My heart bleeds for Watson, for golf’s victims

By Al S. Mendoza

(Belated birthday greetings to writer Sol Juvida [July 23] and Rio Baloto [July 22].  Rio, a dear friend of my brother, Cris, is with the assessor’s office in Mangatarem. Cheers!)

* * * *

HOW long is one day?

You wait for it to finish, it could take you forever—especially if you expect something big to happen.

Tom Watson was one day away from rewriting history on Monday, not only in the British Open but in the storied nature of the game.

When the day was done, history remained unchanged.

Watson did not win, missing his chance to become, at 59 years of age, the oldest winner of a major golf tournament.

The British Open is the game’s yearly third major event.

The first two are the US Masters (Angel Cabrera won it in April) and the U.S. Open (Lucas Glover won it in June).

The fourth and final major is the PGA Championship in August.

Cabrera and Glover did not even contend in the British Open. That’s because golf is the hardest to master.

Even Tiger Woods, the game’s best for almost a decade now, isn’t at his best all of the time.  In fact, he even got cut halfway through the four-day British Open, an event he had won three times.

That’s one story huge enough to grab headlines worldwide as it marked only the second time in 49 majors that Woods missed the cut.  The first was in the 2006 U.S. Open, days after his father succumbed to cancer.

No doubt the death of Woods’ father distracted him in the 2006 U.S. Open.

Alas, in the last British Open at Turnberry, Scotland, Woods played virtually in ideal conditions. No family concerns to disturb him. Yet, he shot 71-74, 5-over.  He missed the cut by one stroke.

Golf is simply too difficult, is more difficult than writing a book. I should know.  I play it.  I’ve written a book.

Thus, my game plan each time I am at the golf course?

I won’t play the game.  I will just enjoy the game.

That’s why I have kept my peace, if not sanity, all this time.

Did Watson do the same while attempting to win the 138th British Open?

I think so but only to a certain extent. He is a pro. It’s his job to win-not just play, not just enjoy.

But look! Improbably, he was a mere stroke back with a minus-5 65 in Round 1. After two more rounds (70-71), he was the leader.

If that’s not defying Father Time, what is?

Suddenly, on the final day, Watson found himself with three “ones” to hurdle to score the greatest achievement in the sport.

With one day left, he was the solo leader.

After 71 holes, he was one hole away from history.

On his 72nd and final hole, he was one putt away from the record books.

Only eight feet separated Watson from a feat that could only happen in the movies, a la Tin Cup starring Kevin Costner.

He missed it.

It wasn’t even close to the hole.

It must have been the knee-knocker of all time. Watson putted short.

When he missed the one putt that mattered most, the title was Stewart Cink’s.

In the four-hole playoff, Cink, 36, went 2-under against the 4-over of the now totally fatigued Watson, whose swings went from purgatory to hell.

Golf. It’s that hard. So hard it can break one’s heart. One’s spirit.

“I’m disappointed,” said Watson. “I tried everything.”

He’s right.

Nike tells us, “Just do it.”

In golf, you can only try.

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