Bigger story at British Open: Tiger Woods or Tom Watson?
We can all agree that the first 36 holes at Turnberry were surprising, but there is a debate brewing among (between?) sports fans and golf fans -- What's the biggest story of the day? Some would argue it's Tiger Woods, arguably the greatest golfer of all time, missing the cut at a major championship for only the second time in his career. Others would say it's Tom Watson, arguably the greatest links golfer of all time, leading at age 59 on an artificial hip. Want to join the debate? Leave a comment below.
Posted by: nirmal | Jul 19, 2009 3:07:23 AM
What an amazing turn of events and am i glad that
Tiger wasn't around to spoil the party ! He has that knack of decimating the opposition and leaving the rest of the field in tatters. Last year was "story book' and this year "fairy tale". So many ways to write the final chapter and Tom Watson pulling off another win at the ripe old age of 59 will be the greatest thing that has happened in golf upto now. Tiger will win many more majors and go on to be the undisputed golfer of all time, but the big story this week and for a long time, at least from a golfing perspective, will be Tom winning the '09 Open. Good luck you old warhorse, my thoughts and the spirit of Bruce edwards go with you.
Posted by: D Woo | Jul 19, 2009 1:34:13 AM
Bad question with an obvious answer. When will the media stop dissecting the negative and start enjoying the positive. I don't know Tigg, but I imagine the golf fan in him enjoys every sweet moment of Tom Watson leading this thing. If he wins, wonderful. If he loses, we'll still think about how great it was to imagine he could.
Posted by: john | Jul 18, 2009 10:35:41 PM
Like Henry, I also thought golf was not a sport. WRONG. It does take a lot of skills, and a slight flaw can mean the difference between great and the Nationwide tour. IF Tom wins the Cup, it would be the sporting event of the year period.
Posted by: kc | Jul 18, 2009 7:27:56 PM
Growing up in Kansas City, Tom Watson was my favorite professional athlete, not only because of his legendary golf achievements, but also because of how he carried himself off the links. He organized a local fund-raiser for a children's hospital for 15 or 20 years that generated many millions of dollars in donations, working hard year in and year out and calling in favors to get big-name PGA golfers to come and play in KC. I always admired him more for doing that for so many years than I did for his accomplishments in the PGA.
Posted by: Paul | Jul 18, 2009 6:51:17 PM
The TV ratings will judge. Should Sunday's ratings for the Open exceed all of the Sunday ratings for Tiger's three Open victories, then Watson is obviously the bigger story.
Posted by: johnbrittain | Jul 18, 2009 5:51:54 PM
Easy answer. Just think of the odds you could have gotten that each of these events would happen. Tiger missing cut? Maybe 100 to 1; Watson leading after three rounds? 1000 to 1, at least. Watson is the most incredible golf story in at least 50 years - that is, if he wins. If he doesn't win, forgotten quickly, perhaps.
Posted by: Matt | Jul 18, 2009 4:08:50 PM
Tom Watson is the embodiment of the word golf professional. His demeanor on and off the course has been inspirational to millions. He is a class act. Of late Tiger Woods has become arrogant and ill tempered. if Woods played in our golf group on weekends he would have been fined $2 for 10 separate incidents when he displayed anger by letting the club leave his hand; wacking his golf bag, and tossing his club into the bag. The mini tantruns of anger now common in Wood's game is NOT how a world role model should act on the golf course. Golf is a gentleman's game, and Tiger needs to brush up on his manners or else his place in history will be far behind the many ambassadors who have preceded him, including Hogan, Palmer, Nicklaus, Chi CHi, Watson, Faldo, Crenshaw, Kite, Vardon, Snead, et al
Posted by: NJ Hacker | Jul 18, 2009 1:36:27 PM
Watson of course. Who cares if Woods missed the cut?
Posted by: LivingTheDram | Jul 18, 2009 12:31:15 PM
The game of golf was created hundreds of years ago and indeed The Open Championship is in its 138th edition. Tiger Woods maybe put up there as the greatest player ever but he's not the greatest golfer - that takes great skill on the course and great class off the course and Tiger is a long way behind Palmer, Nicklaus, Player, Watson to name but a few. In sheer terms of enjoyment and in appreciation of everything that is great about the game of golf, Greg Norman was the story last year and Tom Watson definetely THE story this year.
