One To Stew Over: Cink's Victory Latest in Line of Memorable Turnberry Events
This Turnberry Open was no exception.
Yes, it all started with Tom Watson defeating Jack Nicklaus in the "Duel in the Sun" in 1977. Tom edged Jack by one and together they beat the field by ten strokes;
The 1986 Turnberry Open was the Greg Norman Show. The Aussie in his prime shot 63 in the second round including a three—putt bogey on the last hole from 30 feet. He won by five strokes while shooting an even par 280.
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Most recently in 1994 Nick Price edged out Jesper Parnevik making a long putt for eagle on the par—5 17th hole. His score matched Watson's 12—under par 268 in 1977.
Now 15 years later the Open returned to Ayrshire on the newly renovated Ailsa Championship golf course and it was an Open to remember.
No doubt it will be remembered as the one 59—year old Tom Watson lost as much as it will be as the one Stewart Cink won with a birdie on the 72nd hole and shooting 2—under in the four hole playoff.
But there was so much more to this Open beginning with the "mechanic" Miguel Angel Jimenez firing a 6—under 64 finishing late in the day on Thursday.
Jimenez made note of the easy conditions.
"Since I woke up this morning you can see through the window and you look at the sea, it looked like a pond, so nice, so calm. And well, you can't ask a better day to play. No wind, no nothing, and it (the golf course) took care of me."
Inspired by his mentor Seve Ballesteros and his battle for life the 45—year old Spaniard pleaded a personal message to Seve.
"(To) see him the way he fights and the way he going forward is of course give you lots of motivation to do anything in life. The power is inside yourself, and the power is inside Seve. I just want to say keep going and see you soon on the fairways."
Others that went low that first day shooting 5—under par 66s included most notably Watson a five—time winner of the Open, 37—year old Kenichi Kuboya a regular on the Japan Tour, and 2003 Open Champion Ben Curtis.
Stewart Cink was one of five that shot 66. Steve Marino was one of 11 golfers that posted 67. England's Lee Westwood was one of sixteen golfers coming in with a 68. Ross Fisher along with two—time defending champion Padraig Harrington and Masters Champion Angel Cabrera were among 14 golfers to shot 69.
All in all 50 players out of the field of 156 broke par on an atypical Scottish links golf day
The winds arrived overnight on the Ayrshire coast. The rains even came for a few holes in the afternoon. With 15 mph winds out of the north gusting to 25 mph going around the Ailsa Course at Turnberry would be much difficult for the final three days of the Open competition.
To see how different and how much harder one needed to look no further than Ben Curtis and his opening 65. Same golfer, same course, different weather conditions turned that 65 into an 80. The 36 hole total of 145 was one too many for Curtis to have a chance of redemption over the weekend.
Another casualty of Turnberry's toughness was Tiger Woods. He missed the cut as a professional in a Major for only the second time.
Though Woods made a gallant effort with a birdie on No. 16 and 17 his demise was being 7—over par on six holes starting with No. 8. His chip—in for birdie at No. 18 stopped short of the hole and he missed the cut by one stroke.
Steve Marino out early in the morning followed a Thursday 67 with a Friday 68 to stand at 5—under par after 36 holes.
"Today was so much different than yesterday. It was like a totally different golf course. It played so difficult out there today, you know, with the wind early and the rain. It was kind of raining on and off early. It was one of the hardest courses I've ever played today."
The 29—year old golfer who is winless on the PGA TOUR found out last Wednesday that he was second alternate and found out he was in the tournament Sunday morning.
He sent his father to Florida to overnight his passport to him at the John Deere Classic so he could board the charter jet to Scotland for his first Open Championship. Once here his agent went shopping for the appropriate clothing just in time for Friday's change in the weather.
At the opposite end of the spectrum from Tom Watson, Steve Marino's links golf experience was limited to two practice rounds and two competitive rounds.
"It's an advantage to have experience. But it can also be an advantage to not have experience, like you said. I haven't really experienced any nightmares over here yet, knock on wood."
Unfortunately the knock on wood wasn't hard enough and those nightmares and the school of hard knocks would be in session for Marino in the third round.
Watson would go out in the afternoon starting at 5—under par and come back in five hours later still at 5—under and tied with Marino for the 36—hole lead at the Open.
As Watson would put it "Lady Turnberry took off her gloves today and she had some teeth."
After being bogeyless for 18 holes the day before, the oldest player in the field made five bogeys going out on the outward nine holes playing into the wind. After that he answered with four birdies including making two 60—foot bombs on No. 16 and 18. Along with a birdie at the first hole he managed a level par round amidst difficult conditions.
Playing partner Sergio Garcia gave him a bit of encouragement coming up the eigth fairway saying "come on old man" and play like we know you can.
