No PGA Title, No Regrets for Watson

Tom Watson has won eight major titles, but not a PGA Championship--even though he held a seven-shot lead over eventual winner John Mahaffey in the last round of the 1978 PGA at Oakmont.

“I had one hand on the trophy, but not two,” Watson said.

And 22 years later, it’s doubtful Watson will win the one major championship missing in his career, but after a third-round 65 left him eight shots off the lead he says he doesn’t worry about it anymore.

“I don’t dwell on it,” he said. “I don’t play ‘what if.’ Winning the PGA was my No. 1 goal for many, many years, since I had not won it. But as I say, I don’t look back on it. It is very simple. I look forward.”

Watson won the British Open five times, the Masters twice and the U.S. Open once. Only Ben Hogan, Gene Sarazen, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tiger Woods have won all four major championships.

At 50, Watson is more of a regular Senior PGA Tour player. He missed the cut at the Masters, tied for 27th at the U.S. Open and tied for 55th at the British Open.

“I still feel as if I can play with the young kids, but you know, my days are numbered,” he said. “But I still like to compete against them.”

Watson had one of his best putting days with nine birdies, twice rolling in bombs from 35 feet.

“It was magic today,” said Watson, who had two bogeys.

“It wasn’t much to look at from the ball-striking standpoint, but from the putting standpoint, it was beautiful.”

Watson said he made an adjustment in his left-to-right breaking putts after working on the putting green and it paid off. He concentrated on keeping his putter straighter as he took it back and then followed through straight.

Watson, now a full-fledged senior, was asked if he remembered the last time he shot 65 in a major.

“No,” he said. “Do you expect me to?”

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Watson on Woods: “He is bordering on supernatural.

“When Tiger changed his golf swing, I think it is the best golf swing out there. It is not a question. He’s the longest hitter, maybe the best putter, certainly the best up-and-downer, and he wants to be the best who has ever played the game.

“You put that together and you haven’t seen a golfer like this since Jack Nicklaus.”

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Watson did not hesitate when he was asked whether Woods is playing the best golf he has ever seen.

“In my opinion, you have to say it,” he said.

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Fred Couples has the longest average distance on his drives--310.5 yards--but he missed the cut.

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He shot 79 in the first round, but Nick Faldo came back with rounds of 68 and 69 to get back to even-par 216 through three rounds.

“I was once nine over, [so] that’s not bad,” he said. “It’s even Tigerish. At least I’m going in the right direction.”

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What happens when the Masters champion misses the cut? If you’re Vijay Singh, you fire your caddie, which is what Singh did, saying goodbye to David Renwick.

The Scot worked for Singh when Singh won the 1998 PGA Championship.