TOM MOURNS THE END
TOM WATSON feels like he is in mourning as he prepares to bring the curtain down on his Open career.
The American will compete for the Claret Jug for the final time this week while next year’s Masters will also be his last.
Watson has won eight majors in a glittering career, including five Open titles and two Masters green jackets.
But the 65-year-old admitted he was struggling to cut it these days and thought it was time to bid farewell.
Watson said: “It’s a bit like
“Even though I’m eligible to play in The Masters, I won’t be taking up that option.
“The tool box is half empty. There are some tools missing and the rest are rusty. They’re rusty like me. I haven’t got enough left in me. I’ve lost my distance in the last couple of years.”
Watson will be sure to get a rapturous send-off at St Andrews.
But the 2014 USA Ryder Cup captain said he was not in Scotland just for the ride.
He added: “I will be competing. It would be nice to walk over that bridge on Sunday competing for the top-10 but I don’t foresee that.
“I went close in 2009. I scared a few of the kids back then.
“They saw my name up there and they thought it was Bubba Watson.”