Just before joining me and about a dozen journalists via telephone on Tuesday Tom Watson had just finished his second practice round at Turnberry.
He then went down to the ESPN/ABC complex to join with his fellow broadcasters to talk about The Open.
It was clear from his opening remarks that he was happy with his play.
He is part of the ESPN/ABC All Star broadcast team.
But Watson proceeded to tell anyone who wanted to listen about how to play a links golf course something the five time Open Champion knows all about.
32 years ago on this same course he waged one of the greatest golf duels of all time and after play today he found himself near the top of the leader board after shooting a 65 just a few months shy of turning 60.
I spoke to Watson about that storied battle back in 1977.
Watson: “It was a highlight of my career to win here. The 1977 Duel in the Sun as they called it back then had me and Jack Nicklaus paired together on both Saturday Sunday. We were never more than a couple of strokes apart for the final 36 holes. It was great golf and I hate to rank wins but it was sure in the top there of my career.”
How has the course changed since 1977?
Watson: “The course is much longer, the rough is far deeper. But like all links courses you can over come the distance if you know how to bounce the ball down the fairway. That’s right the fairways are very hard and so you can get more distance by hitting the ball so it bounces for more distance. Plus keeping the ball low so the crosswinds don’t carry it away also helps. In general they have moved things around and it is a far more difficult course by far. The scores will be much higher than in 1977.”
How playing links is golf different from what we are used to here in the states?
Watson:“Like all links courses Turnberry changes every day in large part because of the wind conditions. The courses are hard and the ball bounces so you have to factor that in but there are few trees so the wind becomes the biggest challenge. You may begin the day with a southwest wind that changes to the north and the course plays completely different. It is possible to change clubs three or four times on a single hole depending on the wind. That is the links golf challenge.”
How about playing in Open and then broadcasting?
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Watson:“My hope is to be on the air playing in contention on Saturday and Sunday. I love broadcasting but it would be a great deal more fun if I was playing against Tiger Woods on Sunday for the title.”
That it would Tom – it would be great theatre to be sure.
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