Luck deserted Tom and Lee when they needed it most
HAD Tom Watson holed that putt on 18 to reclaim the Claret Jug after 26 years, it would have, without doubt, been the greatest sporting achievement of all time.
Driving home from Turnberry last night, the enormity of what Tom had achieved still hadn’t really hit home – and I’m sure the great man himself will be pinching himself this morning as he recovers from an extraordinary four days.
How close he came. One shot clear walking up the last, the title was surely in the bag with a fantastic approach shot, only for the ball to trickle agonisingly over the back edge. He’d holed everything all week, but, sadly, this time, it didn’t quite run for him and his chance had gone.
I’m afraid I didn’t give Tom a prayer in the play-off. The last hole finished him off and he looked both physically and mentally drained as he went through four extra holes.
Credit to Stewart Cink, however. Despite half the crowd willing on Tom and the other half Lee Westwood, he kept his head to birdie 18 and then played four fantastic play-off holes to claim a first major title.
Sadly, it was another near-miss for Westwood, whose challenge faded with three bogeys in the final four holes. But how unlucky he was. His approach to 15 was perfect, only for the ball to trickle into the bunker at the back of the green, then he got a horrid lie at 16 when playing to avoid the Burn. He came to within millimetres of an eagle at 17 before pulling out a superb bunker shot at 18, only to three-putt and miss the play-off.
It was such a shame for Lee after he had played so well, but he will come back stronger and learn from the experience – even Tom Watson will do that!