What Lincoln is Thinkin’ - One for the Ages

What Lincoln is Thinkin' - One for the Ages

For anyone who follows me on twitter or facebook (and if you don't, you have to ask yourself why not?), then you know that I won an Open Championship pool that I was in for having Stewart Cink.

But I'm not kidding when I said that I would've traded in my winnings to have Tom Watson win.

Think about it, would you pay $120 to see Watson hit that putt on 18?

I've been infuriated with the talk that what Watson did was actually bad for golf. That someone who is almost 60 years old coming that close to winning one of golf's majors looks poorly on the sport as a whole. Some 60 year old guy could never play in the NBA, could never play linebacker in the NFL, and could certainly not hit a Major League fastball (however, knowing those guys, they'd probably come up with some kind of drug that could make that eventually happen.)

But that's just disrespecting Watson. Not even the biggest golf fan would tell you that golf is the most athletic sport. Or requires the most strength. But it may require the most mental toughness, and that's what Watson taught us. For 71 holes, no one was mentally stronger. Yet ironically, one mental hiccup is what caught him on 18.

I don't think I've ever been as emotionally involved in a sporting event in which I did not have a dog in the fight. I like Tom Watson, I've actually met him while covering the Masters. But I never would have thought that I would be so transfixed to the television watching him play.

But his performance defies explanation.

I do disagree with Rick Reilly. I don't believe that this tournament is making 60 year olds around the country get off their coach and go out to the course. But I do believe with what Paul Azinger said during the telecast - that his love of the game of golf is what made this weekend happen.

Watson showed us that no how much you love a game, you can still succeed even if you have physical limitations. (Hopefully Brett Favre wasn't watching).

And he just gave us a great theatre to watch. Without Tiger. And anyone who watched couldn't have cared less that Tiger was not involved.

Now, he didn't finish the deal. And we will always remember that about last weekend. But that doesn't take away from the man, or the sport.

Maybe I'll use my $120 to purchase a few "2009 Open Championship" commemorative DVDs.

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