A Performance for the Ages

Unlike basketball and football, golf doesn't require one to be young to be played well. What Tom Watson did last week, however, was extraordinary. By finishing the British Open tied for first, he performed at the highest level of his profession over four days. Speaking as one who feels tired after 18 holes of casual golf, I can only have an inkling of the physical and mental demands that professional golf places on the 59-year-old Watson’s body.

Much has been made of his missed chances to make par and win the tournament on the final hole. I think it was his mind and body finally saying “no more”, evidenced by his painful bogey-filled performance during the four playoff holes. Chuck Culpepper of the LA Times writes:

From the man to watch across four days of 60-foot birdies and precise swings and savvy management, Watson became unwatchable in the playoff as his body went drained and his shots went awry. [snip] Surely, though, golf's ultimate turn of viciousness had to be that it took Watson, after four days of energy and vitality from one just seven weeks shy of 60, and then it left him out there for four last holes through which he suddenly looked absolutely 59 and completely sapped.

Falling just short showed Tom Watson to be mortal, not Superman. In a sense that cast into relief just how extraordinary his performance was.