the British Open.
The 61-year-old five-time champion braved fierce winds and horizontal rain to card a remarkable 2-over 72 on a day of damage-limitation on the 7,211-yard links layout at Sandwich, England.
On a day when birdies were like gold-dust, overnight leader Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland raised some roars from the huddled galleries lining the first green when he rolled in a putt to move into the outright lead at 5 under.
American Dustin Johnson also began well as the weather abated slightly, moving to 3 under alongside first-round leader Thomas Bjorn of Denmark after two birdies in his opening seven holes.
It was a saturated Watson who stole the show again though after his hole-in-one at the sixth on Friday.
This time it was not spectacular but he dug deep into his vast experience of coastal golf to reach the turn in 1 under and despite four bogeys on the inward nine in gusts of 65 kilometers per hour he remains in contention at 4 over going into the final round.
"It can tear you up. It can tear you up and spit you out. It's done it to me," Watson, who two years ago came agonizingly close to winning at Turnberry, told reporters. "One of the things that you learn is there's an old saying, 'swing with ease into the breeze.'
"In my case I can't hit it hard. I mean, I'm 61 years old; I can't swing hard, so the ball is flighted naturally. So it's good in conditions like this."
Of the early starters among the 71 who survived until the weekend, South Africa's Trevor Immelman was the only other player to match Watson's score. The pair shared the clubhouse lead as bedraggled players returned to the scorers' hut with tales of woe.
No fewer than 42 players began the day within five shots of the lead shared by Clarke and American Lucas Glover but one by one the wind shredded their hopes like many of the multi-colored umbrellas that illuminated a sea of green and grey.
Stewart Cink, who denied compatriot Watson victory in 2009, could only manage a 7-over 77 while Briton Paul Lawrie, the Open champion 10 years before that, carded a humbling 81.
The 61-year-old five-time champion braved fierce winds and horizontal rain to card a remarkable 2-over 72 on a day of damage-limitation on the 7,211-yard links layout at Sandwich, England.
On a day when birdies were like gold-dust, overnight leader Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland raised some roars from the huddled galleries lining the first green when he rolled in a putt to move into the outright lead at 5 under.
American Dustin Johnson also began well as the weather abated slightly, moving to 3 under alongside first-round leader Thomas Bjorn of Denmark after two birdies in his opening seven holes.
It was a saturated Watson who stole the show again though after his hole-in-one at the sixth on Friday.
This time it was not spectacular but he dug deep into his vast experience of coastal golf to reach the turn in 1 under and despite four bogeys on the inward nine in gusts of 65 kilometers per hour he remains in contention at 4 over going into the final round.
"It can tear you up. It can tear you up and spit you out. It's done it to me," Watson, who two years ago came agonizingly close to winning at Turnberry, told reporters. "One of the things that you learn is there's an old saying, 'swing with ease into the breeze.'
"In my case I can't hit it hard. I mean, I'm 61 years old; I can't swing hard, so the ball is flighted naturally. So it's good in conditions like this."
Of the early starters among the 71 who survived until the weekend, South Africa's Trevor Immelman was the only other player to match Watson's score. The pair shared the clubhouse lead as bedraggled players returned to the scorers' hut with tales of woe.
No fewer than 42 players began the day within five shots of the lead shared by Clarke and American Lucas Glover but one by one the wind shredded their hopes like many of the multi-colored umbrellas that illuminated a sea of green and grey.
Stewart Cink, who denied compatriot Watson victory in 2009, could only manage a 7-over 77 while Briton Paul Lawrie, the Open champion 10 years before that, carded a humbling 81.
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