Lifetime love affair (Part Two)

For someone who claimed not to like links golf, Watson wasn't doing too badly. However, he was tipped over the edge in 1981 thanks to an old friend and former Oxford University graduate.

"That year Sandy Tatum organised a trip. We started at Ballybunion, in Ireland, and that began my love affair with Ballybunion and links golf, side by side. Then we went up to Scotland and played Royal Dornoch, Prestwick and Royal
Troon. Sandy had played a lot of golf in Scotland, Ireland and England during his days at Oxford and he really kind of led me into a different way of thinking about golf. I owe him a great debt of gratitude for that."

What made Watson stand out from the rest was his ability to be creative and make his game fit the course. But his explanation is somewhat simpler.

"The secret of links golf is to understand how far you can hit it," he said. "To get the right weight to the shot. I've always been pretty good at that. No matter what type of golf course I've played on, I could figure out how to get it pin high."

Watsons real strengths, when at the top of his game, were his ability to scramble and putt and it is these qualities that led him to at one time holding the two lowest aggregate scores in Open history, his 268 at Turnberry in 1977 and a 271 at Muirfield in 1980 both of which are still in the top five.

Beating Newton for that first Major was the making of the man from Missouri but things may never have got off the ground had it not been for a partnership that was forged with Byron Nelson. After turning pro in 1971, Watson made steady progress but when it came to finishing a tournament off, he lacked the killer instinct.

Nelson gave Watson the impetus to go on and claim his first win at the Western Open in 1974. Thereafter, Watson went on to earn a place in the history books. That first victory in 1975 may have put him on the map, but it is the Duel in the Sun with Jack Nicklaus at Turnberry in 1977 that is talked about to this day.

The thermometer-busting temperatures were matched by the red-hot golf on the course and after three days, Nicklaus and Watson were inseparable. Rounds of 68, 70 and 65 put them three shots ahead of the rest of the field. The stage was set for one of the greatest sporting occasions to unfold and the packed galleries were not disappointed.

In the final round Nicklaus had the upper hand for most of the day as the pair traded birdie after birdie to leave the rest of the field in their wake Hubert Green finished 10 shots back of Nicklaus in third. But a turning point came at the 15th when Watson holed a 60-foot putt from off the green to draw level with Nicklaus having at one time been three shots behind.

Then, at 17, he got his nose in front for the first time all week with a birdie as Nicklaus missed a regulation putt. Nicklaus went for a big drive down the last but sent his ball towards gorse in the right-hand rough while a one iron put Watson safely in the fairway.

Another fabulous shot left Watson just six feet from the flag but after making a miraculous recovery, Nicklaus showed why he was such a tough competitor, draining a 40-foot putt for birdie from the edge of the green. The crowds went wild, but ever the gentleman, Nicklaus urged for calm and Watson stroked home his birdie for the championship finishing with a 65 to
Nicklaus' 66.

"I will always remember just about every shot that last day," Watson said. "Jack says he doesnt remember anything about the last day, but I remember every one of his shots and every one of my shots."

Last summer, the Senior British Open saw Turnberry welcome back one of its favorite sons and, as always, Watson was greeted with the warmth that British crowds have afforded him for more than 30 years. The cloth caps, the flared tartan trousers, the scintillating golf and the fact that four of Watsons five Opens were won in Scotland have made him an honorary Scot.

"I love Scotland and I always look forward to coming back to the place where it all started. I've also got a very good reason to have a soft spot for Turnberry," explained the former Ryder Cup captain.

"It's one of the most beautiful golf courses to play and one of my favourites. Any time you see the big white hotel up on the hillside, it makes the memory banks start to release some of the great memories I've had here. I've had some wonderful times here, and obviously the one in 1977 was one of my great memories."

Apart from the quality of his golf, it is his modesty and charm that the British crowds love so much. But all good things must come to an end and Watson has made it common knowledge that he does not intend to go on as long as his good friend Jack
did.

"I don't know when am I going to hang them up," said Watson. "But I can assure you it wont be 65 years old. It will be before that."

In light of that, it is doubtful he will still be playing when The Open next returns to Carnoustie, meaning Watson will be left with one piece of unfinished business. In the two times that Watson has played Carnoustie under championship
conditions, including his first victory in 1975, he has yet to register a single par at Barry Burn, the 245-yard, par-three 16th.

However, this small piece of trivia is one that pales into insignificance when one of the masters of links golf looks back over such a distinguished career. When the Open Championship returns to Turnberry in 2009 Watson will be 59.

Both Arnold Palmer and Nicklaus said their goodbyes in their 65th years at St Andrews, where The Open will return to the following year. Wherever and whenever he decides to call it a day, lets hope he comes back once in a while to visit. He will always be welcome.