No Tiger, No Problem

With Tiger Woods not making the cut at Turnberry this weekend, there has to be someone to root for, if you’re still watching.

That someone for me is Tom Watson, I of course don’t get to watch much of the telecast before I go to work, but being that the tournament is in another country, at least when I wake up they’re already halfway through the round, so I get a pretty good idea of what is going on.

As of now, Watson is second, one stroke behind Lee Westwood and Mathew Goggin. Since his opening round 65, Watson hasn’t finished a round under par, and today he’s +2. The style he has been playing has allowed him to get on the green in regulation and then two-putt and get away with a par.

So far today that hasn’t been the best laid plan, as he’s dropped two shots, and fallen to one stroke back of the lead. This now forces him to be a bit more aggressive, and being aggressive isn’t really Watson’s strong suit. Being tentative and holding onto his lead did, now he has to work a little more magic.

With 9 holes to go, Watson either needs to get a birdie or two, or hope that Westwood drops a stroke or two.

I’m just hoping that this aggression doesn’t end up hurting him. You might think he should just continue playing his pace, and be content with where he is on the leader board. If it were any other tournament at any other stage in his career that just might work out for him.

But where he is at right now, in his career, in his life, he needs to put the pedal to the metal and go for it. It would be a great thing if he could win The Open. Now remember, this wouldn’t be his first Open championship, or even his second. Watson has won The Open five times, which puts him in a tie for second place for most Open wins..

If he can win today, he’d be tied for first, with Harry Vardon for most Open wins. And would also move into a tie for fourth place for total majors won in a career.

So this underdog isn’t only competing for glory in this tournament, he is competing for his place in golf history. No one would have thought prior to the beginning of this tourament, that Tiger would be absent and Tom Watson would be competing for his record sixth Open championship.

But now that he is, let’s all do the man a favor and give him our support, but even if you don’t win Tom, you still played a hell of a tournament.