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British Open Notebook

Nicklaus firmly on friend’s side

Associated Press / July 19, 2009
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TURNBERRY, Scotland - Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus starred in the famous “Duel in the Sun,’’ one of the most compelling final rounds in major championship history.

Thirty-two years later, one of them has a chance to win another British Open at Turnberry at age 59.

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.

A victory would come 26 years after Watson last won a major, the longest gap in golf history.

“Whether or not Tom plays well tomorrow, whether or not he wins, it doesn’t make a difference,’’ Nicklaus said. “Of course, we would all love to see Tom win, but what he has accomplished already is a phenomenal achievement.’’

Nicklaus was 46 when he won the Masters in 1986, shooting a 30 on the back nine. He was 58 when he made a Sunday charge at Augusta National before he tied for sixth.

“The thing Tom will realize is that this golf course is not very easy,’’ he said. “No matter what everybody else does [today], 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.’’

Nicklaus said he and his wife, Barbara, will be rooting for Watson to win. The Golden Bear also said he sent Watson a text message, although he needed some help.

“Barbara sent to Tom my very first text, ever,’’ Nicklaus said. “Barbara has been texting him all week, but that was my first.’’

As for the message?

“That is just something between the two of us,’’ Nicklaus said. “He’ll have to tell you.’’

In need of a win
Watson arrived at Turnberry knowing that his time at the British Open was running out. A recent change in the criteria meant former champions could no longer compete when they were older than 60. Then again, a victory by the 59-year-old Watson would change that. The age limit has been getting more attention as Watson has stayed atop the leaderboard this week at Turnberry, particularly given the nature of links golf that doesn’t always require power to compete. The Open returns next year to St. Andrews, the only course in Scotland where Watson has not won . . . Watson was asked if he was the George Foreman of golf, a reference to becoming an ancient champion. “No, I don’t name all my kids ‘George.’ My kids have different names,’’ he said . . . In another sign of the times, Watson was talking about the amount of text messages he has received this week when he stopped and shook his head. “Isn’t it amazing?’’ he said. “In 1975, there were about 15 press people after I won in the playoff. Here we are talking about text messages in 2009.’’

Bryce was right
Bryce Molder, who needed two birdies over the last three holes Friday to make the cut, hit 3-iron into 30 feet for birdie on the eighth hole yesterday and went on to the low score of the third round, a 3-under 67. By the end of the day, Molder was tied for eighth at even-par 210, only four shots behind Watson. All he knew when he left the course was that he would be sleeping later and facing more nerves.

© Copyright 2009 Globe Newspaper Company.