“It landed right where I wanted it to ... it was coming down right on the flag.”
This is Tom Watson as he describes a key shot that he once played at Turnberry’s 72nd hole, but perhaps not the one you would think.
In 1977, one of the greatest Open Championships in history culminated in the “Duel in the Sun,” as Watson and Jack Nicklaus streaked clear of the field and traded birdies at Turnberry in a magnificent final-round shootout.
A stunning approach to the par-4 18th from Watson ultimately proved decisive, leaving a putt of no more than 2 feet. Although Nicklaus salvaged a miraculous birdie of his own after a wayward drive, Watson’s closing 3 completed a 5-under round of 65 and secured victory by one stroke.
On that occasion, Watson produced class when it came to his second shot at Turnberry’s final hole. In 2009, over three decades later, he did so again, albeit with an altogether different result. The approach in 2009 was the fateful shot Watson was describing.
In his “Chronicles of a Champion Golfer” film, Watson said: “We chose an 8-iron from 187 yards and, as people told me, they said when that ball landed on the green, there was a gust of wind that went with it.
"Maybe my ball caught that gust of wind and rode that wind and took the spin off the ball. Maybe. But it landed right where I wanted it to. It just didn’t have enough spin on it to stop the ball, but it was coming down right on the flag. It was coming down right on the flag just like it was in ’77.”
Watson knows better than most that there simply will be occasions on coastal courses when the bounce of the ball does not go your way.
“The ultimate links golfer is one who can accept the bad bounces with the good bounces, because they’re going to even out,” he added.
Few would argue with Watson being described as the ultimate links golfer. He may not have gotten the bounce that he wanted at Turnberry’s final hole in 2009, but his second shot epitomised his enduring class, 32 years on from his first Ayrshire triumph.
For more on Tom Watson’s two incredible approaches to the 18th hole at Turnberry, click HERE.
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