Watson in control and still going merrily along

IT may be 32 years since his epic ‘duel in the sun’ with Jack Nicklaus and 26 years since he won his most recent Open Championship but Tom Watson is proving his pre-tournament belief he has a puncher’s chance at Turnberry this week.

Or make that a bump and runner’s chance. An eight-time major winner closing in on his 60th birthday in September, Watson’s affinity with links golf and Scotland’s west coast gem in particular is evidenced by his five Open victories between 1975 and 1983 and his 2003 British Senior Open success at Turnberry, one of three wins in the tournament to date.

Returning to the scene of some of his career’s defining moments also had the American whetting his appetite for the chance to mix it with the game’s current greats.