Just look at the money list. Denis Watson missed all but three events on the Champions Tour last season due to a shoulder injury which required surgery this January. But after six months of “brutal” rehab, he?s got $1.35 million reasons to show he?s playing the best golf of his career.
Watson is fifth on the tour in winnings, and has recorded two victories this season, one at the Boeing Classic in Sandestin, Fla., and the other a major, the Senior PGA Championship at Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina.
“My swing is solid and I try to get better all the time and work on a couple things,” Watson, 51, said. “It?s not one particular thing I am doing well, but a lot of things very well. I feel like I am going to find a round where everything comes together and I shoot a very low score.”
And the statistics reflect his stellar play.
Watson ranks in the top 10 in four of the eight ranked categories and is currently fifth overall in total combined statistics. He ranks highest, third, in Sand Save Percentage at 56 percent, but is also seventh in Birdie Average and 10th in Driving Distance.
“I couldn?t tell you any one thing [I?m doing really well],” Watson said. “I have lots of rounds where I left shots out there and I still have a good round and that?s always a good sign.”
One of the biggest keys to Watson?s success has been his ability to put himself in a position to succeed. In 25 career Champions Tour events, Watson has never failed to make the cut, including an impressive 21-for-21 this year. In those 21 competitions he has recorded a second-place finish, a third-place finish, 11 top 10s and 15 top 25s to go along a pair of victories.
Consistency has been the key to Watson?s steady play as he ranks seventh on the tour with a scoring average of 70.39 per round. The key for Watson this weekend at the Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship – where he will try to win his second major of the year – will be finding continuity.
“Everyone has told me [Baltimore Country Club’s East Course] is a really good golf course and it’s a traditional style and I like that,” Watson said. “Anything that favors a good ball striker would be good. But when you are playing well, every golf course is great.”
