Tom Watson : A Legendary Open Career

Even though Tom Watson's incredible story at the 138th Open Championship did not end with the most sensational win in the championship's history, Watson once again proved why he is the greatest links golfer of all time.

In order to truly appreciate Watson's Open Championship career, I will look back at Watson's best showings at the championship, aside from his runner-up finish last week.

1975 - Carnoustie

In his first appearance at the Open Championship, Watson left Carnoustie Golf Links with the claret jug and his first major championship victory, after defeating Australian Jack Newton in an 18-hole playoff. Johnny Miller, Jack Nicklaus, and Bobby Cole all finished one shot out of the Watson-Newton playoff. Watson's Open Championship career could not have begun in a more fashionable manner. However, as fans and competitors would soon realize, Watson was not satisfied with having his name on the claret jug only one time.

1977 - Turnberry

Two years later, Tom Watson defeated Jack Nicklaus by one shot for his second Open Championship in what is now known as "The Duel in the Sun" and, perhaps, one of the best major championships in the history of the game. During the first three rounds of play, Nicklaus and Watson matched each other's scores. During the final round, Watson and Nicklaus were once again tied for the lead until Watson birdied the 17th hole for a one-shot lead. On the final hole, Nicklaus made a 50-foot putt for birdie, forcing Watson to hole his three-foot putt for his own birdie. When he did, he had defeated his rival by one shot. While Watson and Nicklaus went head-to-head against each other during the entire week, the rest of the competition did not fare as well. Third-place finisher Hubert Green finished a full 10 strokes short of Nicklaus.

1980 - Muirfield

In 1980 Tom Watson again showed why he should be the Open's pre-tournament favorite every year. With a final score of 271 (13-under-par), Watson defeated 1971 and 1972 Open Champion Lee Trevino by four shots. Rival Jack Nicklaus finished a full nine shots behind. With the win, Watson began the decade with what he treasured most - another claret jug.

1982 - Royal Troon

With a one shot victory over Nick Price and Peter Oosterhuis, Watson won his fourth Open Championship and second consecutive major to become the most dominating golfer in the world at the time. In addition to his Open Championship victory, Watson also won the 1982 U.S. Open in a close match against Jack Nicklaus at Pebble Beach, defeating him by two shots after hitting one of the most iconic shots in U.S. Open history - a chip shot hole-out from the rough for birdie on Pebble's infamous par-three 17th. The 1982 season would be one of the best, if not the best, of Watson's storied career.

1983 - Royal Birkdale

With yet another one shot victory, Watson obtained his fifth claret jug, as well as his eighth and final major championship. Andy Bean and Hale Irwin finished runner-up. With the win, Watson tied Peter Thomson for second-place on the all-time list of Open Championship victories. While the Open would be Watson's only victory of 1983, it would be a historic win nonetheless, as Watson joined only a handful of golfers to successfully defend the Open Championship.

1984 - St. Andrews, T-2nd

In 1984 Tom Watson fell two strokes short of accomplishing three of his goals for the week - join Peter Thomson as the only golfer to win three consecutive Open Championships, tie Harry Vardon for the all-time record of Open Championship victories with six, and win an Open at St. Andrews, the Home of Golf. Instead, three-time Open winner Seve Ballesteros walked away with the claret jug for the first time in five years. Though he fell short of his goal of winning, and while he never won the Open again, Watson will be regarded as one of the best golfers in Open Championship future for all of time.

Watson's Record at The Open:

Appearances - 32
Wins - 5
Seconds - 2
Top-10s - 10
Top-25s - 13