Posted by: Donna Krolewski | Jul 18, 2009 11:05:23 AM
The fact that he is able to play golf at 59 with a hip replacement is definitely an inspiration to all of us who are entering our senior years...Tom Watson is definitley the story this weekend And although I always cheer for Tiger Woods, I am dissappointed in his deportment these past few days. Tom Watson comes with poise and class...Tiger is still learning!
Posted by: Deborah | Jul 18, 2009 11:00:16 AM
Let's get serious here. So what if Tiger missed a cut? It is bound to happen. And all of your shouting for glee and sayings doomsday for Tiger are ridiculous. Jack missed several cuts for majors in his hayday. Let Tiger rest and the great Tom Watson have a chance to win. What a delight that would be. You Tiger haters should be thanking him. Golf would not be what it is today without him.
Posted by: steve | Jul 18, 2009 10:31:57 AM
I am sick and tired of woods cussing and throwing his clubs. If he was a friend of mine and acting like that on the course I would never invite him to play golf with me again. Woods is a great golfer but he needs to get some class.
Tom Watson is the story here...enough said
Posted by: hotbite | Jul 18, 2009 10:28:43 AM
Watson is the bigger story. 59 years old and a class-act. Let's hope he has the stamina and fortitude to play 2 more solid rounds. The Shark making a run last year and Watson going at it this year. You gotta love The Open. Go, Tom!
Posted by: Joe D | Jul 18, 2009 10:23:09 AM
Tom Watson is the story this weekend. Tiger would have eventually missed a cut at a major so I'm not too surprised. But what's with all the hate for Tiger? Spoiled Brat? The guy has done so much for golf. He has made the game of golf a legitimate sport, has done so much with his foundation, and has made everyone else on tour richer in the process. So what if he throws clubs... He's show a little emotion on the golf course. It's better than being as stale as naked toast.... Stop the Tiger bashing and enjoy Old Tom Watson's excellent show.
Posted by: Stan Klecha | Jul 18, 2009 9:52:24 AM
John Daley was fined for his actions but Tiger Woods will never be fined ..
I call that basis ..of course Tom
Watson is the lead story .. a professional ..not a hot head .. that
is the spoiled brat of the PGA..
Posted by: Sandy B | Jul 18, 2009 8:33:21 AM
I'm thrilled not to have to endure the temper tantrums and club throwing this weekend (bye-bye Tiger), and I think Tom Watson is THE story.
Posted by: Paul J White | Jul 18, 2009 7:13:59 AM
There are not two stories here, but one story with two aspects: The current favorite falters, giving a living legend a chance to shine once again. If Tiger had played like he did two weeks ago, it's a non-story. Tom Watson could be 5 under, but if Tiger was 8 under, no one would give Watson a chance to catch Woods.
Posted by: LITA | Jul 18, 2009 6:12:03 AM
Tiger is the story I will be missing golf this weekend with out tiger in the mix.
Posted by: adam carter | Jul 18, 2009 5:48:16 AM
I have to agree with Matt on this. To add: folks who have recently been introduced to the game are likely to think that any headline about Tiger must be 'the story.' But, as Matt says, anyone who has some perspective on the game knows that Watson's lead here is so much more significant. Consider, after all, that many view Jack's 86 Masters as among the greatest moments in golf history. Jack was 46. Tom is 59. It's really just unheard of what's going on right now at Turnberry.
Posted by: FGeorgie | Jul 18, 2009 2:58:58 AM
The big story here is Watson minus Tiger equals Jack being the #1 golfer of all time. The rationale is obvious how can a 60year old of the Nicklaus era be leading The Open when Tiger at his prime does not even make the cut? The answer is obvious, In Tigers era the competition is comparatively weak. Who else is there now? Wheras in the Nicklaus era there was Watson, Tevenio, Palmer, Player, Chi-Chi, Boros, Weiskopf, Johnny Miller and on and on. The evidence exposed by the 2009 British Open is overwhelming and undeniable if one is honest and objective
Posted by: Dave | Jul 18, 2009 1:38:09 AM
The greatness of golf is that the game can be so difficult for the greatest player in the game and somewhere else on the course, a senior citizen has found his magic sticks. Whether he wins or not, Watson is, by far, the bigger story. On the drive into work, they were saying how it was a great first day story, but they writing Tom's obituary early in the round. What he did on the last several holes and Sergio Garcia's comments, "come on old man". Just the idea that Watson has a chance two rounds has me glued to the set. Gotta love this game.
