No Tiger, No Problem: Watson Keeps Things Exciting at Turnberry

After an insufferably bad second round performance in Scotland, Tiger Woods has missed the cut at the British Open. The world's most dominant athlete looked shockingly human on Friday, and he will not be around this weekend to battle the gusty winds and deep bunkers at Turnberry. This is indeed a stunning development, a development that in any other year would doom the PGA. In any other year, the absence of Tiger would zap the drama right out of a PGA major. But not this year. Because this year, The Open Championship is blessed with the kind of Cinderella story that makes sports so addictive. This year, a 59-year-old golf legend is poised to win his ninth major. This year, the play of Tom Watson has been must-see television.

The current state of golf is filled with promising youngsters. Guys like Anthony Kim, Rory McIlroy, and Ryo Ishikawa have the kind of staggering potential that has at times conjured memories of a young Tiger Woods. Heading into the 138th Open Championship, nobody expected Tom Watson to contend. Watson's presence at Turnberry was simply meant to be ceremonial, a nice way of honoring one of the game's greats. After all, Tom Watson spends his days now on the Senior Tour, so it was ridiculous to think that he could be a legitimate threat at Turnberry, right? Ah, not so fast. Just like last year's British Open, where Greg Norman was a contender, Tom Watson is showing the world that he still has game. Watson will enter Saturday's third round at five under par, sharing the lead with fellow underdog Steve Marino. And Watson hasn't just been playing great golf. He has been playing with thrilling flash. After making bogey on five of the first seven holes on Friday, Watson rallied in compelling fashion on the back nine, sinking two incredible birdie putts on holes sixteen and eighteen to put himself back atop the leaderboard.

What a spectacular story this is. Tom Watson is one of the nicest guys around, always carrying himself with class and humility. Thirty-two years after Tom Watson defeated Jack Nicklaus at the British Open, an epic battle that came to be known as the Duel in the Sun, Watson could win another major. As much as I love Tiger, and as newsworthy as it is to see him miss the cut, Tom Watson deserves the spotlight. Should Watson go on to win the Claret Jug on Sunday, it would be the single most exciting sports moment of the year, and memories of Tiger's disastrous play will have long since faded.