When asked about his Saturday playing partner Steve Marino's absolute lack of experience playing links golf Watson wisely replied: "Well, I never played links golf before I played Carnoustie in 1975, and it turned out pretty good for me there (first Open and first Open win).
As for what it says for the game of golf for him at age 59 to be leading the Open Championship:
"I think it's very clear what it says for the game of golf. It means that the game of golf is long—lived. We've always said that you play this a game of a lifetime, and that's not a cliché. You start at any age, and you can continue to play this game for a long, long time."
Mark Calcavecchia, age 49, shot 67—69 to stand at 4—under and alone in third place behind Watson and Marino. Like Watson he has some fond memories winning the Open championship twenty years ago in 1989 at nearby Troon.
Calc would falter on Saturday with a 77 though recover on Sunday with a 71 finishing T27.
First round leader Jimenez would shoot 73 on Friday and finish the day T4 only two strokes back. Like Calc his high round on Saturday, a 76 was his undoing though his Sunday 69 boosted him back up to finish T13.
In an Open oddity Daniel Gaunt from Australia improved on his first round by nine strokes and shot the best second round, a 69 by anybody in the field. The local qualifier who ranks No. 1212 in the world made the cut in his first Open appearance.
A weekend 79—82 finished him at No. 73 dead last on Sunday though he beat 83 of the world's best golfers including Tiger Woods.
Marino's nightmare would come then go away then come back worse than ever in his manic third round of 76.
After an opening par the Virginian bogeyed the next three holes before effectively ending his Open dreams with a double bogey on the par—3 sixth hole.
Thought to be dead Marino resurrected himself with an eagle on the par—5 seventh and a birdie on No. 11. Even with a bogey on the difficult par—4 14th hole he came to the par—3 15th hole only 3—over for the day and within one shot within Watson and clubhouse leaders Mathew Goggin and Ross Fisher at 3—under par.
His tee shot to the par—3 15th was right of the green, dead right in a place few recover from. Once the ball was found down the hill in heavy grass even Watson tried to help by raising the flagstick upright over his head so Marino could get his bearings.
Forced to take an unplayable lie and hit his third shot from the eigth fairway 90 or so yards away Marino erred long and was unable to get up—and—down on the subsequent shot. All totaled the result was a triple bogey 6.
After a double bogey on the 16th Marino got to the clubhouse with a strong birdie—birdie finish. But the damage was done and with a Sunday 75 he would finish T38 at his first Open.
Watson took his own lumps on the 15th bogeying from the back bunker further solidifying the Turnberry saying that "bunker equals bogey."
Making another birdie bomb on No. 16 and a two—putt birdie on No.17 Watson salvaged a respectable 71 and remained the leader of the tournament after the third round at 4—under par.
Watson put his extraordinary play the first three days into perspective.
"The first day here, yeah, let the old geezer have his day in the sun, you know, 65. The second day you said, well, that's okay, that's okay. And then now today you kind of perk up your ears and say, this old geezer might have a chance to win the tournament."
The Kansan was focused on winning his sixth Open championship and tie Harry Vardon as the winner of the most Opens.
"Today I made some good putts. I made some great pars today, which you have to do on a windy day here at Turnberry. Tomorrow maybe I can go out there and complete the game plan and do what I think I have to do to win the tournament."
Mathew Goggin shot 69 and Ross Fisher a 70 to sand at 3—under par one stroke behind Watson after three rounds of play.
Lee Westwood (70) and two—time U.S. Open winner Retief Goosen (71) stood at 2—under par two strokes behind the leader of the pack.
2003 U.S. Open winner Jim Furyk (70) and Stewart Cink (71) were at 1—under par and three strokes back of Watson.
Bryce Molder a 30—year old Nationwide Tour Graduate playing in his first Open shot the best round on Saturday, a 67 which moved him up to solo seventh place.
Sunday would bring more Scottish links golf weather with the temperatures in the low 60's and wind gust up to 30 mph.
Goosen after bogeys on No. 2 and 12 would double the par—3 15th hole from that diabolical back bunker. An eagle at No.17 and par at 18 would result in a final round of 72 and a T5 finish.
Molder double bogeyed the first and followed that with five bogeys and zero birdies. His Sunday 77 left him at T43.
Furyk also had a bad day with seven bogeys until a birdie at the 17th. His final round 76 resulted in a T34.
Ross Fisher would start birdie—birdie and even after a bogey on the par—3 fourth hole the expectant father led the tournament by two strokes standing on the fifth tee.
After failing to extract himself from the tall stuff a couple of times Fisher recorded a snowman, a quadruple bogey 8 in the heat of a Scottish summer day. Though still not out of it two more bogeys and 10 straight pars led to a Sunday 75 and a T13 finish.
The 138th Open would come down to Goggin, Westwood, Watson and Cink.
