Tom Watson knew, sport just isn’t fair
TOM WATSON, who retired from golf on Sunday at the age of 69, delivered one of sport’s most valuable lessons the day he explained how he came to be among the finest links players in history. When he first came over to compete in the Open championship, Watson said, he hated it. he couldn’t understand how he could hit what he considered a good shot, and it would get a kick or a bad roll, and end up in a disadvantageous position. ‘it took me a while,’ he concluded, ‘to realise that golf was never meant to be a fair game.’ having done so, Watson went on to win five Opens and, later in life, three Senior Opens. he played his final round in the latter competition this weekend, having never missed a cut in 18 visits. he is only bowing out now because he no longer feels he can be truly competitive. and he’s right. Sport isn’t meant to be fair. not entirely fair. handling those moments of adversity, or misfortune, or circumstances beyond control are what makes great champions. it wasn’t fair that Liverpool should have to play Barcelona 3-0 down without Mo Salah or Roberto Firmino — but they did, and won. it wasn’t fair that chelsea should take on Bayern Munich in the germans’ own stadium, with Jose Bosingwa at centre half and a callow Ryan Bertrand at left midfield — but they emerged victorious in the 2012 champions League final. and it wasn’t fair that england had a goal not awarded against germany at the 2010 World cup, when Frank Lampard’s shot clearly crossed the line by a yard — but that doesn’t excuse the ridiculous, gung-ho display in the second-half that ended in a 4-1 defeat. Watson’s words could apply to each of those instances. Sport is not just about excellence, but about the reaction to adversity, even in the harshest conditions. he took his own advice, too. Watson was never in the least bitter about the eightfoot putt he missed at Turnberry in 2009 that would have given him a sixth Open title at the age of 59. i was at Lord’s, covering the fourth day of the ashes Test that afternoon, except england’s attempt to bowl out australia was being played to a largely empty press box, with a significant number gathered in the back room to watch what would have been the greatest major win in golf’s history. and when it didn’t happen, we felt heartbroken for Watson. But then we got on with it because, as the man said, it was never meant to be a fair game.