A few weeks ago I happened upon a re-run on the Golf Channel of a Shell's Wonderful World of Golf program featuring Tom Watson vs. Freddie Couples. At the time I wasn't sure of the vintage*, but it looked to me that Couples was in his prime, while Watson, 10 years his senior, was clearly on the back 9 of his career. Not fair, I thought as Couples defeated Old Tom with relative ease. Both players reacted to the result with grace, of course. Couples said it was an honor to beat such a fine player, Watson asked for a rematch.
Well, he got it over the weekend, in Freddie's Champions Tour debut at the Mistubishi Electric Championship in Hawaii. Heading into Sunday's final round, the 60-year-old Watson held a two-shot lead over Couples, with whom he was paired. Couples knotted things up with a birdie at 8, and added a stroke with an eagle at the par-5 10th, to Watson's birdie. The sense was that Freddie would roll from there, but Old Tom wasn't done. Birdies continued to fly as Couples held onto a one-shot lead heading to 17. But Watson stuck two approaches, made two clutch birdie putts, and claimed his 13th Champions Tour victory by a stroke.
It's not uncommon for a newly-50 player to enter the Champions Tour and start winning right away, but Couples's inevitable first victory will have to wait at least another week. Watson showed today that he's not ready to go quietly into the night. Anybody hoping to make a splash this year on the senior circuit is still going to have to get past the old guard.
Well played, Old Tom – and welcome to the Whiffling Straits favorite active golfers list.
*It turned out to be 1997, when Couples was 37 and Watson 47.
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