|
Watson bests the Bear in '77
Posted: Saturday April 06, 2002 8:14 PM
Updated: Sunday April 07, 2002 5:10 PM
| |
Twenty-seven-year-old Tom Watson drained a 20-foot birdie putt on the 71st hole to douse five-time champion Jack Nicklaus's hopes for win No. 6. Walter Iooss Jr./SI |
By John Boyette
The Augusta Chronicle
The Brooklyn Dodgers never could seem to get past the New York Yankees in the World Series, save for 1955. Ditto for the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1960s when they faced the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals.
In golf, such head-to-head rivalries are rare. Rarer still was the individual who could get the best of Jack Nicklaus on a repeated basis, but that's exactly what Tom Watson did.
Twenty-five years ago at Augusta National Golf Club, Watson forged his reputation as a player capable of holding off the Golden Bear in major championships. In doing so, he won the first of his two Masters Tournament titles.
Watson took control of the 1977 Masters almost from the start, shooting a 70 for fourth place on the first day. A 69 on Friday put Watson into a tie for the lead with Rod Funseth, and he kept a share of it with a 70 on Saturday.
Nicklaus, two years removed from his fifth Masters title, didn't shy away from his younger competitor. Rounds of 72, 70 and 70 left him three shots behind Watson and co-leader Ben Crenshaw.
On Easter Sunday, the Golden Bear toured the front nine in 3-under 33 and lost a stroke to Watson, who birdied four straight holes to go out in 32.
But Nicklaus, famous for his back-nine Sunday charges, was up for the challenge. Birdies on Nos. 10, 12, 13 and 15 put him 7-under for his round and tied him for the lead with Watson, who was even par on the back nine through six holes.
Nicklaus, playing ahead of Watson, made pars on Nos. 16 and 17. After driving in the fairway on the final hole, Nicklaus waited to see what Watson did on the 17th. When he heard the cheer when Watson's 20-foot birdie putt fell, Nicklaus knew he was one behind.
"As soon as he made the putt, I changed my strategy," Nicklaus said. "I hadn't planned on somebody making a birdie. My mind wasn't ready for it."
Instead of playing safe, Nicklaus tried to be aggressive, but he found a greenside bunker. He blasted out to about 10 feet and missed the putt for par.
Watson made a conservative par on No. 18 to win by two strokes.
"I knew I had to make some birdies to win," said Watson, who closed with a 67. "I couldn't make pars to beat Jack."
Three months later at the British Open, Watson and Nicklaus tangled again. In what most golf experts consider the greatest duel in golf history, Watson edged Nicklaus by a stroke as the two players lapped the field.
Nicklaus would wind up on the losing end in majors against Watson on two more occasions. At the 1981 Masters, Watson again beat Nicklaus by two strokes. A year later, at the 1982 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, Watson chipped in for birdie on the 71st hole to steal a victory.
Watson, who struggled in the final rounds of majors early in his career, took great pride in both of his Masters victories against Nicklaus.
"The first time was great," Watson said after his 1981 win. "... It feels great to beat the top player in the game over the last 20 years. I would be lying if I said that didn't make any difference."
| 
