BEAT YOUR BOGEY HOLE WIN FOOTJOY SHOES

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YOU ASK THE QUESTIONS TOM WATSON From his swing secrets and best playing partners, to his worst shot and the Ryder Cup defeat, the eight-time Major champion reveals all. WORDS ROB Mc GARR PICTURES CHRIS ALLERTON, RALPH LAUREN, GETTY IMAGES icklaus, Woods, Hagen, N Player and Hogan – not bad company to be in, and the only players to have won more Majors than Tom Watson. To win eight in the Nicklaus era proves beyond all doubt that Watson had what it takes to compete with – and beat – the absolute best. His performances in the twilight stages of his career – including nearly winning the 2009 Open aged 59 and an opening-round 71 at this year’s Masters aged 65 – have demonstrated a level of durability rare in the modern game and further endeared him to golf fans worldwide. In fact, few golfers receive the global adulation and respect Watson engenders wherever he goes. Now, as he marks the 40th anniversary of his victorious Open debut, TG sat down with a philosophical Watson at the Old Course Hotel, just yards from where he’ll cross the Swilcan Bridge for the final time amidst a flurry of camera flashes, applause – and probably a few tears. We found him accommodating, courteous and erudite as he answered your questions about highs and lows, his plans for FACT FILE Full name: Thomas Sturges Watson Date of birth: 4/9/1949 Place of birth: Kansas City, Missouri Lives: Stilwell, Kansas Professional wins: 71 Major wins: 8 1975 Open 1977 Masters 1977 Open 1980 Open 1981 Masters 1982 US Open 1982 Open 1983 Open Man on fire Watson wins the 1982 Open, less than a month after his US Open victory. retirement, a Ryder Cup to forget in 2014 and what he’ll do if he defies the ageing process again this time… It looks like this will be your final Open appearance, 40 years after you made your debut and won at Carnoustie. What will be your abiding memory from all the Opens you’ve played in? Ben Grigson Being fortunate enough to win five times is the thing I’ll look back on most. There are a couple of Opens that I could have won and didn’t, and a couple that I did win and shouldn’t. I had a great run here and I have some wonderful memories of shots that I played during the Open Championships – both good and bad. I had my share of lucky bounces and bad bounces. It all goes with the territory of playing the game. It’s not a perfect game. You can’t make it a perfect game. Playing over here in front of the crowds and how much they love, respect and understand the game – you always want to be appreciated by people who understand what you just did, and they do that the best here. How did you adapt to links golf so readily, especially as it isn’t widely played in America? Evad Maharg When I first played links ➔ 58 ISSUE 337 TODAYSGOLFER.CO.UK
’When I first played links golf, I didn’t like it at all. I mean I really didn’t like it!’ TODAYSGOLFER.CO.UK ISSUE 337 59
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Page 3 and 4: Chris Wood Two European Tour wins.
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Page 13: REGIONAL GUIDE East Lothian East of

BEAT YOUR BOGEY HOLE WIN FOOTJOY SHOES

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