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Mike Lupica: Tom Watson's historic run at the 2009 British Open is one for the ages
New York Daily News ^ | July 19th 2009 | Mike Lupica

Posted on 07/19/2009 5:36:53 AM PDT by kellynla

Last year it was Greg Norman, at 53, with his chance on the final day to win the British Open, to become the oldest winner of a major golf championship. This is much better now with Tom Watson, much bigger, what would be the biggest golf story of all time if he can win at Turnberry today, 32 years after he won a British Open there the first time. This is a story now that comes out of Scotland and out of golf and reaches out to everybody who cares about sports, who will watch this morning and into the early afternoon to see if Watson, a couple of months short of his 60th birthday, can actually do this. If he can be young again for one more day.

"I have a game plan," he said on ABC when his round Saturday was over, after he had played the last three holes in 2-under to get back the outright lead.

We will find out if his game plan, and his ball-striking, and the serenity he has shown so far, and the way he has driven and putted at his age will stand up over the last four or five hours at Turnberry. Oldest tournament in the world. Oldest golfer to ever come this close. Know this: If Watson can't close the deal, it won't be because he isn't tough enough.

When Watson was young, he putted the way kids do before they know putting is supposed to be hard. He didn't care how far past the cup he rammed the birdie putts he didn't make, because whether it was six feet or eight feet or even 10 feet coming back, he seemed to make them all.

He made all the putts the rest of us miss.

(Excerpt) Read more at nydailynews.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Editorial; Extended News; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: age; chat; golf; seniors; sports; tomwatson
"This is a sports story to make you cheer whether golf is your sport or not. This is what it would have been like for DiMaggio to get one more swing at the old Stadium, or Clyde to get one more chance to throw it to Bradley coming around a screen, or Namath to throw one deep to Maynard one more time at Shea. Watson doesn't play for all the old golfers today. He plays for everybody who dreams about being young again."

Actually, I disagree with Lupica; it's not about dreams of "being young again"; it's about doing something that you dreamed about doing no matter your age...and Tom Watson is an inspiration for us all. If you want to do something with your life whether it be sports, a hobby and/or maybe your work, no matter your age, borrowing a sport shoe manufacturer's slogan... "Just Do It!"...nothing ventured, nothing gained!

Because as we all know or at least we should know..."With God's help all things are possible!"

1 posted on 07/19/2009 5:36:53 AM PDT by kellynla
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To: kellynla

I can’t stand bloviating jackasses like Lupica, Jim Huber, Rich Lerner etc., Golf doesn’t need essayists to wax poetic about golf. Golf speaks for itself.

On top of that, these jerks feel the need to inject their own brand of politics from time to time, predominantly left leaning mind you.


2 posted on 07/19/2009 6:00:46 AM PDT by johncocktoasten (Practicing asymetrical thread warfare against anti-Palin Trolls)
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To: kellynla

It’s odd to see Lupica not gushing about Obama or talking about how there aren’t enough blacks in golf. He is such a leftist tool.


3 posted on 07/19/2009 6:15:18 AM PDT by FreepShop1
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To: kellynla

I’m rooting for Tom.


4 posted on 07/19/2009 6:17:19 AM PDT by savedbygrace (You are only leading if someone follows. Otherwise, you just wandered off... [Smokin' Joe])
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To: kellynla

He is just lucky Obama-care has not yet been implemented....he might have already been deemed “too old” on some minor health issue....


5 posted on 07/19/2009 6:23:50 AM PDT by sbark
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To: savedbygrace

me too! I can remember watching him with my dad. Seems like such a loooong time ago :)


6 posted on 07/19/2009 6:24:42 AM PDT by CAluvdubya (Bono-Mack, Castle,Kirk,Lance.LoBiondo,Reichert,Smith,McHugh..WE ARE COMING...)
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To: CAluvdubya

Me too. Golf is the one thing my Dad and I had together. The only thing we had together. Golf is special to me for that reason.


7 posted on 07/19/2009 6:36:28 AM PDT by savedbygrace (You are only leading if someone follows. Otherwise, you just wandered off... [Smokin' Joe])
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To: kellynla

“The biggest golf story of all time...” Apparently the author has never heard of Francis Ouimet.


8 posted on 07/19/2009 6:51:49 AM PDT by Oldpuppymax (AGENDA OF THE LEFT EXPOSED)
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To: johncocktoasten
When you can't play at the level these guys essay about, you have to garner attention some way.

Aside from that. Watson is playing 'within himself'. He is in a relaxed zone and on a course that fits his game perfectly. And he's having fun.

9 posted on 07/19/2009 7:00:17 AM PDT by Pistolshot (Brevity: Saying a lot, while saying very little.)
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To: kellynla

Now that I know what kind of effeminate liberal wuss Lupica is I cannot read him anymore


10 posted on 07/19/2009 7:21:52 AM PDT by Mr. K (THIS ADMINISTRATION IS WEARING OUT MY CAPSLOCK KEY DAMMIT DAMMIT DAMMIT!!!!!)
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To: Mr. K

He used to be a member at a club I worked at in Jupiter. He was a high maintenance little pansy who whined about everthing from the pace of play to the food in the clubhouse. I used to teach his wife (who is taller and more athletic than he is) and she used to hit it by him.


11 posted on 07/19/2009 9:36:31 AM PDT by FlJoePa
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To: FreepShop1

a toadie..like most sports writers


12 posted on 07/19/2009 9:42:34 AM PDT by wardaddy (Flame and Citron....great movie about Dane resistance........Sarah Palin, there is no substitute)
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To: kellynla

I’ve got butterflies, this is soooooooo close!!!

GO WATSON!!!!!


13 posted on 07/19/2009 11:06:13 AM PDT by SE Mom (Proud mom of an Iraq war combat vet)
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To: SE Mom
It was "soooooooo close". If Tom's 2nd or 3rd shot on the final hole had turned out just a little better, he would have won.

Stewart Cink is a good guy and he is a worthy winner. After all was said and done, Tom showed a lot of class.

It would be even more spectacular if he wins next year.

14 posted on 07/19/2009 4:31:42 PM PDT by Semper
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