Nicklaus and Watson in 1977: Can Anyone Top That?

Can this week's Open Championship at Turnberry even come close to the great Nicklaus-Watson drama that transpired there in 1977?

They say never say never but it would be hard to imagine anything coming close to that great battle that took place 32 years ago at this week's championship venue.

Nicklaus was in his prime and Watson was 10 years his junior.

I couldn't help remembering every minute of the telecast.

It was mesmerizing.

I thought to myself, could we possibly see anything like it this week?

Probably not.

First of all, it will not be hot and sunny at Turnberry the way it was in 1977. UK weather forecasts call for some form of rain every day and winds that will be light, but still there in the 10-15 mile per hour range this week.

Most important, there is no equivalent of Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson in this field.

Yes, there's Tiger Woods and he's been very Nicklaus-like in the 14 majors he has won.

But where's his Watson?

There isn't one.

Nicklaus and Watson took this golf course apart in '77. They both shot identical scores the first three days—68-70-65.

They were head and shoulders above the rest of the field.

Seems like yesterday they fought it out.

Jack was up by two with six holes to play and I was sure he'd get it in the house.

The major turning point of the championship came at the 15th hole.

Watson was staring at the difficult shot, just off the green on a downhill slope.

Tough chip so he chose to putt it from 60-feet away.

Couldn't believe he made it and I suppose Nicklaus couldn't either.

Even Tiger knew the location as he practiced on Monday and asked, "Is this the spot?"

At 17, Nicklaus sealed his fate with a missed four-foot birdie putt. It was one of the few times I remember Jack missing a putt like that. Watson two-putted for birdie and led by a shot going to the final hole.

Watson hit his drive in the fairway and Nicklaus' tee shot strayed right, almost in the gorse.

I remember Watson walking across the fairway to see Nicklaus' lie. Jack had a shot, but a tough one. Watson produced one of the greatest shots of his storied career. His 7-iron from a shade over 185 yards, slightly downwind, came to rest three feet from the hole.

Nicklaus hit an 8-iron from a gnarly lie onto the green but 40-some feet away.

Yes, Jack rolled the putt in, but in vain. Watson handled his short effort and took custody of the Claret Jug.

If you look at the photo above, it's Nicklaus congratulating Watson and telling him:

"I gave you my best shot, but it wasn't good enough...."

Can there be any scenario this week that could possibly equal that final four-hole stretch in 1977?

Odds are very mighty that the answer is "absolutely no."

But then again, this is golf and this is the Open Championship.

You never know.