Open Notebook

Poor finish spoils fantstic first-round effort by Watson

SANDWICH, England (AP) -- Five time winner Tom Watson was headed for a standout start to the 132nd British Open until he dropped three shots at the last two holes.

A fast starter also at last month's U.S. Open and Senior Open, the 53-year-old American, whose last British Open triumph was 20 years ago, was 3 under going to the 17th at Royal St. George's.

But he couldn't keep the ball on the fairway. A double bogey six at the 428-yard 17th was followed by a bogey five at the 460-yard last and he wound up with a level par 71.

"I finished very poorly. Six, five in the last two holes, it's an ugly way to finish," he said.

"Those two holes require excellent driving and I didn't put the ball on the fairway. I deserve what I got. It leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth playing the last two holes like that but, all in all, I played a pretty good round of golf."

It follows his impressive performances in the early stages of the U.S. Open at Olympia Fields, where he carded a first round 65, and the Senior Open at the Inverness Club where he opened with a 66.

Each time he fell out of contention and hopes he doesn't to the same here on the fast, bumpy links of Royal St. George's.

"The course is a very tough golf course. I've never played very well here. There are a lot of blind shots and it takes an awful lot to win here," he said.

"When Greg Norman won here in the early '90s (1993) he played just magnificent golf to shoot the scores he did with no bogeys on the last day. You have to be right on not scratchy like I was today."

Watson, who collected his five titles between 1975 and '83, admits he seems to be reserving his best form for the big tournaments.

"It seems like that this year. The Masters I didn't step up that notch but I played pretty well at the U.S. Open," he said. "I got off to a good start here but finished poorly. I have to improve on that finish.

"Those may be the two most difficult finishing holes as far as driving the ball's concerned we ever play. There's just no room to hit the ball on the fairway.

"It's typical links land fairway and you've got about five yards to hit the ball into on both holes and, if you don't do it, you're going to be struggling."

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KELLY'S OUT: An 11 on the opening hole wasn't the reason Jerry Kelly pulled out of the 132nd British Open.

He wrenched his hand playing a 3-iron second shot from a clump of grass at the 17th and wound up with inflammation of his left hand.

"The doctor thinks my hand is injured enough for me not to play," he said. "He knows that we would probably be working on it right now if I shot even par. But there is no reason for me to do any more damage.

"The injury is not what caused me to have a bad round and I am not blaming the injury on that.

"The doctor has said it will not get better by tomorrow and said for me to go home and see a hand specialist," said Kelly, who returned an 86.

"After shooting this score I need to think about the future of the game."

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OTTO'S BACK: Two years ago, Hennie Otto feared he would never play golf again let alone lead the British Open.

The South African needed surgery on his back to cure a mystery injury and spent several months in pain wondering if he would ever pick up the clubs again.

"I had four months off and thought I was never going to play golf again," said Otto, whose 68 gave him the first round lead at Royal St. George's on Thursday.

"After an operation you are always scared for a few months, but it's nearly two years so it's all to standard I think.

"I don't know what caused the problem," he said. "The doctor said it could have been anything -- picking up a suitcase or a golf bag, or some sports event. It's much better now, no complaints."

Otto, who was in the first trio of players on the course out of a field of 156, led the qualifying with rounds of 65 and 63.

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TIGER'S HUMAN: Coach Butch Harmon isn't worried that Tiger Woods doesn't hold a major title at the moment. He believes there's one just round the corner.

"Everyone has been harping on about Tiger not having a major at the moment and, yes, it is unusual at the moment," he said.

"But he has not had a bad year. You can hardly accuse him of that when he has won four times in 10 outings. What this current situation tells me, above all else, is that Tiger is mortal and that golf is golf."

Woods had a disastrous triple bogey seven at the first hole of the 132nd Open, losing his ball with his tee shot and wound up with a 2-over 73.

"Everyone experiences problems at certain stages of their career," Harmon said. "Just look at Jack Nicklaus. He had two three-year breaks in which he made no additions to his eventual haul of 18 majors."

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VOICE OF EXPERIENCE: Mark O'Meara is one of eight players who is playing a British Open at Royal St. George's for the fourth time, dating to 1981.

He knew to expect some shifting winds.

O'Meara was 15 strokes out of the lead going into the final round in 1981 and was nearly finished when Bill Rogers, who went on to win, teed off.

"I hit a good drive and a 3-wood on 18 that was just short of the green," O'Meara said. "When Buck (Rogers) came up, he hit a driver and a 6-iron. This is a place where the wind can shift with the tide."

O'Meara said he could hit 3-wood and short iron at No. 17, or driver and 3-iron.

"That's what links golf is all about," he said. "It's won on patience, but a different kind of patience. At the U.S. Open, you have to take your medicine. Here, you've got to expect to get some bad breaks."