Turn back the clock
TURNBERRY, Scotland — Last year, Greg Norman. This time, Tom Watson.
Thirty-two years after his epic "Duel in the Sun" with Jack Nicklaus, Watson took advantage of pristine conditions at the British Open to shoot a stunning 5-under 65 today.
"Not bad for an almost 60-year-old," said Watson, who turns 60 in September. "Obviously I enjoyed it. I played very well, kept the ball in play, made a few putts. The course was defenseless today. As a result, you're seeing a lot of scores under par. I suspect by the end of the day, 65 will not be in the lead."
The Open keeps bringing out the best in the old-timers. Last year, Norman was 53 when he held the 54-hole lead at Birkdale, only to fade on the final day.
Watson still has three rounds to go, and the history of major championship golf is filled with opening-day leaders who fell out of contention by the weekend.
But those first 18 holes at Turnberry sure were fun — and not as surprising to Watson as they were to everyone else.
"I haven't reassessed (expectations) at all," he said. "I was playing well in the practice rounds, and I felt I would play very well this week."
Meanwhile, on a day for going low, Tiger Woods struggled to a 1-over 71.
Woods hit one wayward shot after another and finished six strokes behind clubhouse leader Watson.
Woods continually flipped away his clubs in anger, hardly looking as though he's ready to challenge for his 15th major championship.
Watson, a five-time Open champion, posted his lowest score in the tournament since a second-round 65 in 1994 — the last time it was held at Turnberry. A year ago, he shot 74-76 at Birkdale and missed the cut.
Watson posted five birdies and made a couple of testy par saves, including a 6-footer at the final hole to ensure his name would be all alone atop the leaderboard, at least for a while.
With red numbers there for the taking, Australia's John Senden, American Steve Stricker and Camilo Villegas of Colombia put up 66s. Stewart Cink of the U.S. and England's David Howell also were at 4 under while still on the course, and 1989 Open champion Mark Calcavecchia went out in the first group of the day with his wife on the bag and shot 67.
Stricker, playing in the group just ahead of Watson, got a chance to keep up with the turn-back-the-clock round.
"That was very cool to watch," Stricker said. "It gives hope to everybody that you can continue to play well in your later years."
The conditions along the picturesque Scottish coast were ideal for going low — the sun peeking in and out of the clouds, the Ailsa Craig easily visible offshore, the flags hanging limply above the grandstands, barely the hint of a breeze.
"It was perfect out there," Calcavecchia said. "The course couldn't possibly play any easier. I don't know how long it's going to stay like that."
Senden got into the tournament Tuesday as an alternate when Jeev Milkha Singh withdrew with an injury. The Aussie stayed away from bogey and birdied four of the last six holes for a 66.
"I was lucky enough to be in the field, so that was a bonus," Senden said.