Goggin, paired with Watson in the final group would stay in contention until three straight bogeys on No.14, 15 and 16 would end his Open aspirations. Shooting a 73 he would end up T5 with Retief Goosen.
Westwood had the lead at 3—under after 14 holes. The Englishman would not make a par over the last four holes. He bogeyed No. 16 from the dubious back bunker to lose the lead. After another bogey on No. 16 he birdied No. 17 then 3—putted No.18 thinking he had to make the long putt to have a chance.
Westwood's respectable 71 in the final round left him at 1—under tied with fellow Englishman 21—year old Chris Wood. Wood, the low amateur Silver Medal winner from last year's Open shot the lowest round of the day, a 67. Others to shoot 67 included Luke Donald (T5), Soren Hansen (T8), Andres Romero (T13) and Jeff Overton (T13).
Cink had an up—and—down typical Open round recording five birdies and four bogeys.
The five—time PGA TOUR winner made a five—footer for deuce on No. 15 but then bogeyed No. 16 and failed to birdie the easy par—5 17th hole. He then finished with a birdie at the 18th to become the new clubhouse leader at 2—under par.
Watson's destiny was his own after a bogey on No. 14 dropped him to 2—under par.
After two pars he made the needed birdie on No. 17 to take the lead at 3—under.
Failing to par the 18th from the fairway with an 8—iron in his hand Watson fell into a playoff with Cink.
The difficult par—4 fifth, par—3 sixth, easy par—5 17th and the grandstand encapsulated 18th were used for a cumulative medal score four hole playoff.
Though the outcome was lopsided it really was not determined until the tee shots on the 17th.
After Cink bunkered his long approach to the fifth green Watson was unable to take advantage of the situation. In fact he lost the advantage by bunkering his shot short left with his third shot impacted by the sod walled face of the bunker.
Cink made a spectacular long sand save by making a 10—footer for par. Watson two—putted from sixty feet for bogey. Cink had a one stroke advantage.
Cink reached the green on the 231—yard par—3 sixth hole. Watson hit a terrible hybrid way right down an embankment. After hitting a magnificent blind recovery shot he made a tricky downhill left—to—right 10—footer to match Cink's par.
Only one stroke down Watson was still in the playoff until he pulled his driver left into the hay on the 17 th. Failing to recover completely he ended up 3—putting from 80 feet and making double bogey.
Cink finished in style with a two—putt birdie on the 17th and to top it off another great iron shot into the 18th green and subsequent short birdie putt.
A dejected Watson rallied the press corps as they silently filed into the interview room.
"This isn't a funeral, you know," said the iconic golfer.
"It's a great disappointment. It tears at your gut, as it always has torn at my gut. It's not easy to take. I'll take some good things from it, but it's still a disappointment to do what I did and lose the golf tournament."
Though not a champion this day, Tom Watson will forever be a champion in the minds of golfing fans around the world.
How did Cink make the pivotal putt at end of regulation?
"I hit that putt without a care in the world of whether it went in or whether it missed. A blank mind like that is the best way to approach a pressure—packed situation, and I was proud of myself the way I handled that."
Cink was brutally honest in his assessment of what happened. "The golf course is so hard that someone eventually is going to probably lose the tournament with mistakes. And I think that's ended up what happened."
The family man playing in front of his wife and two sons was also brutally honest with himself and the role he played in this the 138th Open Championship.
"I have to be honest, playing against Tom, you know, in the playoff; it's mixed feelings because I've watched him with such admiration all week. And of course it would come down to me against him in the playoff."
"Whether Tom was 59 or 29, you know, he was one of the field, and I had to play against everybody on the field and the course to come out on top."
He then drew on his experience competing in other big moments with the likes of crowd favorites Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.
"I'm usually the guy that the crowd—they appreciate but they're not behind me 100 percent of the way. You know, they aren't. So, you know, that's the sort of role I've been cast into for my whole career. And, hey, that's not the worst. It's okay."
Golfing fans as did those at Turnberry as Cink played the 18th for the last time without a doubt of his victory will appreciate Cink more now that he has won his first Major Championship.
In the split second of time it took Cink's ball to roll 15 feet for birdie on No.18 in regulation and for Watson's 8—iron approach shot to run though the green history was changed.
Watson did not win his sixth Open title to tie Harry Vardon and did not become the oldest to win a Major or PGA TOUR event for that matter at age 59.
Stewart Cink deservingly so won his first Major Championship.
Another great Open at Turnberry.
Andy Reistetter is a freelance golf writer. He follows the PGA TOUR volunteering for the tournaments and working part time for NBC Sports, CBS Sports, and The Golf Channel. He resides in Jacksonville Beach, Florida near the PGA TOUR headquarters and home of The PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach. He enjoys pursuing his passion for the game of golf and everything associated with it. He can be reached through his website www.MrHickoryGolf.net or by e-mailing him to Andy@MrHickoryGolf.net
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