Golfer Tom Watson Defies Age Cial Winner That Day, Watson’S Near Win Broke-Country Day School
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be the yarn that could have been. Stew- golfer gained traction when Watson his 400-acre farm outside Kansas City. LIVING LEGEND art Cink, who’d grown up watching captured the Kansas City Match Play “There’s a lot of mowing to do and Watson on TV, beat him in a championship at 14 years of age and lots of things to attend to,” says Wat- four-hole playoff. garnered local renown while playing son, who along with his wife, Hilary, While Cink may have been the offi- on his high school team at The Pem- cares for the horses and dogs on Golfer Tom Watson Defies Age cial winner that day, Watson’s near win broke-Country Day School. From the property. By: Sondra Barr at the British Open was the new inspi- there, he went on to play golf at Stan- His success extends far beyond the ration for everyone with “A Tuesday ford University and graduated in 1971 golf course, too. For 25 years Watson’s seniors discount at IHOP,” described with a degree in psychology. hosted the Children’s Mercy Golf one sports writer. “IHOP is one of my “My main talent was golf. I didn’t Tournament, where he’s brought some favorite restaurants, my wife and I go know if I was going to be any good, but of the greatest golfers together, includ- there all the time,” laughs Watson of I was going to work harder than any- ing Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Lee the reference. “But probably the most one else at trying to be the best golfer I Trevino, Byron Nelson, and Sam rewarding result of what I did, almost could be and see where that led me. It Snead, to help raise over $11 million winning the British Open at Turnberry led me to practicing long hours and for sick children. The First Tee of in 2009, was the response I received getting to the point where I trusted Greater Kansas City has also benefited from people my age or older. greatly from Watson’s involve- That response was, ‘You’ve ment. According to Pat Zuk, given me hope.’ There’s a executive director of the orga- (Toby Keith) song that goes, nization that helps develop ‘I ain’t as good as I once was, values in young people such but I’m as good once as I as confidence, perseverance, ever was,’” explains Watson. and judgment through golf, “Well, there’s a certain hope “Tom is one of those people All photography by Bruce Matthews www.MatthewsCommunications.com in that song and I think it re- who just gets it and gives with flected what I did last year.” his time and talent.” Watson’s fortitude and Perhaps the charity nearest t takes a rare sort of athlete petitive fire rarely exhibited by folks longevity in such an arduous to his heart is the Bruce Ed- to transcend a sport and be- his age, or any age, for that matter. sport may owe something to wards Foundation for ALS come more than a mere foot- “Maybe your standards lessen some- his solid midwestern begin- Research, which Watson note or trivia question along what the older you get, mine haven’t. nings. Born in Kansas City, helped found after his long- the lines of: “What golfer was My standards are still the same. When Missouri, Watson was first time caddie, Bruce Edwards, dubbedI Huckleberry Dillinger early in I go out to play a game of golf, I try to introduced to the game at was diagnosed with ALS in Golfer Tom Watson at a clinic for Kansas City Junior Golf his career?” play the best I possibly can with every age 6 by his father, Ray. “My Festival. 2003. “There are no mulligans Tom Watson, the answer to the afore- shot. There are no throwaways,” says father was a very accom- when you contract ALS; when mentioned query, is one such athlete. Watson, who lives by the maxim that plished amateur player and you get it, you die,” details He’s amassed 39 PGA Tour wins (in- the date on your birth certificate isn’t he loved the game with a passion. He myself in pressure situations and be- Watson. Says Gwyn Dieterle, a founda- cluding two Masters, a U.S. Open, and predictive of when you should throw in cut down a hickory shafted 5 iron and came a winner,” he says. tion board member, and Edwards’ sis- a remarkable five British Opens), been the towel and walk away from a dream put it in my hands. After I started hit- Today, Watson credits regular com- ter, “If we could put a halo over Tom’s a PGA Player of the Year six times, realized. “Age is just a number, a refer- ting the ball ok, he taught me how to do petition as a way to keep him mentally head, we would. Tom never abandoned won five Champions Tour Major ence to how long you’ve lived in this things that most young kids –at that on the ball as he gets older. “We’re Bruce. He’s since dedicated himself to Championships, been a five-time lead- life. It does give you strength some- age at least – are never taught: how to very lucky to have what we call the help find a cure for ALS.” ing money winner, and is only the sec- times that you can’t imagine.” hook and slice the ball. It was very in- Champions Tour (formerly the Seniors With his recently released instruc- ond player in history, after Sam Snead, The strength Watson refers to was strumental in my abilities as a golfer to Tour). The thing about the Champions tional DVD Lessons of a Lifetime out, to post a top 20 finish in at least evident during his outstanding perfor- learn that early. Tour is it keeps you competitive. Phys- Watson shares what he’s learned dur- one major championship in five differ- mance in the 2009 British Open at He took to the game immediately ically, I’m not as strong as I used to be. ing his extended, extraordinary career. ent decades. Turnberry, where he defied all expec- and had ready competition. “My broth- I can’t swing the golf club as fast as I As for his most important lesson: “The He’s a golfing legend, no doubt. And, tations and was on the verge of becom- er Ridge is three years older. We were used to. He adds, “I’m not nearly as greatest lesson of my lifetime was giv- at 61 years of age, you better believe ing golf’s oldest major champion. On somewhat competitive – if you catch good a chipper or putter as I used to en to me by my father, who lived his he well deserves the honor. But legend- the cusp of turning 60, he was compet- my drift,” Watson chuckles. “We had a be, so I practice that more than I do my ary status typically references a “past” ing against the game’s best players, natural contest built into every time long game.” life simply by the Golden Rule. greatness. Guess what? Watson is still some of whom were in diapers 32 years we played.” Golf wasn’t Watson’s only To stay in shape, Watson works out a Treat others the way you want around. And, while Watson may have previously when he won a British Open favorite sport early on. “I loved base- few hours a week but claims walking is to be treated.” Tom Watson donates his time, his outgrown his early-career moniker, he there for the first time. It could have ball, too. But baseball was soon to his true elixir. “On the Tour, I always What does the future hold for this talent, and his money in support continues to demonstrate the staying been the greatest story in the history of be out of the picture because I got cut walk; I never take a cart. People don’t enduring golfer, what else, more golf. of many charities including The power of the literary Huckleberry and the game: The oldest golfer to play the from the midget B team when I was 9 understand, a simple 2-mile walk is all “That’s what I am, I’m a golfer. It’s de- First Tee of Greater Kansas City, the gumption of a Dillinger – along oldest tournament in the world emerg- years old.” you need to stay in shape.” Meanwhile, fined me. I love to play the game, and I an organization that helps devel- with a fierce determination and com- es victorious. Instead, it turned out to Thoughts of becoming a professional when he’s not competing, he works on love to play it well.” op confidence in children. 4 Texoma Area SENIOR Magazine • Fall/Winter 2010 Texoma Area SENIOR Magazine • Fall/Winter 2010 5.