By Tom Pilcher
Sunningdale, England - British Open runner-up Tom Watson thanked his "great friend" and former rival Jack Nicklaus for calling him after he went agonisingly close to becoming golf's oldest major champion at Turnberry on Sunday.
Nicklaus and Watson famously battled out the 1977 British Open at the same Scottish course which Watson won in a tournament that became known as the "Duel in the Sun".
"I had a nice conversation with Jack and he said: 'You couldn't have played the 18th hole any better. It just wasn't there'," Watson said yesterday at Sunningdale Golf Club outside London where he is competing this week in the Senior British Open.
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Watson, 59, held a one-stroke lead going into the 72nd hole, but after a solid drive the American hit his approach through the green and took three to get down for a bogey five, forcing a playoff, which he lost to compatriot Stewart Cink.
"Jack also said: 'You played the right shot with the putter.' That soothed me a little bit. Great friend," added Watson, who missed out on equalling Harry Vardon's record of six British Open victories.
Nicklaus, 69, widely known as the "Golden Bear" and who won a record 18 major titles between 1962 and 1986, was so intrigued by the action that he watched the entire last round at his Florida home.
"Jack told me: 'Watson, that's the first time I ever sat down and watched all 18 holes of any golf tournament, ANY golf tournament," said the eight-times major winner while smiling broadly.
Watson piled up five British Opens, two US Masters and one US Open, leaving the US PGA Championship as the only major out of his grasp. - Reuters
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This article was originally published on page 31 of Cape Times on July 22, 2009
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