Posted by: bobintexas | Jul 18, 2009 1:00:08 AM
Undoubtedly, the story is Watson. If he can remain a factor in the tournament through Sunday afternoon --- let alone win --- it's one of the great sport stories of all time. The real Tiger story here that nobody seems to want to touch is whether he's having a psychological breakdown. His lousy behavior makes me think he's headed towards becoming the John McEnroe of golf. His inability to stay cool and deal with adversity is not only hurting his game, it's costing him a lot of fans.
Posted by: Matt | Jul 18, 2009 12:20:17 AM
Anyone with any sense of golf history has to know that Watson on the top of the leader board is by far the biggest story here. It's Tiger's second missed cut in a major in the last three years and some people think that is the bigger story?
Seriously?
Tiger's never even played the course before. It's not like this is a course he has history on.
A 59 year old man, arguably the greatest links golfer in history, is making an incredible run at the scene of what may have been his greatest victory ever. Watson is the oldest leader of an Open Championship (in it's 138th year) and it's at Turnberry where he won 32 years ago (Tiger wasn't even 2 years old). If Watson wins he will co-own the record for most Open championships in history. I know Tiger's great, maybe the best every, but get some perspective people.
I know this may sound harsh, but if you really think that Tiger missing the cut in a major for the second time in 3 years is a bigger story than Tom Watson, 59, trying to win his 6th Claret Jug, at Turnberry of all places, then you've shown a severe lack of knowledge about the history of golf and I really don't care about your opinion on the game.
Posted by: Chris | Jul 17, 2009 11:51:36 PM
While it a rare story that Tom W is leading or at the top going into the next round, he hasn't won it yet. He could very well melt down before it is over and end up in the middle of the pack. If he wins it then, yes Tom W is the bigger story. BUT, the bigger surprise right now is that Tiger melted microwave style and missed the cut all together by far right now.
Posted by: Sunny | Jul 17, 2009 11:45:04 PM
I have never posted – but this is too provocative - TW Senior or TW Junior - that is the question? If the criterion is the extraordinary standard of excellence and sustained achievement in making cuts, overall winning percentage and purported form - Tiger W missing the cut is a stunner by far. If the criterion is the comeback story of the decade(s), it’s Tom W. considering his age and legacy (especially in the Open Championship and Turnberry). Tiger is currently the second best golfer in history (until he surpasses the record) and while he is "temporarily out of commission," I will pull for TW Senior - Tom W!
Posted by: William | Jul 17, 2009 11:27:28 PM
Tiger or Tom? I'd say the game of golf is the biggest
story here. In what other sport can a 59 year old be in serious contention in a major championship even though guys 30 and even 40 years younger can blow the ball past. Just a testament to how important the mental game, course and weather management and short game are what wins golf tournaments.
If Tom wins, Tiger you have a good 30 years to surpass Jack!!
Posted by: TWtheElder | Jul 17, 2009 11:22:20 PM
Anyone saying Tiger is the bigger story has to be under 40. Being active and competitive at this level is amazing for someone in their 40s, but at near 60, that's would be like Borg winning a tennis major again 5 years from now...or Nolan Ryan coming back to throw another no-hitter. Long way to go for Watson, but the most amazing story in modern sports history if he wins this.
Posted by: randy | Jul 17, 2009 11:08:12 PM
im glad for tom representing the U S A butin the end theres alot of other players that will rise to the top tom will finish7th sadly ratings will drop tremendously i know my golf buddys and wont be watching, to bad
Posted by: bob parden | Jul 17, 2009 11:08:06 PM
The two long puts by Watson are memorable.
