Watson to lead US in Ryder Cup

Updated December 14, 2012 06:55:56

Eight-time major champion Tom Watson has been named as captain of the 2014 US Ryder Cup squad.

Watson, a five-time British Open champion, was selected in hopes of ending an American slump in the biennial golf showdown. The Europeans have won five of the past six Ryder Cup matches, including at Medinah near Chicago last September.

The 63-year-old Watson, who contested the Australian Open in Sydney last week, is the oldest captain in US Ryder Cup history.

The prior US Ryder Cup captain age mark belonged to Sam Snead, who was 57 when he guided the Americans in 1969.

"It's going to be a great journey. I hope that we will change the tide," Watson said.

Watson will be 65 when the next Ryder Cup is contested in 2014 at Gleneagles in Scotland.

He first served as the US captain in 1993, the last time a US squad won a Ryder Cup on European soil.

AFP

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First posted December 14, 2012 06:55:56

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Watson says broomstick putter 'just not golf'

Updated November 01, 2012 13:40:54

American great Tom Watson claims using a broomstick putter is just not golf and does give players an advantage.

Golf's governing bodies are poised to outlaw the use of long putters at the end of the year, though any ban would unlikely come into effect before 2016.

While the broomsticks have been around a long time, they have become increasingly prominent on the main tours in recent years with many leading players - including Australia's Adam Scott - making the switch with good effect.

Three of the past five major championship winners have used a long putter and calls are growing louder and louder for broomstick and belly putters to be banned.

Eight-times major champion Watson, heading to Sydney next month for the Australian Open at the Lakes course, has battled his own putting demons for much of his career but has never really been tempted to ditch the traditional blade.

"I think what they're going to do - and it's kind of common knowledge - the USGA and the R & A are going to ban the anchoring of the putter on any part of the body," said Watson in a teleconference with Australian golf writers on Thursday.

"I've never felt the broomstick putter was a stroke of golf.

"I may be in the minority, but one of the things that you see in teaching golf here in America, a lot of kids are being taught to use the long putter and I think it probably gives you an advantage.

He added: "It's helped a lot of people."

"I tried it once. I hit three putts with it from about 40 feet.

"I left my first putt 20 feet short; I hit it fat. I knocked my next putt about 15 feet by and finally hit my third putt kind of the right distance.

"So that's the extent of my practice with the broomstick.

"There are definite advantages with it because you take it back and basically the pendulum, the weight of the putter, will carry it through the impact area.

"There's really no chance to jerk it too much if you keep pretty still."

Supporters, though, including reigning US Open champion Webb Simpson, argue that technological advancements in drivers have had far more impact on the game.

AAP

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First posted November 01, 2012 13:40:54

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Watson wins US Masters

Updated April 09, 2012 14:09:50

Bubba Watson claimed his first major, beating Louis Oosthuizen in a sudden-death play-off to win the US Masters at Augusta.

Watson hit four consecutive birdies on the back nine to move to 10-under alongside Oosthuizen, who earlier hit the fourth-ever albatross at the Masters, and force extra holes to decide a winner.

After both came close to securing a birdie on the first hole, the 18th, Watson looked in danger when he drove errantly on the second playoff hole.

However, the 33-year-old left-hander then hit a miraculous second close to the hole and with Oosthuizen missing the 10th green with his second, the momentum swung in the American's favour.

"I was down there before. Had a good lie," Watson said about his wonder shot. "Had a gap where I had to hook it. I'm pretty good at hooking it and I put it up there 40 yards and it rolled up their close."

The South African just missed a par putt meaning Watson needed two putts to win and he used both shots on offer to secure his par and take the green jacket.

"I should have put one down the middle," said Oosthuizen. "Great stuff to him. He deserves it. It was a great day. We had a lot of fun."

2010 British Open champion Oosthuizen lost despite making only the fourth "double eagle" in Masters history and the first ever fired at the par-5 second hole, with a 4-iron from 253 yards.

The ball bounced onto the green, then rolled down a slope to the left and into the cup as the crowd roared in delight as "Oosty" leaped into the lead and Watson, having watched history, began working to make up a four-shot gap.

"I just kept my head down, knowing there were birdies to be had down the back nine," Watson said. "I just kept grinding it out."

Watson's win is his fourth US Tour win and comes two years after he lost a play-off to Martin Kaymer in the 2010 US PGA Championship.

His victory means that a left-hander has won the tournament five times in the last ten years, after Mike Weir became the first southpaw to wear the jacket in 2003.

Three-time left-handed winner Phil Mickelson finished joint-third along with Matt Kuchar, overnight leader Peter Hanson and Lee Westwood at 8-under.

Mickelson, who was the favourite going into the final round, never quite recovered after hitting a triple bogey on the par-three fourth.

"It was tough," Mickelson said. "It was just a bad break."

Ian Poulter finished three shots back in seventh place.

Australia's Adam Scott hit a round of 66, which included a hole-in-one on the 16th to leave him joint eighth on 4-under along with Justin Rose and Padraig Harrington.

Pre-tournament favorites Tiger Woods, world number two Rory McIlroy and world number one Luke Donald struggled to finish out a disappointing weekend.

