With his head down, 60-year-old shoots for Senior Players title
TIMONIUM, MD. – At this time last year, golf legend Tom Watson missed the Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship to have hip replacement surgery. Less than 10 months later, Watson nearly won the British Open.
Recommended Stories
So how, at the improbable age of 59, did Watson contend for the world’s most coveted golf championship?
He used the most time-worn tip in the sport — keep your head down.
“I learned how to swing a golf club later in my career. It made it very easy to play,” said Watson. “I made the change, practice tee at Hilton Head, at 3:15 in the afternoon after a practice round in 1994. I know exactly when it happened.”
Today at 10:56 a.m., when he tees off with Fred Funk and Nick Price in the Constellation Senior Players Championship, Watson will apply that simple thought as he tries to become the oldest winner of a Champions Tour major. Play continues through Sunday at the East Course at Baltimore Country Club in Timonium.
“I made that change and the golf swing got easy,” said Watson. “When I do get off, it’s usually a pretty quick fix.”
These days Watson is hawking an instructional DVD. It was in production before the British Open. Just as with his ageless swing, the timing couldn’t be better.
“I call it ‘The Secret,’ It’s not really a secret at all.” said Watson, who turned 60 on Sept. 4. “The thing is, how do you keep your head down. What’s the proper way? What does it really mean to keep your head down?”
This weekend, Watson will try to win the Senior Players Championship for the first time. He finished second to Loren Roberts here in 2007, the first year the tournament was held at Five Farms. In addition to his eight major titles on the PGA Tour, Watson has five on the Champions.
Watson’s memorable run at British Open, where he lost in a playoff to Stewart Cink, highlighted what has been a strong year. He’s also finished in the top 10 in three of the four Champions Tour majors.
His ball-striking is as formidable as ever. Watson ranks No. 10 on the Champions Tour in driving distance (285.2 yards) and 13th in greens in regulation (72.2 percent). But his putting remains shaky as he ranks No. 74 (30.3 putts per round).
This week on the East Course’s severely sloped greens, Watson will try to find the answer.
“Unlike Phil Mickelson, who moved his hands forward ahead, I’ve moved mine farther behind [the ball],” said Watson. “We’ll see if I can get some release in my putting stroke.”
And if that doesn’t work, he’ll just keep his head down.
