Tom Watson
Good news, chaps: golf keeps you young. Admittedly that may not be scientifically proven, but it’s certainly worked for Tom Watson. Tom, it must be said, does not look 60 and has no plans on calling time on his career just yet.
“Golfers are like the old soldiers in that saying,” explains Tom. “'They never die, they just fade away'. I don’t know how much longer I’ll be playing professional golf, it’s up to...” He pauses, smiles and looks heavenward. “Well, whoever’s more powerful and in charge than I am! I just hope I can play a few more years and have the fun I’ve had this last year.”
It’s more than 50 years since Tom first played the game – “my dad put a cut-down hickory shaft in my hands and taught me the grip when I was six” – and he’s been playing professionally for around 40 years. During that time he’s picked up a number of tips and he’s now compiled them all – quite generously – into a double DVD called – quite accurately – Lessons of a Lifetime.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” explains Tom. “In 1988, when all the instructional videos came out, I was asked to do one but, at that time, I wasn’t swinging well and I thought I can’t tell people how to swing a club when I’m not confident myself.
“It was only in 1994, when out of desperation I made the change in my downswing and my position at address that fixed everything. I call it ‘The Secret’ - and yes, it’s on the DVD. That’s when it became easy for me, when I could do anything I wanted to with a golf ball, and golf become a pleasure to play again.” He smiles ruefully. “Saying that, the summer after this happened, I came to the British Open and played beautifully from tee to green, but my putting was horrible. Horrendous! I could have won the tournament if I’d even putted just average.”
While he clearly still enjoys the game, Tom is aware that things have changed on the professional circuit and has been outspoken about the effect today’s prize money can have.
“I’ve said it a number of times, but I do believe that, in certain instances, players can be corrupted by the amount of money they make. I think too much money corrupts the desire and for some players it’s about how much money they make rather than just trying to be the best player they can.
“Another difference is the practice tee now compared to the practice tee 30 years ago. Then you saw the player and maybe a caddy. Now you see the player, the caddy, the swing coach, his mental coach, his trainer, his dietician, maybe his girlfriend or wife...
“Old guys like Greg Norman and me, we warm up, and go out and hit it. Kids today, they have a lot of extraneous things going on, and I think that can be a little too much. You have to learn how to depend on yourself: it’s an individual game.
“Last year, going into the British Open, I had trust in my swing, I had trust in myself, and I never lost that during four rounds of golf, even during a stretch when I wasn’t playing well. I had some bogeys, some bad shots – but it wasn’t me losing my swing, I just hit some bad shots.
It’s clear that Tom believes that attitude is more important than youthfulness.
“You don’t have to quit the game because you’re old,” he laughs. “I give full credit to our Champions Tour – what we used to call the Senior Tour – in keeping me competitive. I started playing in that when I was 50, when,” he smiles, “I basically quit ‘the kids’’ tour.
“These days I play a limited schedule, about 12 events a year, but I’ve also kept in contact playing in the US Open and the Masters, and The Open. That allows me to still compete. It doesn’t matter under what circumstances you do compete, if it’s a tournament you have to play your best. That’s what I give most credit to, although I give credit to my mum and dad too, for giving me good genes.” Tom grins. “And I’ve had a hip replacement, and the doctor was very accurate when he put that in. I’d better give him credit too.”