Call it the revenge of the veterans. On a balmy day at Turnberry, site of The Open, Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez and legend 59-year-old Tom Watson, took advantage of benign conditions to post the lowest rounds of the day. Jimenez took the overnight lead with after a 60-foot putt on the final hole gave him a 64 and a one shot lead over Watson and two others, including former champion Ben Curtis. Another senior, 1998 Open champ Mark O’Meara, who is now a fixture on the Champions Tour, carded a 67.
Other intriguing storylines emerged on a day where low scoring was the norm. At the other end of the age spectrum, the 17-year-old Japanese sensation Ryo Ishikawa, who was born eight years after Watson won his last major championship, played a consistent round of 68. Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy, having just turned 20, stayed in touch with the leaders after going round the course in 69 shots.
Tiger Woods Struggles in Quest for the Claret Jug
Tiger Woods, still struggling with his accuracy and putting after his return from a serious knee injury, had to fight to make par on holes where others were gleefully posting a barrage of birdies. Tiger’s travails began on the 13th and 14th holes, where he relied on his chipping skills to salvage pars. His short game deserted him on the following holes as bogeys on the 15th and 17th led to a one-over-par score of 71.
John Daly Makes a Comeback at the British Open
The flamboyant John Daly, now sans beer belly, was never far from the spotlight on the opening day. Dressed in green, yellow and white checked trousers, Daly competed with Ian Poulter’s Union Jack-emblazoned waistcoat for fashion crime of the day. For a change, though, his golf was not as erratic as his fashion sense. The notoriously temperamental golfer, who has overcome alcoholism, gambling issues and three failed marriages, shot 68, good enough for a tie for 21st place.
But the story of the day was undoubtedly the resurgence of Tom Watson. He won the last of his eight major champions at The Open is 1983. Since then, a particularly debilitating case of the yips destroyed his confidence. It is a tall order to expect Watson to continue this form for another three days and add to his tally of five Opens. But links courses, which value ingenuity and creativity over brute power, may play into the strengths of Watson and other seniors. Modern golf may be dominated by fitness-obsessed youngsters, but as Greg Norman’s near victory at The Open last year demonstrated, this championship is more egalitarian than those in the US, where the length of the courses discourages artistry and rewards gigantic drives.
If conditions remain clam and unthreatening, the oldest champion since then 46-year-old Jack Nicklaus captured the Masters at Augusta in 1986 may be crowned come Sunday evening. And there would be no more popular winner than Watson.
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