Fairytale not to be as Watson is denied historic win

GOLF fans were on the edge of their seats, pinching themselves with disbelief. Even those not versed in the finer arts of the great game were caught up in the drama and knew something very special was happening.

It was 32 years ago that he won his famous "duel in the sun" with Jack Nicklaus at Turnberry – and here was Tom Watson, six weeks short of his 60th birthday, striding down the final fairway of the same Ayrshire course, and leading the field.

He had been at the top of the leader-board from day one and needed only a par to win his sixth Open and his first for 32 years – but as he was willed on by almost everyone, the steely nerves of the 59-year-old finally failed. Watson dropped a shot at the last and was forced into a play-off with fellow American Stewart Cink.

It was Cink who held his nerve to deny Watson the fairytale of another Turnberry win. He would also have been the oldest Open champion by 13 years; Old Tom Morris was a mere 46 when he won back in 1867.

It would not only have been a great moment in golf, but one of sport's great victories, yet it was not to be.

At about 7:30pm, one of the most remarkable championships ended as Cink lifted the claret jug.

He said of the experience: "Extraordinary just tips the iceberg. Playing against Tom Watson, this stuff just does not happen. I grew up watching him.

"My hat's off to Tom. He turned back the clock and did a great job, and it was fun watching you all week."

It was his 14ft birdie putt on the final green, however, that gave Cink his chance to deny Watson, who 30 minutes later bogeyed the same hole to join him on two under par.

"It's the most crucial putt I've ever struck in my life – just a sweet feeling," Cink said.

Despite a hip replacement last October – and odds of 2,500-1 to win the tournament – Watson started with a superb 65, which delighted his Scottish fans.

He followed that with a 70 on Friday and 71 on Saturday, which gave him a one-shot lead overnight before being overhauled early on Sunday by Britain's Ross Fisher – who fell away but managed to complete his round without his wife going into labour. He had said he would leave the course when her contractions started.

Fisher said: "He (Watson] is just a legend, a great player."

As all other challengers fell away – including England's Lee Westwood, who had looked good value at one stage – Watson had his destiny in his own hands. Yet he hit his approach to the 18th through the green and then three-putted from the fringe – his putt for victory from 8ft never threatened the hole.

Cink then won the play-off by six shots, playing the fifth, sixth, 17th and 18th in two under par as Watson stumbled to four over.

A win would have put Watson alongside Harry Vardon with a record six British Open titles, as well as becoming the oldest player to win a major championship – a record held by Julius Boros, who won the 1968 PGA Championship at 48.

Jack Nicklaus, who won the 1986 US Masters at the age of 46, was supporting his old rival throughout the tournament. He said: "I watched quite a bit, actually. Like everybody else … I had some tears in my eyes. What he has accomplished is a phenomenal achievement."

There was huge support for Watson and his calm, gentlemanly approach to the game, throughout the tournament – but it reached fever pitch yesterday. Away from the course, many who had backed him as his odds plunged over the days, were cheering him on.

In the end, the years caught up with Watson in the play-off. But Turnberry 2009 will be remembered not for his poor shots at the very end but for the way a great golfer rolled back the years over four days and 72 holes – and almost created one of the greatest ever sporting stories

AGE NO BARRIER

TOM Watson's attempt to become the oldest winner of a major golf championship was dashed, leaving the title with Julius Boros, who won the 1968 PGA Championship aged 48 years, four months and 18 days.

Other older sporting heroes include boxing legend George Foreman, who became the oldest man ever to win a major heavyweight title with a win in 1994 at the age of 45. He knocked out Michael Moorer, 26, in the tenth round.

His one-time rival Mohammed Ali, fought until the age of 39, losing his final fight, after ten rounds, to Trevor Berbick in 1981.

British 100m runner Linford Christie defied the odds by picking up gold at the Barcelona Olympic Games in 1992, aged 32. He took another gold two years later at the Victoria Commonwealth Games.

Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong has overcome cancer to try for his eighth victory in the race at the age of 37.

Italian Luigi Fagioli is the oldest winner of a Formula One Grand Prix. He was 53 years and 22 days old when he won the 1951 French Grand Prix.