BRITISH OPEN / DAILY REPORT : Frustration of Poor Putting Returns to Haunt Watson, End Hopes for Title

Tom Watson’s bid for a record-tying sixth British Open title faded like a bleached shirt Sunday.

Watson began the day at eight under but finished with a disappointing four-over 74. Watson wasn’t low American. He wasn’t even low Tom. That went to Tom Kite, who ended the tournament at five under, one better than Watson.

As usual, it was Watson’s putting that did him in. The new and improved stroke he had used earlier in the week betrayed him in the final round.

“I had 38 putts and that really says it all,” he said. “I three-putted eight and nine for double bogeys. I couldn’t make any putts. Only one remarkable putt at seven from two feet. It was very frustrating.”

Watson, 44, isn’t giving up. He said he will be back.

“No, I’ve got plenty of more chances,” he said of his championship opportunities.

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As Nick Price and his caddie, Jeff (Squeeky) Medlen, walked off the 18th green, 13-year-old David Williams of Cornwall, England, asked for the historic ball used on the final putt.

Medlen tossed it to him.

Williams wasn’t satisfied. When Price emerged from the scorer’s trailer and handed Medlen his putter, Williams asked for that too.

“I gave you a ball,” said Medlen, “don’t get funny on me.”

Williams slinked away.

“A joke,” he said later. “A harmless joke.”

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Greg Norman, who began the British Open as the defending champion, finished with a 69 and four-day total of 276. As did Watson, he blamed his putter.

“I’m not too happy with the defense of my title,” he said. “Why? Well, I look at the scoreboard and see that I’m not enough below par. I should have made a lot more putts.

“I lost my title on the putting greens. I missed more putts from 10 feet than I have in the past four years.”

The gracious Norman, who left the course immediately after the round, called the media tent from his jet and left a message of congratulations for his friend Price.

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After shooting a first-round two-under 68, John Daly plummeted quickly. His last three rounds: 72, 72, 80.

Among those players who made the cut, Daly finished last at 292. His final back nine of 44 included five bogeys and a quadruple bogey. The latter came at the 16th, where Daly twice landed his ball in the stream known as Wilson’s Burn. At 18, Daly was in such a hurry that he took less than five seconds to take his third shot after partner David Gilford had played.

After the round, Daly didn’t stick around long. After signing a few dozen autographs, he got in a car and sped off.