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Tom Watson Majors

FarawayFairways

By FarawayFairways
in Tour Talk

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FarawayFairways Dedicated Member

FarawayFairways

Posted
Posted

I was recently involved in a minor argument (I lost) where I was trying to get Tom Watson installed in the top 5 of all time (well I was aiming for the number 4 spot in truth)

Whereas I could hold my ground on terms of longevity of career and managed to get that point conceded to me, my attempts to have Watson reappraised as a double figure Major winner and regarded as such, kind of failed (as you would expect). Near misses, or losing tournaments he should have won, is what separates the great from the very, very good, and of course the history books make no real concessions for 'bad luck' stories. Luck doesn't come into it at this level etc

Starting with the eight he did win, how many do we think he should have won (how many did he lose from winning positions I guess?) and which ones do you think he should have won, or perhaps more interestingly as this game rolled out, how close did he really get. My opponent did concede on numerous occasions that he did get genuinely very close and should have won, and could easily have 12 or even more which suddenly paints him in a very different light, but........ he didn't ..... and that was where all my floundering and attempts to get history rewritten kind of collapsed

I was also reminded that he enjoyed a little of good fortune as well which I was trying to overlook


Patch Incredible Member

Patch

Posted
Posted

Tommy Watson was one of the truly  great players in pro golf history. No need to rank him any other way than that. However, with 8 majors won, he would be listed at #6 behind  Player, Hogan, Hagen, Woods and Nicklaus. Of course some will knock him because he never won a PGA Championship, while forgetting he won 5 Open Championships.

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A whole bunch of Tour Edge golf stuff...... :beer:

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MrFlipper Dedicated Member

MrFlipper

Posted
Posted

He started getting good when I was first really getting hooked on the game, so I remember watching most every major he was in on TV for a long time, he was one of my favorites to watch. Me and my golf buddies at the time would watch the majors together, a lot of special memories for me.

The one he lost when Larry Nelson drained a 100 footer out of a cold start sticks in my mind, also the one he lost to Seve at St. Andrews. But the one that hasn't scabbed over for me was the one he lost to Cink, if there was ever a horse for a course it was him at Ailsa, plus that course is so unique and special to me that it all kind of ties in. I was really pulling for him, you could sense even from the TV guys that most everybody was. Not to be---

If he hadn't got the yips he prob would have won a bunch more, I guess that turned out to be alcohol related?

But like Bill Parcells said, you are what your record is, no more no less. But his record, pretty darn good!

Steve

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saevel25 Incredible Member

saevel25

Posted
Posted

Starting with the eight he did win, how many do we think he should have won (how many did he lose from winning positions I guess?) and which ones do you think he should have won, or perhaps more interestingly as this game rolled out, how close did he really get. My opponent did concede on numerous occasions that he did get genuinely very close and should have won, and could easily have 12 or even more which suddenly paints him in a very different light, but........ he didn't ..... and that was where all my floundering and attempts to get history rewritten kind of collapsed

8, he should have won 8 majors because he did. Tournaments are not stolen from anyone, you either win or you don't. To think that he should have won is BS really. If he should have won than he would have won, but he didn't.

In the end it was his inability to close the deal in those tournaments that cost him. In terms of winning majors, he's an 8 time major winner and that is it.

Matt Dougherty, P.E.
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iacas Hall of Fame Member

iacas

Posted
  • Administrator
Posted

This is a very strange thread.

I'm with Matt.

8.

P.S. It's no wonder you lost.

Erik J. Barzeski — ⛳ I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
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MSchott Great Member

MSchott

Posted
Posted

This is a very strange thread.

I'm with Matt.

8.

P.S. It's no wonder you lost.

I agree as well. Tom is among the greatest golfers of all time but is certainly behind Nicklaus, Woods, Hogan, Player and probably Palmer even though Arnold has one fewer major. I don't consider players that go back as far as Hagen or Jones. It's too hard to make the comparison.

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colin007 Incredible Member

colin007

Posted
Posted
I'm with the OP. Tiger shoulda won 16, maybe 17 by now.

