If you feel bad for Tom Watson.....

[bobsuruncle]

feeling bad for someone isn't such a bad thing.

i feel bad for watson bcoz he barely failed to make golf (hell, sports) history. he doesn't play for money and i doubt anyone feels sorry for him for monetary reasons.

i feel a little sorry for cink bcoz he'll be the "forgotten champion". but cink doesn't feel bad for himself bcoz he won so there. again, cink isn't playing the game for money at this stage. i heard he's made some $27m prior to this latest win, so it wasn't like he was struggling to make ends meet.

we should really feel sorry for the guys lower down the rankings scale. these guys are really scraping to make a living out there. so the prize money is to "put food on the table, and a roof over their heads". they don't have the big money sponsorships that the top 10-20 superstars have. for all intents and purposes they "eat what they kill", and that's not a lot if you don't make the cut.

what's all this have to do with africa? i'm really not sure why africa is in a golf forum but hey, here's a suggestion - perhaps cink can donate his winnings and set up an equivalent 1st Tee program in africa. perhaps, africa will be the "korea of the lpga" on the pga tour in the future?

[bobsuruncle]

Would nt it be great if Tom Watson played the USPGA Championships and made the cut there- Tom can still step on and it is not short off the tee.

it would be great - yes, but i'm not holding my breath on that. i think watson has had his one and only chance for another major at turnberry for very unique reasons (links, spiritual, familiarity, etc). but wasn't it great while it lasted...

[senorchipotle]

PLEASE STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!

so, with all the bad stuff going on in the world, why are you playing golf? why not donate your green fee to amnesty int'l and take those four hours and do community service? how much have you spent on clubs? sell them and send the money to susan g komen since in the grand scheme of things playing golf is meaningless when horrible atrocities are occurring. my point is, i know what's going on in the world, and if i can help i will. but, i also understand that 99.999% of it is way out of my hands, and worrying about it isn't going to do me nor anyone else any good. so, i do what i can for my family, my friends, and give if i can. otherwise, you'll never be happy. nobody ever said life was going to be fair. we're all lucky, we've got internet, and a ways and means to play golf. and i imagine most of us live in stable countries where at the very least we can get a job making 10 bucks an hour. so make the best of it, or as my paw paw says, make hay while the sun shines.

[Chas]

Now there's a post which indicates a solid grip on the history of the game and an awareness of Watson's exalted place in it. (not)

Have to differ with you there. Both of the putts were not good, and the second one was certainly highly unfortunate. It's a toss-up between them.

The time zone thing is only a mild exaggeration, let's face it he choked big time. I'd like to see a slo-mo of that fateful swing ....... not.

[Chas]

FTW

Now that right there is funn-y.

I'm always amused when people decry excessive discussion/analysis on internet forums, even as they contribute to it in their own way. Look chaps, it is evident that Watson felt bad for what happened, and we felt bad that he felt bad (for good reason), but he probably feels much better now and that makes many of us feel much better as well. Much good has come of this for the legendary golfer and he knows that as well. * throws down palm leaves *

[Sir Ryan]

If I were to feel sorry for anyone at Turnberry it would be Westwood. Man played extraordinary.

[PEZGolf]

He was not playing for money it was so he could prove to himself that he can still compete at the highest level which he did.

He did do that, which is no real surprise since his swing has held up well over the past 10 years. His putting is fickle, but when he gets on a roll, he can putt with the best of them (as he showed up until the 72nd hole of the Open Championship).

All the favorable comments about Tom and his performance are correct. I wish to add to them from a different perspective---------------patience. On numerous occasions in the last two rounds, Tom would have to wait, most notably in the third round, when Steve Marino took a long time deciding what to do on the par 3, 15th hole. Tom walked around, with his arms folded and just waited it out. That long delay would have driven me crazy, but Tom showed us how to do it right. It was enjoyable watching him make history and he makes old folks like me (age=61) feel like teeing it up with the young guns.

[Chas]

He did do that, which is no real surprise since his swing has held up well over the past 10 years. His putting is fickle, but when he gets on a roll, he can putt with the best of them (as he showed up until the 72nd hole of the Open Championship).

Good point. It never occurred to me but you're right, he did stand around a lot with his arms folded.

His whole strategy was one of patience in a way - let the big hitters take themselves out of the running with one or two really bad holes. Oversimplified but partly true I think.

[BallStriker]

Wow...lots of different perspectives on this topic....I would like to make two quick follow up points on why I was compelled to rant...


First, my reaction was not necessarily a reaction to anything written on this board, but actually a couple other places on the net (and probably not as sophisticated from a golf perspective as this place).

Second, the basis for my reaction was a couple of quotes like this..."I feel horrible for Watson, this is the type of thing you never get over"....and..."can he ever live this down?".....and "will this tarnish his reputation forever?"...

So, basically I wasn't calling anyone out here.....and just reacting to some major, major overreactions that I came across.....

That said.....great job TOM

[golfbarefoot]

The Ancient Spirits left Watson right at the last moment. He believes it himself. Those ancient spirits wondering around those courses are fickle sometimes and really enjoy the drama..I mean, the guy did already win 5 Opens...they needed another tragic ending like Van De Velde's, Ford's, Garcia's and on and on.

Kudos for Tom for playing his best one of the most crucial times. He will get over the bogey and letting history slip away but will always be remembered as one of the greatest on the old links only second to Vardons 6..