Watson showing some early life in the US open
http://sports.yahoo.com/pga/news?slug=ap-usopen&prov=ap&type=lgns
http://sports.yahoo.com/pga/news?slug=ap-usopen&prov=ap&type=lgns
62 year old Watson still making cuts -- while Phil and Tiger sit at home...
July brings out the kid in Tom Watson
By Steve Hemphill*/*The Roanoke Times, Va.**| **Sunday, July 8, 2012**|**http://www.bostonherald.com**|**Golf
Photo by AP
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. -- Tom Watson doesn’t spend much time playing on the PGA Tour these days.
July is the exception, starting with The Greenbrier Classic.
Watson, who also holds the title of Golf Professional Emeritus at The Greenbrier, made the cut on Friday, and after Saturday’s round of 1-over-par 71 is tied for 63rd. It’s the first of two top-level events the eight-time major winner will play. In two weeks, he’ll be back at the British Open, a tournament he has won five times.
"It’s nice playing against the kids," said Watson, 62. "I call them kids. They really are kids."
Watson said he felt like he was competitive the first two days, but he struggled with his putting -- something that has been common with him much over the past two decades.
"Putting wasn’t as good as it used to be when I was a kid when I made everything," Watson said. "And scores could have been a lot better if the putter acted like I was 26 rather than 62. ... But I’m happy to be here and be able to play on the weekend."
Watson added that besides the technological advance in the equipment golfers have available to them, the biggest change in PGA Tour golf is how the tournaments are run today.
"These tournaments are so organized," he said. "They know what they’re doing, and before they didn’t really have a whole lot to do before.
"We had to get there ourselves -- there were no courtesy cars. We had to bring our own practice balls."
Daly’s big month
As a former British Open winner, John Daly will also be in the field at Royal Lytham & St. Annes in two weeks.
He should be making his way to Europe feeling like he’s on an upswing. Daly shot 70 and is tied for 33rd at minus-5 -- nine shots behind leader Webb Simpson.
Major contenders
Some former major winners who made it to the weekend rounds -- besides reigning U.S. Open champion Simpson -- include the likes of 2011 PGA winner Keegan Bradley (tied for 11th), Davis Love III (T-22), Vijay Singh (T-33) and Ben Curtis (T-49).
Wise words
Ken Duke’s swing coach, 85-year-old Bob Toski, followed his pupil around the course on Saturday and shared a few words with Duke and the media afterwards.
Toski, who was a personal friend and contemporary of Greenbrier legend Sam Snead, said Duke, 43, has sort of captured his inner child this season, which has apparently worked. Duke has more than $1 million in winnings so far in 2012.
"Ken, what I find interesting about you is you’re 43, you’re sitting up there as if you’re like 23, 24 years old -- at least the way you’re talking about things like how you sometimes rush your shots," Toski said. "You’re a perfect example of golf every day being something you can learn from. Is that fair to say?"
"No question," Duke said.
Hokies update
Former Virginia Tech golfer Johnson Wagner shot a 67 and is tied for 26th overall. Brendon de Jonge, who started with a 74 but came back to make the cut with a 64 on Friday, shot 68 on Saturday and is tied for 37th.
De Jonge, who finished third in 2010 and fourth last year, ranks fourth overall after the Greenbrier’s first two tournaments in winnings. He had the lowest scoring average in the first two seasons -- 66.75.
Big turnaround
Ted Potter Jr., had missed six of his last seven cuts this year, but he is in position to make a run at a Tour win after shooting 64 on Saturday.
Potter trails Simpson by four shots and made his move through the field by one-putting six of his last seven holes. He needed just 24 putts for the entire round.
———
Visit The Roanoke Times (Roanoke, Va.) at www.roanoke.com
Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/golf/view.bg?articleid=1061144232
July brings out the kid in Tom Watson
By Steve Hemphill*/*The Roanoke Times, Va.**| **Sunday, July 8, 2012**|**http://www.bostonherald.com**|**Golf
Photo by AP
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. -- Tom Watson doesn’t spend much time playing on the PGA Tour these days.
July is the exception, starting with The Greenbrier Classic.
Watson, who also holds the title of Golf Professional Emeritus at The Greenbrier, made the cut on Friday, and after Saturday’s round of 1-over-par 71 is tied for 63rd. It’s the first of two top-level events the eight-time major winner will play. In two weeks, he’ll be back at the British Open, a tournament he has won five times.
"It’s nice playing against the kids," said Watson, 62. "I call them kids. They really are kids."
Watson said he felt like he was competitive the first two days, but he struggled with his putting -- something that has been common with him much over the past two decades.
"Putting wasn’t as good as it used to be when I was a kid when I made everything," Watson said. "And scores could have been a lot better if the putter acted like I was 26 rather than 62. ... But I’m happy to be here and be able to play on the weekend."
Watson added that besides the technological advance in the equipment golfers have available to them, the biggest change in PGA Tour golf is how the tournaments are run today.
"These tournaments are so organized," he said. "They know what they’re doing, and before they didn’t really have a whole lot to do before.
"We had to get there ourselves -- there were no courtesy cars. We had to bring our own practice balls."
Daly’s big month
As a former British Open winner, John Daly will also be in the field at Royal Lytham & St. Annes in two weeks.
He should be making his way to Europe feeling like he’s on an upswing. Daly shot 70 and is tied for 33rd at minus-5 -- nine shots behind leader Webb Simpson.
Major contenders
Some former major winners who made it to the weekend rounds -- besides reigning U.S. Open champion Simpson -- include the likes of 2011 PGA winner Keegan Bradley (tied for 11th), Davis Love III (T-22), Vijay Singh (T-33) and Ben Curtis (T-49).
Wise words
Ken Duke’s swing coach, 85-year-old Bob Toski, followed his pupil around the course on Saturday and shared a few words with Duke and the media afterwards.
Toski, who was a personal friend and contemporary of Greenbrier legend Sam Snead, said Duke, 43, has sort of captured his inner child this season, which has apparently worked. Duke has more than $1 million in winnings so far in 2012.
"Ken, what I find interesting about you is you’re 43, you’re sitting up there as if you’re like 23, 24 years old -- at least the way you’re talking about things like how you sometimes rush your shots," Toski said. "You’re a perfect example of golf every day being something you can learn from. Is that fair to say?"
"No question," Duke said.
Hokies update
Former Virginia Tech golfer Johnson Wagner shot a 67 and is tied for 26th overall. Brendon de Jonge, who started with a 74 but came back to make the cut with a 64 on Friday, shot 68 on Saturday and is tied for 37th.
De Jonge, who finished third in 2010 and fourth last year, ranks fourth overall after the Greenbrier’s first two tournaments in winnings. He had the lowest scoring average in the first two seasons -- 66.75.
Big turnaround
Ted Potter Jr., had missed six of his last seven cuts this year, but he is in position to make a run at a Tour win after shooting 64 on Saturday.
Potter trails Simpson by four shots and made his move through the field by one-putting six of his last seven holes. He needed just 24 putts for the entire round.
———
Visit The Roanoke Times (Roanoke, Va.) at www.roanoke.com
Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/golf/view.bg?articleid=1061144232
Let's see, Woods has won more PGA tournaments this year (3) than Watson has played (2) and is ahead of him by 305 spots (1st vs. 306th ) on the money list yet Watson can still beat him in competition. If that doesn't constitute a non-sport, I can't figure out what does. By the way, it's not Kool-Aid, it's Flavor Aid.
