Open legend feels it’s time to lay down tools

WATSON: Regret tempered by memories ahead of final Open

You wouldn’t expect a steely old warrior like Tom Watson to completely discount the possibility he may finish in the top 10 at St Andrews and extend his Open career for another year.

And sure enough, the five-time champion golfer has made it clear, as always, he is here to compete. Like his great friend and fiercest rival Jack Nicklaus, this is no ceremonial golfer.

But you sense he doesn’t quite believe it this time.

There are too few tools in his tool box these days, as Watson put it, and those that he still has are rusty.

This will be the 65-year-old’s last Open and, he revealed, next year will be his last Masters.

Even when recalling the good old days, of which there have been many, Watson acknowledged that the nostalgia was a bit mournful. He doesn’t want it all to end. “There is a certain sense of melancholy,” Watson reflected.

“You can sense that. The regret that it’s over.

“It’s a little bit like death. The finality of the end is here.

“But what tempers that very much are the memories and the people I’ve met along the way, from the Keith Mackenzies the first time to all the way through Peter Dawson, to Ivor Robson who was at the past champions’ dinner, to the wonderful people at Prestwick Airport, the man who went through immigration.

“We were friends for years and years, a man whom I’ve never understood, but understood that he liked me and I liked him.

“There’s just a lot of good memories about all of this. But it’s time. It’s time.”

The young girl who presented Watson with lucky white heather on the morning of his play-off victory at Carnoustie got a mention, of course. As did Turnberry 1977 and 2009.

There’s been good, the bad and the… actually it was never ugly.

They’ve all made up Watson’s Open odyssey, as he described it. And the man who loathed then loved the links is content with his lot.

“What happens happens,” he said. “I’ve had more lucky bounces than I’ve had bad bounces over my career, so I feel grateful to have accomplished what I’ve accomplished, and I hope that I’ve entertained people along the way.

“That’s the thing. I hope that they’ve enjoyed my golf play as I’ve competed over these last 40 years in the Open Championship. I hope I’ve hit some shots that they remember.

“Over the years I’ve made my share of wrong decisions, but do I have any regrets?

“The only regret I have is that it’s the end. It really is. It’s the end. It’s 40 years. It’s the end. And I regret I don’t have the tools in the toolbox to be able to continue on.”

So no Open regrets. What about Ryder Cup ones?

On the subject of Phil Mickelson and the infamous post-defeat press conference when Watson’s captaincy was butchered by his most experienced player as they sat at the same top table, he was more candid than he’s ever been since Gleneagles.

“Well, again, that was a disappointment to me,” he pointed out.

“Phil was very disappointed about not being able to play. It was kind of sour grapes.

“That’s understandable, and we just got waxed, the whole team, and the disappointment was just there. We let our hearts talk for us.

“We’re cordial. I saw him last night, we said hello, and yeah, we were fine.”

I’ve had more lucky bounces than I’ve had bad bounces over my career, so I feel grateful to have accomplished what I’ve accomplished

enicolson@thecourier.co.uk

Picture: PA. Tom Watson, preparing for his last Open appearance, makes a point at yesterday’s press conference.