The Open: Legendary Tom Watson waves goodbye from the Swilcan bridge

Edited by Anand Datla

July 18, 2015: Tom Watson was almost overcome by emotion after completing his final Open Championship round.

The five-time winner of the Claret Jug bade farewell to the event with which he is synonymous with a poignant walk over the Swilcan Bridge up to the 18th green at St Andrews at close to 10pm on Friday.

The 65 year old was close to tears as crowds gathered to applaud him from almost all available vantage points at the end of what had been a difficult, rain-affected second day at the Open.

Watson was signing off because he was unable to make the cut and his subsequent bogey at the last left him signing for a 12 over par score.

But that is not how the American, who won the first of his Opens on debut in 1975, will be remembered, and the memories came flooding back as he spoke to media afterwards.

Tears were welling in his eyes as he spoke and he occasionally had to pause to compose himself, while admitting he was “babbling on”.

But Watson reflected with happiness on his Open experiences, saying: “There’s just so much joy in walking up that hole. I don’t know how to put it into any other words. It’s all joy.

“There’s no reason to be sad. I played a game for a living, and I played it pretty well over time.”

Play on the second day at St Andrews was delayed by more than three hours after heavy rain and strong winds early in the morning.

That meant Watson did not tee off until 4.48pm and, as light faded, there was a strong possibility he may not have finished and been forced to resume at 7am on Saturday.

But players were given the option to continue and both of Watson’s playing partners, Ernie Els and Brandt Snedeker, despite being close to the cut line, felt it was appropriate to play on.

Watson, whose Open victories all came away from the Old Course, said: “On the tee Brandt and Ernie and I, we had a discussion, I said, ‘Gentlemen, you’re both in the tournament right here. Whatever you want to do, you do. I’m not in the tournament’.

“Ernie looked at Brandt, said, ‘You want to finish?’ He said, ‘Yeah, I’d like to get it over with’. Ernie says, ‘I do too’, and that’s all that was necessary to be spoken.

“There was not a single tear. My son almost cried, I know that. He almost cried on the 18th tee when I said no tears.

“I didn’t know how I was going to feel walking across the bridge, but I do know that I looked up in the sky, and I said, ‘I know there are a lot of other people watching me from not just right here – a lot of loved ones. It was a special time.”

Watson was applauded as he entered and left the media centre but the appreciation was mutual, with the veteran thanking the press for their coverage of him over the years.

He said: “I’ve had some good times out on the golf course and good times in The Open Championship.

“I want to thank you all for all that you’ve done. I hope I’ve been the person that has been able to do it right for you.”

Follow Us: Twitter.com/GolfingIndian

Join Us: Facebook.com/GolfingIndian

Download Our APP Here

Source: European Tour Website