Friday, July 17, 2009

[after the second round of the Open Championship in Scotland]

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

Turnberry, Scotland (Reuters) - Nine months after having a hip replacement, five-times champion Tom Watson continued to upstage the young guns with a vintage display in the British Open second round on Friday.

The 59-year-old fought back from a bruising outward nine in tricky winds to card a level-par 70 on the Ailsa Course, ending the day tied for the lead with fellow American Steve Marino.

Winner here 32 years ago when he out-dueled Jack Nicklaus in a classic contest dubbed the Duel in the Sun, Watson stayed on track to become golf's oldest major champion by posting a five-under tally of 135.

"I'm feeling in great shape," the American told reporters after holing birdie putts from 50 and 60 feet on 16 and 18 to finish with a flourish.

"No aches or pains, fortunately. For 59 years old, that's pretty remarkable. I had my left hip replaced last October and it was very successful, no repercussions from that and it made me sleep better."

A winner of eight major titles, Watson said his swing was unchanged following the surgery which had allowed him a little more rotation with his hips.

"Physically I'm in good shape and mentally I'm in a good place right now," he said. "You're always in a good place after you make a 60-footer at the 18th hole to tie for the Open championship lead."

Watson's inspirational start at Turnberry this week echoed memories of last year's British Open at Royal Birkdale where Australian Greg Norman, at the age of 53, also overshadowed the game's best players.

WIND PLAYERS

Norman, like Watson a superb links-course tactician and highly skilled at playing in the wind, led by two shots after the third round [in 2008] only to slide back into a tie for third on the last day.

"I think it's very clear what it says for the game of golf," Watson said of their respective Open performances as 50-somethings. "It means the game of golf is long lived.

"We've always said that you play this game for a lifetime, and that's not a cliche. You start at any age and you can continue to play for a long, long time."

Watson, who is bidding to shatter the age record set by American Julius Boros who won the 1968 U.S. PGA Championship at 48, said he had been most impressed by the longevity of Sam Snead.

"He could still hit the ball a long way in his 70s," he added of the athletic American who piled up a record 82 PGA Tour titles.

"Yes, he was an exception but the game of golf can allow you to play for a long period of time. You don't have to hang up the clubs.

"To be able to be doing what I'm doing out here, making a few lucky putts here and there and still feeling like I have a chance to win, that's pretty cool at 59. It's kind of spiritual."