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Tom Watson of the US plays a shot on the fifth tee during the opening round of the British Open Golf championship, at the Turnberry golf course, Scotland, Thursday, July 16, 2009. AP Photo/Peter Morrison
For the second year in a row, the clock has been turned back at the British Open. Last year it was Greg Norman who took a two shot lead into the final round. This year it is Tom Watson, who shot a blistering 5 under par and at one stage was the clubhouse leader after 18 holes.
Had it stayed like this, the 59 year old Watson would have been the oldest player to lead after the first round of a major since 54-year old Sam Snead at the 1964 PGA Championship.
That is quite an accomplishment for a golfer who has never lost his golden touch.
Watson is a five time winner of the British Open and won all over those five in an eight year span between 1975 and 1983. With a US Open and two US Masters thrown in for good measure during this time, he was one of the hottest athletes on the planet.
There are very few professional sports where something like this could happen. Chris Chelios just retired from the NHL at the age of 47. Randy Johnson and Jamie Moyer both currently pitch in the Major Leagues and are 46 and 45 respectively.
But 59?
Like with Greg Norman last year, you can’t help but support Watson. He is taking us back down memory lane and our well-wishes is the least we can do in return.
We are all too quick to pension off our athletes. As soon as they hit 30, speculation about their future immediately seems to surface. It’s a shame because athletes are a long time retired.
Just this week, Andy Flintoff has announced his retirement from Test cricket following the Ashes and there are huge question marks regarding whether or not Darren Lockyer will be back for Queensland next year.
Flintoff is just 31 and Lockyer only 32.
If you have it, you have it. Super-talented athletes can last far longer than normal people. Paolo Maldini played just weeks short of his 41st birthday, Sir Donald Bradman played until he was 40, and Wayne Gretzky retired from ice hockey at the age of 38.
While we seem to have made great progress in terms of discrimination in sports, does ageism exist? Once players make it to the other side of that dreaded 30 are they considered over the hill?
Given Tiger Woods turned pro when he was 19, I wouldn’t be surprised if he is a contender in majors well into his 60s.
So at the 2039 British Open, expect Tiger to do what Norman and Watson have done these last two years.
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