US Open Notebook

Moment is savored by Watson

By Michael Whitmer

Globe Staff / June 21, 2010

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PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — One last missed putt from close range, a playful toss of the golf ball into the Pacific Ocean, and a heartwarming wave to a standing ovation. If this marked Tom Watson’s last appearance in a US Open, he certainly made it memorable.

Watson, competing on a special invitation from the US Golf Association, shot 76 in the final round yesterday, and tied for 29th at 11 over par. He blinked back tears as he walked up the 18th fairway, and after a splendid bunker shot left him 2 feet for birdie, he pushed the short putt. After making his par putt, Watson tossed the ball into the water.

“Well, I threw the ball in after I won the US Open in 1982,’’ Watson said. “And what you do, you give the ocean its due because you don’t know when it’s going to take it from you. I’ve hit it into that ocean off the tee a few times, and throwing the ball in the ocean is kind of a thank you for not taking it one more time.’’

It was the 31st appearance in the US Open for Watson, who played in all five of the events held at Pebble Beach. He could still qualify for the US Open if he wins the US Senior Open, but acknowledged that this might have been the end, the reason he was so emotional.

“It was overwhelming coming up the 18th hole. It’s Father’s Day, with your son [Michael] on the bag, that’s when it started to hit me,’’ said Watson. “It’s just a wonderful feeling to be here at Pebble Beach.’’

Double the fun

Of all the history made here last week, Shaun Micheel’s slice might be the most impressive. It’s certainly the rarest.

Micheel made just the second double eagle in US Open history, holing his second shot from 239 yards with a 3-iron on the par-5 sixth hole. The hole plays uphill on the approach shot, so Micheel never saw it go in. The crowd’s reaction let him know.

“It was just the greatest feeling ever,’’ said Micheel, who shot 72 and finished 9 over. “It’s a lasting image that I’ll take with me forever, to pick that ball out of the hole.’’

The only other player to make an albatross at a US Open is T.C. Chen, who made a 2 on the par-5 second hole at Oakland Hills in 1985.

Touched by an Angel

Sean Paradis of Danvers, Mass., flew with some friends out to California, has tickets to the Red Sox-Giants series Friday and Saturday, and took in the final round at Pebble Beach. It might be worn off by the time he returns home, but he’s got the bruise to prove it.

Paradis was hit in the right calf by Angel Cabrera’s drive on the third hole. He waited to watch Cabrera play his second shot, perhaps hoping for a souvenir after being plunked. But Cabrera hit his second shot and moved toward the green.

“Must be a Yankees fan,’’ deadpanned Paradis, who was wearing a Red Sox hat and shirt.

Friendly game

There was a tie for low amateur at 8 over, and good friends Scott Langley and Russell Henley probably preferred it that way. Langley, a senior-to-be at Illinois who won the individual title at the NCAA championships last month, saved bogey with a chip-in on No. 9, then added two birdies coming in to shoot 71. Henley, who will be a senior at Georgia, shot a final-round 73, and bogeyed the 17th hole to fall back into a tie with Langley.

Not this time

Lucas Glover, last year’s winner at Bethpage Black, closed with a 76 and finished 15 over . . . Jim Herman made two eagles in the final round, knocking in a 5-foot putt on the short, par-4 fourth, and holing an 8-footer on No. 6, the highlights in an outgoing 30. He bogeyed 16, doubled 18, and shot 68 . . . First off as a single, Pablo Martin needed 2 hours, 39 minutes to shoot 79 . . . Anyone finishing in the top 10 and ties automatically qualified for next year’s US Open at Congressional. Matt Kuchar, with a 68, worked his way into a tie for sixth.

Michael Whitmer can be reached at mwhitmer@globe.com