TOM Watson has been around so long, you can almost picture him as a little Scottish lad, centuries ago, asking a fellow flock-minder, "Do you think a five-staff can carry the herd?" Tom Watson
can still play
this gameWhether it be stones or Titleists, not any of today's young swingers of metal woods and precision irons have matched a pace Watson set after only five full years on the PGA Tour.
As a 25-year-old, he won his first of eight major titles by capturing the 1975 British Open. Two years later, he beat Jack Nicklaus by two strokes to take home the 1977 Masters and trigger a run that Tiger Woods or David Duval can only dream about, but never tell.
Six times over the next eight campaigns, Watson was named the PGA of America Player of the Year. In those eight seasons, Watson won a remarkable 33 tournaments, including four British Open Championships, two Masters and one U.S. Open title.
HIS trademark shot occurred at that 1982 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. In deep rough just off the side of the 17th green and Nicklaus closing fast, Watson chipped in for the most improbable shot this side of Bill Murray's imaginary Masters' game-winner in the movie, "Caddyshack."
"It's in the hole!" was an appropriate description.
Perhaps sensing history, he ran around part of the green in jubilation; wide smile, arms raised high in salute to the the gods as he bested Jack once again. Golf fans worldwide remember their exact location the moment that shot rolled in.
I may need three guesses to correctly recall what girlfriend's house I was in, built just off Lake Buchanan in Central Texas, but I've never forgotten that skipped second in time.
Now, nearly 17 years later, I found myself walking with Watson during yesterday's opening round of the Sony Open in Hawaii, still marveling at this ageless wonder.
Granted, Watson isn't the same golfer of days gone by. Time has eroded the physical gifts afforded the former Stanford University standout. If he hadn't pocketed nearly $10 million in career earnings, he never could have afforded all those missed nickel-and-dime putts that have stalked him the past 10 years.
Only once in a while does his irritation show. He chastised a television sound man who ran up a few yards behind him just as he was about to address his ball.
"Sir, you're moving every time I'm trying to play," Watson growled. "Stay out of my way."
He promptly flew the 12th green and wound up bogeying the hole en route to a ho-hum 71. If today's return engagement is in the same part of the fairway, he'll be fortunate to survive the cut.
BUT that shouldn't signal Watson's fond farewell to the PGA Tour. This September, Watson turns 50, making him eligible for the senior circuit, something he should rage against.
In 1998, Watson proved he can still put together some solid rounds of golf. His one win at the MasterCard Colonial in Fort Worth, Texas, afforded him his best year ever money-wise with $976,585.
He and fellow veterans Curtis Strange and John Cook spoke of Michael Jordan's retirement while waiting patiently on the 14th tee. Watson even imitated Jordan's final shot that resulted in His Airness' sixth NBA title.
One day, that image of MJ will be locked in time the same way Watson is at the 17th green at Pebble Beach. But fortunately for the veteran golfer, his career didn't end there.
One fan reminded him of that as he walked up the 16th fairway at Waialae Country Club. As soon as he spotted the legend, the fan yelled, "Hey Watson, YEEE-HAAAW!" Never breaking stride, Watson responded with a half-shrug, Huck Finn grin in place.
No, Watson may never don another green jacket or become only the fifth golfer to win all four major titles. But as long as he can carry the herd, let him swing away.
Paul Arnett has been covering sports
for the Star-Bulletin since 1990.