I’ve been surprised to see some commentators and writers talk about 2009 British Open champ Stewart Cink (right) as a “villain” because he beat Tom Watson in a playoff to win the Claret Jug. From what I saw, Cink didn’t steal the title from Watson, the latter simply handed it to the younger Cink.
I got caught up in it too, hoping the 59-year-old Watson would pull it out. I was thrilled when he regained a 1-shot lead and held it going to the tournament’s 72nd hole. After his drive, it looked like he’d be able to lock it up. And then Tom Watson choked.
From within 150 yards on the 18th hole, all Watson had to do was get it on the green and 2-putt. Instead, he whipped out his 8-iron (when the only thing he couldn’t do was hit it over the green and he even said his instinct was to use the 9), and the ball went bouncing over the green. No worries: Up and down in 2, with a simple putt or pitch from the fringe and a tap in and he has the title. Instead, he hit it 9 feet past the hole. He now faced a makable putt. Instead, he seemed to rush the putt a bit, hit it very poorly and was in a four-hole playoff. And in that playoff he completely collapsed, approaching the fourth hole already down four shots.
How big of a choke was it? It doesn’t quite put him in the Jean Van de Velde arena (who needed a double bogey on his 72nd hole exactly 10 years ago to win it and triple-bogeyed). But I’ll remember this choke as much as I remember any of Phil Mickelson’s laundry list of blown opportunities. As for Cink, I don’t paint him as the villain. He left Watson some wiggle room and Watson didn’t deliver. Don’t blame Cink for that!
on Jul 20th, 2009 at 12:54 PM
The golf commentators blew this story up from day 1. So if it wasn’t Cink it would’ve been someone else. Bottom line is that Tom had it, and that terrible putt on the 18th for par is what blew it for him. Its been his issue in the past, and it came back to haunt him again. Cink made a long birdie putt to post at -2 and put the pressure on. Normally I’m rooting for TW on a championship sunday, but this time it was a different TW in Tom Watson instead of Tiger Woods. I certainly don’t view Cink as the villain. Watson isn’t the first to blow one, and he won’t be the last. Congrats to Cink on a well earned victory.
on Jul 20th, 2009 at 4:37 PM
I wanted ol’ Tom to win but it wasn’t meant to be. As a fellow yipper I have a lot of symapthy for him. Cink’s no villan. Nice shaved head too
Yeah, I tend to watch sports w/the volume off these days as I am sick to death of the talking heads hyping things up and saying any old stupid thing just to fill dead air time.
on Jul 20th, 2009 at 8:28 PM
That second last putt that would have won him the tournament did him in It was unfortunate, but at least we were spared the hyperbole (on respectable sports reporter wrote that a Watson win would have been one of the greatest accomplishments in golf). I was cheering for TW, and think his 2nd place finish (at 59, at a tournament that that other TW, Tiger Woods, didn’t even make the cut) is a pretty amazing accomplishment.
Cink is no villain.
on Jul 20th, 2009 at 11:22 PM
“I’ll remember this choke as much as …..” The man is 59 years old, has won 5 British Opens (more than all but one other person) and put on a stunning display of golf on a course where only 4 men were under par for the tournament and all you’ll remember is the choke. Harsh.
And you are not likely to see his playing partners cheering the other TW as he walks up 18 any time soon.