Tom Watson Could Always Do Play-By-Play On Course

Remember in each of the last few years that Tom Watson has done some color commentary on ESPN/ABC's weekend telecasts of the Open Championship?  Well, as Devil Ball Golf explains, he was fully prepared to do that again this year.  That is, until he earned the 36 hole lead in the Open.

Watson will probably make a better part of the broadcast lead as the oldest player to ever lead a major championship after 36 holes.  He already held the record for age & the lead after 18 holes.  Watson's mere presence atop the leaderboard may well save the Open telecast for ABC, whose ratings would have been likely to plummet were it not for the Missourian's improbable rise.  With Tiger Woods missing the cut - you didn't hear that yet? - the public interest was likely to be lost without Watson and with live coverage starting at 9am ET.

Curiously enough, perhaps the prospect of calling the Open on the weekend at Turnberry - a course he clearly feels a kindred connection with - may well have motivated him.

"I hope I'm not broadcasting on Saturday and Sunday very much, if at all," Watson said earlier in the week.

Then again, Watson probably won't be doing much commentary on course.  He already said that he doesn't and won't Tweet.

On top of the love affair with links golf and Turnberry in particular, this is Watson's next to last crack at the Open.  No player can be in the Open after the age of sixty.  So, if Watson cares to extend his career in the Open beyond next year at St. Andrew's, he has two options: finish in the top ten next year or win now.

Seems like Watson is opting for the latter.