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Keeping emotions in check

Posted By: Chuck Bower
Date: Saturday, 18 July 2009, at 6:36 p.m.

In Response To: A good week for "experience" (OT) (Chuck Bower)

Watson trailed by 1 after day one, was tied for the lead after day two, and now is alone (by one stroke) in the lead with the completion of play on day 3.

In most competitions (including BG), it's important to control one's emotions. We've talked hear about anger, and fear is another which can bite. But elation and nostalgia can be poisonous as well.

Ben Crenshaw won the Masters the week after his teacher/mentor Harvey Penick died. He noted afterward that he did everything he could to keep from thinking about Harvey while he played, and finally broke down on the green after holing his final putt.

Watson has many reasons to get emotional, besides the fact already mentioned about the record age for a major winner. In 1977 he won the Open by beating the greatest golfer of all time (up to Tiger Woods's accomplishments, still in progress), Jack Nicklaus in a final round head-to-head duel. Watson owns five Open Championships, one behind the record holder. Watson lost his career caddie and close friend, Bruce Edwards, in 2004 to ALS. Watson-Edwards was an on course team few have ever rivaled. One of Watson's mentors and good friends was Byron Nelson, a friendship initiated after Tom lost the US Open early in his career after leading going into the final day. Nelson, who was covering the Ty for ABC, sought out Watson in the locker room afterward to give words of encouragement.

All of these memories will be on Watson's mind tomorrow and he must fight them off and concentrate on playing the game. Let's see how he handles it.

Messages In This Thread

• A good week for "experience" (OT)
  Chuck Bower -- Saturday, 18 July 2009, at 1:50 p.m.
  • Keeping emotions in check
    Chuck Bower -- Saturday, 18 July 2009, at 6:36 p.m.
    • Keeping emotions in check
      Christian Munk-Christensen -- Saturday, 18 July 2009, at 6:40 p.m.
    • Keeping emotions in check -- OT
      Bill Riles -- Saturday, 18 July 2009, at 7:09 p.m.
      • Keeping emotions in check -- OT
        Christian Munk-Christensen -- Saturday, 18 July 2009, at 7:42 p.m.
        • Keeping emotions in check -- OT
          adambulldog -- Sunday, 19 July 2009, at 1:43 a.m.
    • Keeping emotions in check
      Joe Russell -- Sunday, 19 July 2009, at 2:41 a.m.
    • Keeping emotions in check
      adambulldog -- Sunday, 19 July 2009, at 3:25 a.m.
      • Keeping emotions in check
        Chuck Bower -- Sunday, 19 July 2009, at 2:56 p.m.
        • The Amsterdam Hilton
          adambulldog -- Sunday, 19 July 2009, at 3:41 p.m.
          • The Amsterdam Hilton
            Chuck Bower -- Monday, 20 July 2009, at 1:09 a.m.
    • ...for 71 1/2 holes
      Chuck Bower -- Monday, 20 July 2009, at 1:34 a.m.
      • ...for 71 1/2 holes
        Bill Riles -- Monday, 20 July 2009, at 1:59 a.m.
        • ...for 71 1/2 holes
          Chuck Bower -- Tuesday, 21 July 2009, at 12:53 a.m.
  • A good week for "experience" (OT)
    Christian Munk-Christensen -- Saturday, 18 July 2009, at 6:36 p.m.
    • A good week for "experience" (OT)
      Gustavo Goldfarb -- Saturday, 18 July 2009, at 7:46 p.m.