Elementary for Watson as veteran tames Ailsa once more
Posted: 17 July 2009
Tom Watson rolled back the years at Turnberry with another magical display to sit atop the leader board of The Open Championship going into the weekend.
Playing the same venue where he famously won in 1977 after his epic “Duel in the Sun” with Jack Nicklaus, Watson bounced back from a dismal start, to roll in two impossibly long putts to share the 36-hole lead with little-known American Steve Marino.
“It was kind of spiritual. The spirits are with me,” said the five-time Open champion. ”To finish the way that I did made me feel like my patience was rewarded.”
Grey skies, intermittent rain and blowing winds combined to provide difficult conditions as the sunshine of the opening day deserted Turnberry, but the 59-year-old defied the elements to card an even-par 70 after an opening 65.
“Lady Turnberry took off her gloves today and she had some teeth,” said Watson. “I knew the outgoing nine was going to be tough and I hit some poor shots and ended up making five bogeys going out.
“But the one thing I’m doing very well, I’m putting the ball on the fairway; I’m not having too much trouble. I’m getting the ball in play off the tee and that’s what you have to do here.
“The players that are struggling are the people that are not finding the fairway,” he said.
Watson bounced back from run of five bogeys in six holes to play the final 10 holes in 4-under. The American rolled in a huge 50-footer for a birdie on 16 and after receiving his second standing ovation in successive days as he strolled down the 18th fairway, proceeded to send another monster putt straight into the cup for a closing birdie to the delight of a packed grandstand.
“I never gave up hope because I knew the incoming nine was going to play a little bit easier going downwind. As it turned out I made two no-brainers from 60-feet!”
