Tom Watson defeats Des Smyth in playoff

Tom Watson has turned the British Isles into his second home.

Watson claimed yet another British Open on Sunday, outlasting Des Smyth of Ireland in a playoff at the Royal Aberdeen Golf Club to win one of the Champions Tour's major events for the second time.

A winner of the Senior British Open at Turnberry two years ago, Watson won five British Opens as a member of the PGA Tour. He again found the links courses to his liking, erasing a five-shot deficit at the start of the weekend.

Watson began the day with a one-shot lead over Craig Stadler and a three-shot bulge over Smyth, who forged a tie at 4-under-par 280 with a sterling 4-under 67. Both players parred their final five holes, with Watson signing for a 70.

"Today it was somewhat of a struggle," said Watson, who has won seven Champions Tour events and 39 PGA Tour events. "The rhythm wasn't quite there like (Saturday)."

The pair twice returned to the par-4 18th and produced a pair of pars before heading to the par-3 17th. Watson's tee shot found the fringe before Smith hit an 8-iron into a greenside bunker.

Smyth played out of the bunker but needed two putts, taking bogey. Watson left his first putt less than three feet from the cup and tapped in for the win, his fourth major victory on the elder circuit.

"It looked like we were going to play 18 about nine or ten times, but we ended up on 17," said Watson, who positioned himself for the win with a course-record 64 on Saturday. "Des made an error there and fortunately I got the cup in my hands."

Greg Norman, playing his first Champions Tour event, birdied the final hole for the third straight day but came up one shot short of the playoff with a 68-285. Norman won two British Opens on the PGA Tour.

Despite an eagle at the par-3 12th hole, Stadler struggled to a 1-over 72 and finished at 1-under 283, three strokes off the pace.

Email this page to a friend | Return to top of page