Woods, a 14-time major champion chasing the all-time record of 18 majors won by Jack Nicklaus, finished on 5-over for the tournament, the worst Masters score of his professional career.

The former world number one was 2-over after 72 holes in 2003 and 2004. As an amateur he was 41st on 293 in 1995 and missed the 1996 cut.

"I didn't play the par-5s at all this week," Woods said. "It was an off week at the wrong time."

McIlroy, the 22-year-old Northern Irish prodigy who won last year's US Open after squandering a last-day Masters lead, reached as high as 7-over before two late birdies brought him level with Woods.

"I was hoping to do a lot better," McIlroy said. "I felt like I had a good chance going into the weekend and it just didn't happen."

England's Donald fired a 68 but finished on 3-over-par.

ABC/AFP

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First posted April 09, 2012 09:35:02

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Watson grabs Doral lead

Updated March 10, 2012 12:05:02

American Bubba Watson charged into a one-shot lead following the second round of the WGC event in Doral, Florida with a spectacular 10-under-par 62.

Tiger Woods started the day six shots back of overnight leaders Adam Scott and Jason Dufner and, despite a bogey-free 67, was seven strokes off the lead.

Scott (68), who had wobbled with a double-bogey on the eighth and a bogey on 11, was two shots back of the lead after closing with four birdies on his last six holes.

Dufner (72) was six shots off the pace, having mixed five birdies with three bogeys and a double-bogey.

World number one Rory McIlroy was 10 strokes behind Watson after a 3-under 69, failing to make the most of a solid eagle-birdie start.

Watson, who started on the 10th hole, quickly tamed the Blue Monster course with birdies on five of his opening seven holes before grabbing the outright lead with an eagle on the par-five eighth.

Despite carding nine birdies, one eagle and a bogey to equal the lowest round of his career, the big-hitting left-hander says he did not feel comfortable on the Doral course.

"This golf course doesn't really suit me," Watson said.

"My eye lines, it's tough for me ... but I've been hitting the ball really well and that carried over and I made some putts today."

Woods was left disappointed despite his 67.

"This is the highest score I could have shot today for sure," Woods said.

"It could have been pretty low."

Reuters

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First posted March 10, 2012 12:03:50

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Day paired with McDowell, Watson

Updated July 12, 2011 06:27:00

Australia's world No.8 Jason Day has been placed in one of the most intriguing groupings for the opening day of this year's British Open at Royal St George's.

The Queenslander, who has finished second at the past two majors, will link up with last year's US Open winner Graeme McDowell and big-hitting American Bubba Watson on Thursday.

They are due to tee off at 1.43pm (2243 AEST) at Sandwich, Kent.

The biggest drawcard at this year's tournament will be Rory McIlroy following the popular Northern Irishman's runaway US Open triumph at Congressional last month.

He is due to commence at 9:09am (1809 AEST) with three-time major winner Ernie Els and exciting American Rickie Fowler.

Aaron Baddeley is playing in the group ahead of McIlroy and the Australian needs to look no further than playing partner Ben Curtis on how to negotiate his way around the course.

The American won the event the last time it was held at Royal St George's in 2003.

They will be joined by England's Paul Casey.

World No.17 Adam Scott will tee off alongside 2007 US Masters champion Zach Johnson and England's Justin Rose at 1:32pm (2232 AEST).

Australia's Geoff Ogilvy has an early start at 8.09am (1709 AEST) with Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez and promising American Peter Uihlein.

-AAP

Tags: sport, golf, australia, united-kingdom, england

First posted July 12, 2011 05:53:00

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Tom Watson Lessons of a LifeTime Golf 2 Disc DVD

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During a career that's spanned 40 years, included 68 professional tournament victories, 8 of them majors (another 5 on the Champions Tour), Tom Watson has never stopped winning-or learning. Through his relationship with the late Byron Nelson, his own unceasing research and the epiphanies that come only to one who's tested theory under the most intense competitive pressure, Tom has become a master teacher as well as player. No tour player understands his swing, or the swing, as well. He takes you through the swing and the shots that will make your game more consistent and take your scores lower. You get his insights on every aspect of the full swing and short game, his approach to course management and the secrets to success in competition. In short, the Lessons of a Lifetime, the lessons that allowed Tom, at age 59, to challenge for the 2009 Open Championship at Turnberry. The two-DVD set containing close to three hours of golf instruction and an accompanying booklet of 44 lessons was filmed at The Greenbrier Resort, where Watson is Golf Professional Emeritus. This instructional program is the ultimate learning experience, covering all facets of the game-from the grip to full shots, to chipping, putting and the secret of his timeless swing, plus specialty shots including those required in strong wind conditions. Consistency, contact, alignment, firmness of grip, pivot points, release, rhythm and legendary coach, Harvey Penick's "dead-aim" philosophy are all covered in the two comprehensive DVDs. Watson's instruction comes across in an easy-to-understand manner making it seem your standing right beside him on the tee or green. "I believe my understanding of the swing is keener today than it ever has been. This is my way of passing that knowledge along. Play well." -Tom Watson.

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