The Home of Golf was bound to produce some momentous moments when the game's legends visited for The Senior Open Presented by Rolex in July – a moment as special as Miguel Angel Jiménez’s victory was having the opportunity to watch Tom Watson shoot his age on the Old Course.
Watson, a five-time winner of the Claret Jug in his prime, captured the imagination of so many fans, not just of golf, but of sport, a decade ago when he came so close to capturing a sixth Open Championship – eventually finishing as runner-up to Stewart Cink at Turnberry in 2009.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the American shares the record for the most Senior Open wins with Bernhard Langer, who earned his third in 2017, and Gary Player and his record at Europe’s only Senior Major is enviable.
Despite his last victory coming in 2007, Watson has never missed the cut at a Senior Open, nor has he finished lower than 27thin his last five appearances.
After a three under par round of 69 on the first day at St Andrews, Watson sat four strokes behind leaders Kirk Triplett and Thaworn Wiratchant.
Watson started his second round with a birdie, which he backed up with another at the par five fifth. A bogey on the sixth was cancelled out by his third birdie of the day on the ninth hole and he made the turn in two under par.
A fourth birdie followed on the tenth hole as Watson made ground on the leaders. He then parred the six holes from 11 to 16.
Ask any golfer if they could birdie any of the holes at St Andrews which one they would pick – most likely they would choose the famous Road Hole.
Incredibly, Watson was one of just nine golfers in the 143-man field who achieved such a feat on the second day of The Senior Open.
A par on the 18thhole saw Watson match his age with a four under par round of 68, and he shared sixth place at the halfway stage on seven under par.
Watson would go on to finish an admirable 21stat The Home of Golf, with victory at St Andrews still absent from his incredible CV.
Bob Charles was the last Staysure Tour player to go lower than his age, carding an impressive three over par 73 at the age of 78 at the 2014 Swiss Seniors Open. Watson may have missed his milestone by one stroke, but nothing can be taken away from that fantastic Friday at The Home of Golf.
