When it’s more than just another 72 holes of golf
There was sadness and joy, elation and disappointment, and a whole lot more besides to make the 103rd championship more than a statistic in the record books.
Who will quickly forget Tom Watson’s opening round of 65 that contained just about everything; a holed second at the 12th for an eagle two; a mere 23 putts; a sand save at the last to protect his score. And then, of course, there was the plight of his caddy Bruce Edwards, stricken with incurable ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease).
Watson and Edwards have been together for thirty years and are friends as well as business partners. They cried a few tears on that Thursday afternoon as the crowds cheered both men wildly but Watson claims they pulled themselves together on Friday .... “he wasn’t blubbering on me and I wasn’t blubbering on him.”
But they were at it again on Sunday. Little wonder.
“I choked up”, admitted Edwards. “This is probably my last US Open. But my emotions this week were overwhelmingly positive. You think, it’s 21 years since Tom sank that incredible chip at Pebble Beach to win the Open. So it’s not ‘woe to me’, it’s just ‘how lucky I’ve been’. Tom is the best thing that ever happened to me. If somebody told me ‘you can do all this again only you’re going to get ALS down the road’, I’d say, you bet, every time.”
A British colleague writes all this off as maudlin, old nonsense and perhaps he’s right. Yet, Bruce Edwards is looking death in the eye and not blinking. That takes guts. He’s also wise enough to take support from those who love him most.
“My wife Marcia came here today and it was great“, said Edwards. “She is not only the love of my life, she is my voice, my strength, my pillar. She has told me a lot of things in private to keep me going and convinced me that if I used this podium properly a lot of people might be saved, even if I’m not.”
Watson and Edwards have been using their US Open exposure to gain a lot more publicity for, and understanding of, ALS, to such an extent that the golf itself was pushed into the background.
As Tom noted: “There are more important things than playing this game for a living when your friend’s life is on the line; we tried to bring awareness and make the world aware that this is something that needs support.”
It has already been decided that Edwards will not accompany Watson to next month’s British Open at Sandwich.
Watson explained: “Part of the problem is his hands, when they get cold, they cramp up on him and it could be cold there.” Watson himself may not qualify for another US Open but he stressed to Edwards as they walked up the 18th on Sunday: “We’ll be back. I’m going to have to win the Senior Open in Toledo to do it. We’ll be back next year at Shinnecock.”
The disappointment was shared by many people at Olympia but by Tiger Woods more than most. Finishing eleven shots behind Jim Furyk must have come as a shock to the former titleholder, now no longer holding any of the four majors. There was no reprieve, no miracle finish at Olympia Fields, but those who write him off have to be just a little daft.
“I wouldn’t worry too much about Tiger,” said Tom Watson. “How many years did Jack Nicklaus go without a major? A couple of three year gaps.” Still, he showed signs over the week-end that behind that calm exterior there may be a little devil bursting to get out.
“I win three tournaments and you try to tell me I’m in a slump,” he snapped at a reporter before storming away from the interview area. That’s not the controlled, almost robotic Tiger we have come to know.
“It was frustrating this week because I never got anything going,” he admitted. “I was so close to putting it together. My ultimate goal is to win major championships. All you can do is give your best. I gave it my best this week but I just didn’t putt well, it’s not easy to do so across those slopes. I think the final round at Augusta was more disappointing because I made a mental error. I don’t make mental mistakes. Physical mistakes, yes, that’s part of being human. We have all the time to make a decision. Mental errors are not acceptable.”
Tiger maintains his desire is still as keen as ever but could see a reason for that changing.
“You see guys out here aged around 45, 46. At that stage it’s about your family; your kids are in school and you want to spend more time with them,” said Woods.
“Family and kids would change my life. More than anything; it would be hard to prepare for events when your focus is elsewhere. Your success is miniscule compared to the success of your kids. I definitely see myself with a wife and kids. When ? I’ll let you know, alright?”
