Tom Watson, one of golf's all time greats, and 59-years-old was in and out of the lead all day. He was in the lead, as he headed for the 18th hole. That came after a birdie at No. 17 to improve to 3 under. A 3-putt bogey on 18, though, led a playoff with Stewart Cink.
Stewart Cink had been watching nervously, but then headed off for a four hole playoff with Tom Watson (5, 6, 17, 18).
It wasn't sudden death, mind you. This is a four-hole total playoff. On the first hole, 5, both players hit bunkers near the green, but Cink managed to make par, while Watson bogeyed. Advantage: Cink.
On 6, a par-3, Watson went waaay far off to the right. Despite this, he made a nearly unbelievable part. Cink made an easy par to stay one stroke ahead.
Now, on 17, Watson went into the deep rough on his first shot. 17 played second easiest all week long. The lie on Watson's shot was horrible, however. He double-bogeyed the hole to end his hopes. Cink birdied the hole to take a 3-shot lead into the final playoff hole.
18 was nearly a anti-climax. With a 3-shot lead, Cink could just play it conservatively to win. Watson had really no chance. You could see it in his eyes, too, as he waited fro Cink to tee off. He was near tears.
It seemed two things did in Watson in the playoff. He was obviously disappointed after three-putting 18, and at his age, probably tiring. In reality, as analysts said, the three-putt on 18 in regulation was it: Watson had the championship in his hands and lost it.
Stewart Cink won his first major with this win in the 2009 British Open.
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