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A case for Watson

Turnberry hero says he is playing well and will compete, and that Woods will surpass Nicklaus

  • By Rohan Alvares, Sports Reporter
  • Published: 00:00 February 4, 2010
  • XPRESS

  • Image Credit: Xpress, Virendra Saklani
  • "It all comes down to my driving and my putting, because you must drive the ball straight here" Tom Watson

 

Dubai : Eight-time major winner Tom Watson has backed Tiger Woods to go on and break Jack Nicklaus's long standing record of 18 major victories when the current world number one resumes his career.

Woods' hiatus from the game since his car accident last November which led to the exposure of a string of alleged extra-marital affairs has left many speculating on whether the American can pick up from his ruthless performances that saw him dominate the sport for much of the last decade.

But speaking to XPRESS ahead of his maiden appearance at the Dubai Desert Classic which begins today, Watson said he expects Woods to eventually surpass the Golden Bear.

"Yes I do [think he can]. First things first, he has to get his personal life in order first. But he'll get back to his career I'm sure and I think he'll probably succeed Jack Nicklaus in major championship victories," said the former world number one.

With Woods missing out on his second successive Desert Classic, veteran Watson has attracted much attention from the local fans especially after his remarkable showing at last year's Open championship where he fell agonisingly short of a fairytale win.

"I'm grateful to be here as I've never been to Dubai before. I've been to the Middle East before. I've been to Kuwait and Iraq the last three years. I've made two trips to visit the troops.

"I've had some experience in the Middle East but not in a peaceful situation. It's nice to be coming to a peaceful situation here," he said.

So does Watson fancy his chances of repeating some Turnberry magic this weekend, which could see him eclipse Mark O'Meara as the oldest man to have triumphed at the Majlis?

"I'm playing pretty well. I can't complain. It all comes down to my driving and my putting, because you must drive the ball straight here. The rough is very difficult, if you drop the ball in the rough you're going to make a lot of bogies."

Reliving his dream run at Turnberry, Watson said: "In that particular case, I did feel very good about my chances. I was playing on a golf course on which I could compete, it wasn't too long. The other thing was I have played on that golf course many times. Almost all the players, it was their first time to play Turnberry so I had that going for me."

Despite rolling back the years over those four days, the 60-year-old explained why the PGA Championship will remain the only major to have eluded him in his legendary career.

"I had the chance to play in the PGA but I turned it down because the golf course is just too long for me. I couldn't hit the proper shots into the greens. Turnberry I could, the Masters I cannot, I have a very difficult time at the Masters," he said.

Mcilroy aims for Dubai encore

DUBAI : Last year at Emirates Golf Club a 19-year-old Rory McIlroy held off Justin Rose to his first professional crown. A year later he returns as the world number nine in his last event before heading off to America after taking up a US PGA Tour card. But a second win has so far eluded him, despite eight top seven finishes in his last nine outings. But he is determined to become the first player to win back-to-back in Dubai. He said yesterday: "I know I have to work hard to keep the recent run going, but if I can do that, hopefully I can keep getting better and try and achieve what I want in the game, which is ultimately to be the best player in the world."

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