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Shades of greatness Tom Watson's 65 tied previous course record
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- Tom Watson's bid to finally win a PGA Championship came too late. He's well past his prime, a 50-year-old who earns his keep on the Senior PGA Tour. And despite a 7-under-par 65 Saturday, he was simply too far behind Tiger Woods. "I knew I was going to make every putt. That's the old Tom Watson," the five-time British Open champion said. There was a lot of magic in the round that gave him a brief share of the Valhalla Golf Club record. He chipped in for birdie on No. 10, and rolled in long birdie putts on Nos. 12, 15 and 18. He had a tap-in birdie on the par-3 14th. But he started at 2 over, and a 5-under total Saturday left no glimmer of hope for Watson to fill in the blank spot on his own career Grand Slam. There is no PGA Wanamaker Trophy among his eight major championships. Watson, who will turn 51 on September 4, seemingly had one in his grasp in 1978, leading for three rounds before John Mahaffey staged a record rally and beat Watson and Jerry Pate in a playoff. In 1996, when the PGA was first played at Valhalla, Watson was eighth after two rounds, but faded to 17th. "I had one hand on it one time, but I didn't get both hands on it," he said. 'But I don't dwell on it. I don't play, `What if?' Winning the PGA was certainly my No. 1 goal for many, many years." For the crowds at Valhalla, it was almost old-timers week. For the two days Jack Nicklaus played with Woods, the ovations were longer and louder for the old lion. It was the same with Watson Saturday. It was a fan, after the birdie on No. 10, who urged Watson toward the course record. "I said to myself, `I wonder what that is,'" Watson said. The same fan answered the question two holes later after Watson's birdie at No. 12 -- 65, set in the 1996 PGA by Russ Cochran, also in the third round. Later Saturday, the seemingly defenseless Valhalla gave up a 63 to Jose Maria Olazabal and another 65 to Franklin Langham. Watson received a special invitation to play in this year's championship because he did not qualify any other way. He spends most of his time on the senior tour, where he has three second-place finishes and a big pile of money. He played the other three majors this year, missing the cut at Augusta, and finishing 27th at Pebble Beach and 55th at St. Andrews. "I still feel as if I can play with the young kids," Watson said. "My days are numbered, but I still like to compete against them."
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