Golfers Over 50 Celebrate Tom Watson’s Open Run

In what is shaping up to be a historical run at Turnberry, Scotland, 59-year-old Tom Watson holds a one shot lead heading into Sunday’s final round of the 149th Open Championship. Watson is 59-years-old, by far the oldest golfer to hold the third round lead in any major championship.

How historical would this be? Here is a list of the oldest golfers to win a major championship:

* Julius Boros: 1968 PGA Championship, 48 years, 4 months, 18 days
* Jack Nicklaus: 1986 Masters, 46 years, 2 months, 23 days
* Old Tom Morris: 1867 British Open, 46 years, 99 days
* Hale Irwin: 1990 U.S. Open, 45 years, 15 days old
* Roberto de Vicenzo: 1967 British Open, 44 years, 93 days
* Harry Vardon: 1914 British Open, 44 years, 41 days
* Raymond Floyd: 1986 U.S. Open, 43 years, 9 months, 11 days
* Ted Ray: 1920 U.S. Open, 43 years, 4 months, 16 days old

Watson turns 60 in September.

For all golfers over 50, watching this Open turns back the clock for all of us. How does he do it?

For all of the muscle and brawn of the American game, the game in the United Kingdom is very different on its links courses. The elements are every bit a part of the game as the strength of the golfer. Strength is marginalized and imagination and touch are emphasized.

This is why we have seen Greg Norman last year and Tom Watson this year contend in the Open Championship. We won’t see older golfers give it a run at the U.S. Open, The Masters, or the PGA Championship…all majors that are played on long courses built to challenge Tiger Woods.

While Tiger is back at home in Florida wondering what could have been during his opening round on a calm day by the Firth of Clyde, Tom Watson is enjoying a glass of wine in the Watson Suite at the Westin Turnberry Hotel making his game plan to capture his ninth major championship.

We’re all rooting for Tom Watson tomorrow. I hope to be back tomorrow to write a glowing review of his championship finish. But even if he falls short, this weekend will forever be remembered by golfers over 50 as a classic.