Stab at history sunk by Cink

IT could have been one of the most amazing sporting achievements of all time – but veteran hip-replacement recipient Tom Watson’s hopes of winning a sixth British Open at the age of 59 were sunk by a Cink.

Few could have expected that 26 years after he captured his last major and with young men and a Tiger snapping at his heels, Watson would be standing on the 18th green, one of the most prestigious prizes in golf just a 10-foot putt away.

However the putt went astray, just like almost every shot of ensuing four play-off holes against Stewart Cink.

Nonetheless, as the man 23 years his junior was raising aloft the Claret Jug to polite applause, few could turn their thoughts from the avuncular figure who minutes earlier had politely accepted the second-place Silver Salver.

If that fateful putt had gone in he would have been the oldest winner of any golfing major in history – by 11 years.

For the four days of the competition, he putted, pitched and performed better than all the great pretenders – certainly better than defending champion Padraig Harrington who finished 14 shots behind him.

While that 18th putt shows not even the wisdom of age and the confidence of titles can stop the big-shot jitters, the 59-year-old with the replaced left hip has ensured the old adage of “no one remembers second place” is not true this time round.