For Watson, It’s a Special Victory

Tom Watson credited more than his putter for his victory at the Senior British Open.

It was the product of equal parts skill, luck and destiny, and came after Watson parred the second playoff hole Sunday to beat Carl Mason for his 10th career major win.

“After bogeying the last hole, I expected second place,” said Watson, who was signing autographs as Mason struggled at the 18th.

“I said, ‘This is getting tiresome, finishing second.’ I didn’t expect Carl to make the couple of mistakes at the last hole.”

Watson closed with a six-under-par 64, but his biggest break came when Mason squandered a two-stroke advantage on the 18th with a double-bogey six, slipping into a tie for the lead and forcing a playoff.

Watson said longtime caddie Bruce Edwards, who has been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease and couldn’t make the trip, was at Turnberry in spirit and figured in the win.

“It’s almost destiny that that happened. Bruce was with me today,” Watson said. “You don’t pull for a guy to make a mistake, but he [Edwards] had something to do with Carl’s demise at the 18th.”

Bruce Summerhays shot a five-under 65 and finished third at 16-under 264. Tom Kite finished fourth at 14-under 266 after a closing 67.

Jack Nicklaus, who started the final round tied for ninth place, closed with a one-over 71 and finished tied for 14th at five under.

After Watson and Mason each made par on the first playoff hole, they returned to the 18th for the third time. Watson hit a 325-yard drive at the 18th and hit his second shot within 30 feet of the hole.

Mason drove into a bunker, chipped out and miss-hit his third shot, advancing it only a few yards. He reached the green with his fourth shot. Watson’s birdie putt stopped inches from the cup, and he tapped in for a par as Mason offered congratulations.

Watson and Mason (67) finished a tournament-record 17-under 263, breaking Bob Charles’ 14-year-old mark of 11-under 269 on the same Turnberry links. Watson also joined Charles as the only players to win a Senior British Open and British Open at the same venue.