Posted by: henry | Jul 17, 2009 11:06:39 PM
Is golf even a sport when a 59 year old with an artifical hip can possibly win a major...pro golf is a joke
Posted by: greg | Jul 17, 2009 10:58:50 PM
I am a life long Tom Watson fan. He is the story. I hope he gets number 6!
Posted by: jimcpa | Jul 17, 2009 10:06:21 PM
Watson, hands down. Tiger may have a picture of the media personalities with a goat (why else would they fawn over every shot, even what porta potty he chooses to wash his mouth out in), but a 59 year old who had a hip replacement AFTER tiger had a knee replacement (and 30 years older) is leading a major...there is NO bigger story this year
Posted by: rob | Jul 17, 2009 9:49:45 PM
As a golf fan, Tom Watson in contention at the Open going into the weekend is definitely intriguing. However, the bigger story in the end will be Tiger missing the cut unless miraculously Watson is holding the trophy Sunday. TV ratings, sponsors, and fan support definitely suffer whenever Tiger is not in contention going into the weekend. His ridiculous streak of making the cut, sans Wing Foot, has been great for golf and viewership.
Posted by: Craig Hill | Jul 17, 2009 9:45:00 PM
Watson's the story! He's 59! The whole world is pulling for him! The fans love him over there. Tiger doesn't make the cut. Big deal. He is a great talent but not the greatest ever (Jack's got that distinction). The media is way too obsessed with Tiger. I always root against the arrogant, adolescent potty mouth!
Posted by: J Doe | Jul 17, 2009 9:41:30 PM
More big sports media BS. Keep following sheeple, the collapse is almost complete.
Posted by: Vin Reda | Jul 17, 2009 9:37:56 PM
At this point, it's Tiger. Leading in the second round and then collapsing is never a sweet story, and the older the player the worse it is. But Tiger was supposedly on his game coming in, the course was right for him -- blah, blah, blah -- and he muffed it. That's bigger -- at least until Watson puts himself in contention on Day 4. He just might do it. Like Tiger, he always rode a confidence streak very well.
Posted by: Jack | Jul 17, 2009 9:14:59 PM
Tiger is the bigger story. His play and deportment over these past two days has been deplorable. It was like watching a petulant teenager between the club throwing and the cursing and, remarkably, the body language. But he's the bigger story only because he is who he is. Watson is simply the better story. Because he is the better man.
Posted by: John | Jul 17, 2009 9:01:47 PM
It is an awesome story that Tom Watson is leading at the half way point. It will be even better if he wins!
Posted by: Mike Frye | Jul 17, 2009 8:56:38 PM
I will admit that I am biased, since Tom is a home town boy (Kansas City area...he lives just a couple of miles south of me), and I've had occasion to meet and speak with him several times over the years-and ALWAYS found him to be a truly class act. But regardless, I believe TW is the bigger story...and should he pull it off (I know it's unlikely...but looking at the field at the halfway point, not so much so if he stays on his game) it'll beat Nicklaus winning the Masters at 46. GO TOM!!
Posted by: bh | Jul 17, 2009 8:37:31 PM
easily watson. no question.
Posted by: ldh | Jul 17, 2009 8:17:54 PM
Because a 59 year old is a co-leader of the 'Open (granted Tom Watson) and Tiger could not make the cut is a bigger story...SHOCKING!!!
Posted by: Cal | Jul 17, 2009 8:16:06 PM
TW all the way, baby. I'm not even much of a golf fan, and I was thrilled to see TW doing so well.
Posted by: Mike & Mad Dog | Jul 17, 2009 8:07:20 PM
Tiger is the bigger story. How many cuts he missed in major? Once before today and that was due to loss of father. The other TW - Norman accomplished almost the same last year.
Posted by: luckyoldsun | Jul 17, 2009 7:49:44 PM
Watson is the bigger story. You have to expect Tiger to miss the cut once in a while. Maybe most elite golfers miss the cut one in four times and Tiger misses it once in 20, but he's not going to make every cut. On the other hand, nobody could have expected Tom Watson to EVER again lead a major tournament at the halfway point
Posted by: pups | Jul 17, 2009 6:51:17 PM
I has to be Watson, at least to golf fans. Everyone has a bad tournament, even Tiger, but how often does a 59 year old with an artificial hip win a club championship, let alone lead the British Open.