Superb senior Watson continues to redefine what's possible at Masters

Tom Watson hasn't come down from his amazing run at Turnberry, and he proved it Thursday with a yet another round to remember – a stellar 67 that has him contending for yet another major.

By Melanie Hauser, PGATOUR.COM Contributor

AUGUSTA, Ga. – The voice on the phone was rushed and apologetic.

Late tee time in the Par-3. Will be there as quickly as I can. About 30 minutes out.

Slow down, Tom. Take a deep breath. Take your time, we’re fine.

Just short of 30 minutes later, Tom Watson bounced into Savannah Rapids Pavilion to accept the Golf Writers Association of America’s Ben Hogan Award with his wife Hilary, son/caddie Michael and future daughter-in-law Beth Lindquist racing to catch up.  They were just in time for dinner. And an eloquent, gracious acceptance speech.

He talked about the amazing green tea roses he grows and what too much sun will do hydrangeas as he dined, a little par 3 and proposal – son Michael asked Beth during a Sunday practice round. Tom sent his tee shot into the woods on the 13th hole and asked if anyone saw it. Beth said yes and headed that way.

“Everybody was in on the scam,’’ Watson grinned. Everyone meaning the chairman of Augusta National, Billy Payne, on down.

Watson bounced into another room Thursday afternoon – the interview room -- as co-leader of the 2010 Masters. An opening 5-under-par 67. An amazing day on the greens. A glow as brilliant as the one he had last July at Turnberry.

He took stock of the audience and cracked, “This ain’t a funeral.’’

Far from it. Seriously far.

At 60, Watson is redefining what’s possible. Maybe it’s the new hip. Maybe it’s the new outlook on life. Maybe it’s just a great player who has a few things still to do; a man whose experience alone is a lesson for today’s young  guns.

Take the fifth hole today. Watson hit a low-running 5-iron that landed short on the green, ran up on the green and left him with a 20-foot birdie attempt. He missed, but it reminded him of playing a practice round with Byron Nelson and Andy North 15 years ago. Lord Byron – Watson’s mentor and friend – drilled a low-running 3-wood up on the 14th green.

"That's how we used to play it,’’ Nelson said.

Watson chuckled. “ Well, that's how I'm having to play it now.’’

Does that really matter?

What does it matter he did it missing five greens on the back? And with a mindboggling 24 putts? And by getting up and down like Seve Ballesteros in his prime?

A 67? That matched his career low here and that amazing final round on his way to the 1977 Green Jacket. 

Where would you place this in the best rounds you’ve played, someone asked.

“Well, tied for first,’’ Watson said, drawing laughs. “It's all about the score.’’

And, honestly, a little more. He’s one-for-one with Michael, who is in commercial real estate,  on the bag – they won his own Watson Challenge in 2008 – and the Watsons wouldn’t mind staying perfect.

Before the opening round, Michael, who is subbing for regular caddie Todd Newcomb and his bad back, turned to dad and said, come on. Let’s go play a good round of golf.

“He didn’t say,”’ Watson grinned, “'for a change.' But I knew that’s what he was thinking.’’

Watson wanted to show his son he could still play, despite missing the cut here 11 of the last 12 years. So far, so dang good.

At 15, he hit a big drive, then smacks a hybrid to the green. “Didn't want to chip it back in the water, so I left it a little short,’’ Watson said. “I hit the putt too hard from about 30 feet and went right in the middle of the hole; birdie.’’

The crowd laughed.

“Well, I'm just telling you the truth.  It was going a little hard."

Relaxed. Funny. Self-deprecating. Confident.

Watson’s Hall of Fame career has been a series of ups and downs. Five British Opens, two Masters, one U.S. Open. Putting woes. Putting streaks. A divorce. Doubts. A low point. A second chance at love. A second wind at 60.

A start at a chance to make a run at another major.

Watson hasn’t come down from that run at Turnberry. The sting of final hole and the playoff loss to Stewart Cink haven’t faded, but neither has that special feeling.

“I would have to say that there's been a certain glow about the whole situation, even though I finished second,’’ he said. “And the glow comes from the people who watched it and who have come up to me and have commented to me about what they thought of it.

“You know, there's been a couple of them that ... actually, more than a couple, but a lot of them have said, you know, I'm not too old now.  You've just proven to me that I'm just not too old.

“I say, well, I'm playing on this Champions Tour.  I'm playing against the old guys.  Some of you here say, well, get rid of that tour, it doesn't mean anything.  But it does mean something when you play competition.  If you continue to play competition and the chips are down, as you're trying to make as Freddie Couples a 4-footer on the Champions Tour, and a 4-footer at Augusta, you're still competitive.

“Before the senior tour, what happened to the old guys?  They had no place to play really, no place to stay competitive, and we do now.  I give credit to going to Turnberry and that ... getting back to your point, after Turnberry, that glow is still around.  And it comes from people who said, "I just have to say something to you."  

There will be a few more things coming his way this week.

“There are certain holes that just don't ... I can't hit the right shots into it the greens,’’ he said. “But today, everything was pretty good today as far as the winds were concerned.  They had the tees up on several holes, except for 18.  They put it back about one yard from the back of 18.

“You know, as they did last year, they wanted some scores shot in the first round, there's not a question, and the golf course is receptive today.  I took advantage of that.’’

He got up and down a zillion times from a zillion familiar places. He led a charge of four 50-plus players who either led or were on the leaderboard at one point in the day.

Watson just shook his head. He bounced out of the room still grinning, still with a glow, and ran into co-leader Lee Westwood.

“Hey, playing partner,’’ Westwood grinned. They shook hands and Westwood headed into the interview room.

The two played together in the Dubai Desert Classic Par-3 earlier this year. Westwood lost a playoff to Miguel Angel Jimenez;  Watson tied for eighth.

“Just getting that close to him and seeing how well he swings the club and how well he strikes the ball; he's always going to have class,’’ Westwood said. “So it's no surprise, really (to see him shoot 67).’’

Watson just took it in stride. Another round. Another opportunity. A magical day with his son.

And, while we’re at it, one more made Thursday special. Westwood’s 67.

As Westwood turned his back, Watson pointed toward him and smiled.

“He was one of my picks to win.”