If when you went to sleep last night, someone told you that you’d wake up to a first round almost completely in the books, and on top of the leader board at the British Open we’d be seeing Tom Watson, what would you say? If that person also told you that while Tom Watson, who is 59 years old, shot a five-under-par 65 first round, while Tiger Woods struggled to post a 1-over-par 71, while his playing partner, 17-year-old Ryo Ishikawa whooped him and shot a -2, would you think I was even crazier? Welcome to the crazy house then, because all of those things have already transpired today.
Tom Watson, 59, Shocks World
That’s right, Tom Watson shocked the entire field and the entire golf community today as he shot an opening round 65, blasting away golfers half his age and sitting comfortably tied atop the leaderboard as we speak. What makes it even more impressive, however, is the simple fact that Watson hasn’t played a single round of competitive golf at Turnberry since the 2003 SENIOR British Open. Yes, I said Senior. When asked about how he felt about his extremely impressive first round, Watson had this to say:
“I still feel as if I can compete against the kids…I’m a ceremonial golfer at [too long] Augusta National, I admit that.”
Watson Demolishes Woods
Considering his first round today included 5 birdies and not a SINGLE bogey, I’d say he is most certainly competing against the kids. One of those kids just so happens to be the odd’s on favorite going into today, Tiger Woods. Despite the fact that he was favored to win it all, errant shots proved to be his undoing and he was completely outplayed by both Lee Westwood, and the young 17-year-old golfer from Japan we talked about yesterday, Ryo Ishikawa, who both came in at -2.
Can Tiger Come Back?
Can Tiger get it together before tomorrow, or given the excellent play of everyone else, is he in a hole he can’t dig himself out of? If Watson is correct, and the course is playing with its defenses down, we could see scores plummeting.
(Image via Robert Beck/SI)
