TURNBERRY, Scotland — Tom Watson, who competed with — and defeated — Jack Nicklaus for the 1977 British Open in what was termed “The Duel in the Sun,” was asked what he thought Nicklaus was thinking about his run at a sixth Open win.
“Well, I think he’s watching,” Watson said. “I know my friend is watching, and it would be something special if I did what I intend to do [today].”
Nicklaus, 69, actually was playing tennis at his home in south Florida yesterday. But Nicklaus said he finished in time to watch Watson play the back nine at Turnberry, where he birdied two of the last three holes for a 1-over 71 that gave him a one-shot lead heading into today’s final round.
“I watched quite a bit, actually,” Nicklaus said in a Q&A with his spokesman. “Like everybody else . . . I had some tears in my eyes.”
Watson, already the oldest man to lead any round of any major, will try to join Harry Vardon with a record six British Open titles and become the oldest player to win a major championship.
“The thing Tom will realize is that this golf course is not very easy,” he said. “No matter what everybody else does . . . they will make mistakes. He will, too. And he knows that.
“The key for him is to just not let the mistakes multiply or manifest themselves into a bad hole. If Tom plays smart golf [today], he is the favorite. And I do not anticipate him playing anything but smart golf.”