WATSON WINNING - good for golf?

[Alex_narey]

Okay, so it never happened, but what if the old boy and sunk that ten-footer on 18 - would golf have really been the winner?

I have a feeling the matter is going to be dissected for quite some time since it's never ever going to come close to happening again!

 

[KeefG]

It would have been the most romantic story golf had ever had written, however it would have made a complete mockery of the game IMHO.

How a 59yo man who is pretty much held together with bits of twigs, sawdust & superglue, who barely plays the game now in comparison to the 'Tour Pros', could come in and win a major in the face of the worlds best golfers is quite frankly laughable.

It wouldnt have bothered me in the slightest to be honest, but if he'd have won I dare say there would have been a few embarrased Pro's & R&A members on Sunday evening.

Having said all that, IF Seve makes The Open next year, I hope he storms it

 

[colint]

I'm not sure how an older guy winning, not in the shape he used to be, is bad for the game ?

Surely it says here's a game you can play at a high standard for the next xx years of your life. As you get older, you can still find a way to win through skill and good course management.

Personally, I think it would have been great for the game. I'd much rather see a true champion win the open than some of the relative also rans who have won it ie Lawrie

 

[HogansAlley]

I would have loved Watson to win, he's truly great links player. However, I can't help thinking modern equipment had something to do with his performance. Was that a Rescue club I saw him hit repeated over the four days? He's still got a great swing but a 59-year-old could not have competed with the youngsters 10-15 years ago. A well worn topic, I know…

 

[Parmo]

I think it would have given the mid week golfers something to play for

I think it would have been ten times better for golf than Sink winning it, it would have been a dream and given golf the boost it needed.

 

[birdieman]

Watson winning wouldn't have been bad for the game. He's a proven links specialist (5 of his 8 majors) so clearly can't forget how to win. This week his body was able to cope.

It would have given plenty ammo to those who say golf is a game and not a sport however. More skill than athleticism required.

Lowest number wins - simple as.
Reputations, world rankings, driving stats etc count for nothing if you can't play the course in fewer shots than your competitors. Watson took fewer than everyone bar Cink.

Golf - It's how many, not how you hit it!

 

[forefortheday]

As long as Hitlers not walking up to collect the Claret Jug I couldn't give a fig who wins.

Why would it be bad for golf if Watson had won? Would every pro under the age of 59 give up suddenly in shame?

I was routing for him all the way but Cink played better overall so he won simple as that.

The Open will still be here when we are all long gone.

(Unless Scotlands under water like those students predicted the other month ).

 

[Twire]

I found it refreshing that it wasn't just the monster hitters that were at the top of the leader-board. With Watson's experience on the links courses, it goes to show that it's just as important to think your way around the golf course.

 

[USER1999]

It does show that just bludgeoning it round the course isn't the b all and end all of golf. May be some of the US comps need to look at their course set up rather than lengthening all the time.

It would have been nice if Watson had won, and good encouragement for the oldies. On the other hand, it would mean Monty would still think he had another 15 years to win a major, when he clearly hasn't.

Sadly I think the RandA have it right, 60 is too old, maybe even 55, as Watson gave it his best shot, and came up short, partly through fatigue, and partly through nerves. There is a reason why no one in their 50s has won a major. It won't happen any time soon.

 

[mweston1016]

Call be unromantic but I wasn't as upset as the majority. I was more upset for Ross Fisher who took at eight but remained professional throughout, unlike someone I can think of. At the end of the day he won eight Majors, so he'll always be one of the legends of the game. Whether it would have been good for golf, I would have to say yes. It was inspirational and serves as a reminder to some of the so called big names, that they should knuckle down a bit perhaps.

 

[TWM]

Maybe he has shown how much better were the players of 40 years ago.

 

[Dave3498]

Someone has said that possibly the modern equipment helped Watson into his excellent performance, but I couldn't help noticing his compact controlled swing throughout the tournament. His swing would have been the same with whatever equipment he used, also his course management was a lesson to those who fell by the wayside. In the end, he was beaten by tiredness. The putt he failed to make on the 72nd. hole was possibly his worst, and feeble looking. He knew when he had to go into a playoff that he could never win it. Another 4 holes was too much. It would have been a wonderful fairytale story, but it wasn't to be.

 

[madandra]

Quite simply :::



FORM IS TEMPORARY !!!

CLASS IS PERMANENT !!!!!!!

 

[freddielong]

Yes it would have been great for the game it would have returned one of our legends to the forefront (breifly) and made us all beleive anything is possible again, make us all think that 37 or (insert your age ) isn't to old. Instead boring old metronome Cink bored his way to the front and made every turn off there TV's (I bet the BBC don't even bother making a highlight DVD this year)