Champion's welcome Watson makes his return to Carnoustie Click here for more on this story Posted: Monday July 12, 1999 06:42 PM   Watson says his goal this week is simply to par the 16th hole, something he was unable to do when he won in 1975. Allsport/Allsport CARNOUSTIE, Scotland (AP) -- Tiger Woods was in his mother's womb when Tom Watson won his first British Open title, beating Jack Newton in a playoff at Carnoustie. That was the first of Watson's five Open triumphs. He's back at age 49, making his return to the course after an absence of 24 years. In 1975, the last time the British Open was held at Carnoustie, Watson birdied the 18th to force an 18-hole playoff. He won the title when Newton bogeyed the last hole. Since his subsequent wins in 1977, '80, '82 and '83, Watson has placed second, fourth, seventh and 10th in British Opens. The galleries can't get enough of him. But the bookmakers put his odds at 125-1, and Watson agrees he's a long shot. "I am not playing particularly well right now," he said. "I am putting well but something brings out the best in me right here. I hope this time it happens." But Watson is not kidding himself. He knows where he stands and is preparing himself for the Seniors Tour. "I've gotten to the point where I am 49 years old and I said to myself I'm going to take a little break away from playing for the regular tour and work on my body, get my body into shape for the Senior Tour," Watson said. "I am doing that right now." He says his goal this week is simply to par the 16th hole. Watson bogeyed the 235-yard, par-3 hole in each round when he won in 1975. Even in practice he could do no better. "I hit the green once in five rounds," Watson said. "I hit it well beyond the hole one day when the pin was on the front and I hit my putt 15 feet by." Watson also recalled his first experience of links golf during practice before his triumph in 1975. Playing at a nearby course while Carnoustie was being used for qualifying, he hit a tee shot in the right direction, lost sight of it and found it in a small pot bunker he didn't know was there. 'It looks like a different type of golf. That was rude shock there," he recalled. "I played American target golf -- hit the ball high - and I was somewhat taken aback by that bounce. I truly didn't really like the game over here until I stopped fighting myself. I got on with it. "It was going against my nature at that time. But I decided to change my nature." And won five times.   Related information Stories British Open returns to difficult Carnoustie Golf Links First practice round goes to Carnoustie Expectations high for Monty after Loch Lomond win O'Meara reaping rewards from major breakthrough Multimedia Click here for the latest audio and video Search our site Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call your cable operator or DirecTV. Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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