Tiger Woods and Tom Watson both played their college golf at Stanford. They are both multiple major championship winners. And Friday they both provided fans with some cheers on the 18th hole of the British Open.
Watson, now 62 but a five-time British Open winner, rolled in a long putt on the final hole, about 25 feet, for a birdie to move to 3-over for the event, the number that will almost assuredly make the cut. That means another weekend of links golf for Watson, who may not have that many British Open’s left in him. He is the absolute crowd favorite, and that crowd will get 36 more holes to cheer him on.
Moments earlier, Woods thrilled the crowd by holing a bunker shot for a birdie on the closing hole. That moved Woods to 6 under for the tournament with a second consecutive 67, and he is four back of leader Brandt Snedeker at 10-under. Adam Scott is at 9 under and alone in second place.
Woods never seemed all that engaged in the round today, just kind of walking around and keeping the ball in play but never threatening to do a whole lot. That changed with a long birdie putt at the 16th hole and then the bunker shot at 18.
You have to like Woods’ position, since its hard to believe that Snedeker will continue to play as well as he played the first two round. Only Snedker this week and Woods in 2000 at the British Open at St. Andrews have played a major championship with no bogeys in the first 36 hole in the last 17 years. And Snedeker’s 130 total is an all-time British Open scoring mark for 36 holes, tying Nick Faldo’s mark.
The fans will flock to see Tiger over the weekend. But a large number of fans will make sure to go watch a few holes with Tom Watson, too.