Tom Watson Walks Away To a Golden Sunset

Tom Watson bid adieu to professional with one last hurrah at The Masters

2112
2016 Masters Round 2 - Tom Watson

Anand Datla

Augusta
April 09, 2016: Farewells are never easy. Tom Watson walked off the 18th green on Friday to a warm hug from his wife Hillary and a big round of applause that reverberated through the club. The 66 year old was serenaded everywhere he went yesterday, even as he tried to keep his focus on not missing the cut. It wasn’t easy at all. After a 74 on Thursday, it seemed very possible, but he went three over on each side. (Golf News)

As he marched off into the sunset, the thousands of people at Augusta, his family and friends were all in attendance to bid him a fond farewell. It did not matter that he won his Green Jackets in 1977 and 1981, in another age. It didn’t matter at all that he last made the cut in 2010. He walked off to a champion’s drumbeat and very deservedly so. Maybe a Friday farewell was just the fitting adieu to the master, instead of a quiet afternoon exit on Sunday.

“The gratitude the crowd showed me, I feel very blessed that they feel that way about me,” said and emotionally gratified Watson. “I hope throughout my career I’ve been able to show the crowd some great golf.

“I was a shy kid and one of the ways I expressed myself was to hit a golf shot. To hit a good golf shot was a non-verbal way of communicating and I parlayed that into a professional golf career. I hope I’ve entertained a lot of people over the years.” Yes you did Sir.

His greatest legacy though would be at The Open, which he won five times. 1975, 1977, 1980, 1982 & 1983. And who can forget that memorable run in 2009, when at the ripe age of 60, he nearly won the Claret Jug a sixth time. He missed an 8 footer at the 18th and Stewart Cink turned pirate in the ensuing playoff.

Watson won the Masters twice. He also won the US Open in 1982, the year he won two majors for a second time in his career.

The only major prize he could not claim was the PGA Championship. The closest he came was in 1978, when he came second.

In the end, it barely mattered. He wanted to entertain people, express himself through his golf. He did that with an eloquence that will be hard to match. Watson is a legend that will not fade away anytime soon.

Join the Conversation