Cink denies Watson another day in the Turnberry sun following play-off duel
Posted: 20 July 2009
Tom Watson’s bid to become the oldest major winner in history at the age of 59 finally ended as fellow American Stewart Cink snatched victory in a play-off at Turnberry.
At the same venue where he famously came out on top against Jack Nicklaus in the epic “Duel in the Sun”, Watson was agonisingly close to claiming his sixth Open Championship and pulling off one of the most remarkable sporting achievements of all time.
Cink, who had started the day three shots behind Watson, birdied the 18th hole to complete a 69, while Watson missed an eight-foot par putt on the same green to send one of the most remarkable Open Championships in memory into a play-off.
But Watson’s hopes were dashed as Cink held his nerve over the four-hole play-off to win by six shots, while Watson’s driving and club selection let him down.
“It was extraordinary,” said Cink. “It just tips the iceberg. It has been a surreal experience for me, playing a wonderful tournament on a wonderful course against Tom Watson.
“I grew up watching him. He has turned back the clock. I feel so happy just to have been a part of it, never mind having won.”
The Alabama native’s previous best finishes in a major was third at the 2001 U.S. Open, when he missed an 18-inch putt on the final hole to miss out on a play-off, while he also finished tied for third at the 1999 PGA Championship and the 2008 Masters.
“I’ve not had the best year but, just before the tournament, I found something in my swing that let me hit the right shot a lot and my putting was right on target all week,” said the 36-year-old.
Throughout the week, Watson has made mention of the ’spiritual’ influence that Turnberry has had on his game and admitted the memories of his Open win in 1977 were nearly enough to guide him to victory.
“I take from this week just a lot of warmth, a lot of spirituality in the sense that there was something out there. I still believe that. It helped me along. It’s Turnberry. Great memories here.
“The crowds were just wonderful to me here all week. I really felt like I was playing well and I knew how to play this golf course. And it was almost. Almost. The dream almost came true,” he said.
Although Watson admitted that the disappointment of not be able to get his hands on the Claret Jug once more had “torn his gut”, he was thankful for the chance to show that, despite approaching his 60th birthday, he could still compete with the best.
“When all is said and done, one of the things that I hope that will come out of my life is that my peers will say, that Watson, he was a hell of a golfer.”