Colin P.

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saevel25 Incredible Member

saevel25

Posted
Posted

I'm with the OP. Tiger shoulda won 16, maybe 17 by now.

Nope, Tiger should have won 14 majors, because that is what he did. Injuries and such are part of the game.

Matt Dougherty, P.E.
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Mulligan Jeff Dedicated Member

Mulligan Jeff

Posted
Posted
Nope, Tiger should have won 14 majors, because that is what he did. Injuries and such are part of the game.

There is no shoulda, coulda, woulda period. If there was - well Jack came in second place a boatload of times. I agree, Tiger is at 14 cuz it is what it is.


colin007 Incredible Member

colin007

Posted
Posted
Nope, Tiger should have won 14 majors, because that is what he did. Injuries and such are part of the game.

[quote name="Mulligan Jeff" url="/t/77870/tom-watson-majors#post_1070990"] There is no shoulda, coulda, woulda period. If there was - well Jack came in second place a boatload of times. I agree, Tiger is at 14 cuz it is what it is.[/quote] Tiger shoulda won the YE Yang PGA because of spike marks, and he shoulda won that Master's because of flagstick. Shoulda coulda woulda applies to Tiger.

Colin P.

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saevel25 Incredible Member

saevel25

Posted
Posted
Tiger shoulda won the YE Yang PGA because of spike marks, and he shoulda won that Master's because of flagstick. Shoulda coulda woulda applies to Tiger.

Nope, flagsticks are part of the course. He's not the first one to have done that. Also spike marks are part of the course. All golfers have to deal with it. Your examples prove nothing other than yoU think Tiger should get preferential treatment.

Matt Dougherty, P.E.
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cubdog Dedicated Member

cubdog

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Posted

Tiger shoulda won the YE Yang PGA because of spike marks, and he shoulda won that Master's because of flagstick.

Shoulda coulda woulda applies to Tiger.


Strange logic. Shouda, coulda,woulda applies only to Tiger? How is this rational?

cubdog

Ross (aka cubdog)


Ernest Jones Incredible Member

Ernest Jones

Posted
Posted

Umm... @colin007 is being tongue in cheek. Duh. :doh:

Yours in earnest, Jason.
Call me Ernest, or EJ or Ernie.

PSA - "If you find yourself in a hole, STOP DIGGING!"

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cubdog Dedicated Member

cubdog

Posted
Posted
Umm... @colin007 is being tongue in cheek. Duh.:doh:

Tongue in cheek, maybe, but when someone is discussing Woods logic is often absent. cubdog

Ross (aka cubdog)


Ernest Jones Incredible Member

Ernest Jones

Posted
Posted

Tongue in cheek, maybe, but when someone is discussing Woods logic is often absent.

cubdog

Uhh...yup...and apparently that applies to both sides of the divide. ;-)

Yours in earnest, Jason.
Call me Ernest, or EJ or Ernie.

PSA - "If you find yourself in a hole, STOP DIGGING!"

My Whackin' Sticks: :cleveland: 330cc 2003 Launcher 10.5*  :tmade: RBZ HL 3w  :nickent: 3DX DC 3H, 3DX RC 4H  :callaway: X-22 5-AW  :nike:SV tour 56* SW :mizuno: MP-T11 60* LW :bridgestone: customized TD-03 putter :tmade:Penta TP3   :aimpoint:

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colin007 Incredible Member

colin007

Posted
Posted
Tongue in cheek, maybe, but when someone is discussing Woods logic is often absent. cubdog

It's only logical if it supports my side of the argument.

Colin P.

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cubdog Dedicated Member

cubdog

Posted
Posted
It's only logical if it supports my side of the argument.

I hear you.

Ross (aka cubdog)


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iacas Hall of Fame Member

iacas

Posted
  • Administrator
Posted

It's only logical if it supports my side of the argument.

:)

Erik J. Barzeski — ⛳ I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • Author, Lowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

Check Out: New Topics | TST Blog | Golf Terms | Instructional Content | Analyzr | LSW | Instructional Droplets

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