Tom Watson and Tom Mengesha

TURNBERRY, Scotland — On an ancient stage hard by the craggy Ayrshire coast, Stewart Cink— always quick with an autograph or an interview — became a villain.
With Tom Watson making an implausible march against Father Time and soaking in the appreciation of adoring galleries as he tried to author perhaps the greatest story in golf, Cink ruined the fairy-tale ending with a stirring finish of his own.

In the fading light by the Firth of Clyde, Cink first canned a 15-foot birdie on the 72nd hole that forced a playoff when Watson missed an 8-foot par putt on the same hole, then crushed his deflated foe as Watson "hit one bad shot after another" in a four-hole playoff. Instead of Watson winning his sixth British Open, Cink rode away with the 17-inch silver beauty known as the Claret Jug.

"The dream almost came true," Watson said.

Finishing regulation play tied with Watson at 2-under-par 278 on a course affectionately known as "Old Lady," Cink grabbed his first major championship with a six-shot win in the playoff, highlighted by birdies on the final two holes.

Watson, less than a year removed from having his left hip replaced, two months shy of turning 60 and three years from qualifying for Social Security, played like the Watson of old. Although he signed on to work as an ABC-TV commentator for the tournament, Watson began thinking during his practice rounds that he could contend — despite the 500-1 odds against him in the betting shops at the start of the week and a world ranking of 1,374. The winner of five Opens — including one here on the Ailsa Course in his epic "Duel in the Sun" against Jack Nicklaus in 1977 when he shot 65-65 to his rival's 65-66 on the weekend — knew he had a chance.

Proving to be a prophet, he flashed his trademark grin, braved the harsh elements and used his experience in links golf to subdue his younger rivals for 71 holes with superior ball-striking and clutch putting. But on the verge of becoming the oldest player, by 11 years, to win a major championship, Watson hit an 8-iron on the 72nd hole that trickled over the green, and he failed to get up-and-down.

Then his swing broke down.

But the biggest story for most of the week was Watson, who tugged at hearts in the gallery and the locker room. He also produced tears that reached all the way across the Atlantic Ocean to Florida, where Nicklaus, 69, said on his website he shed a tear or two as Watson assumed possession of the 54-hole lead.

"I take from this week just a lot of warmth, a lot of spirituality in the sense that, you know, there was something out there. I still believe that," said Watson, who will play in his last Open next year at St. Andrews — unless he wins it. "It helped me along. It's Turnberry. Great memories here. This would have been a great memory.

"It was fun to be in the mix of it again and having the kids who are my kids' age just look up at you and say, 'All right, nice going. You can still play.' When all is said and done, one of the things I hope that will come out of my life is that my peers will say, 'You know, that Watson, he was a hell of a golfer.' "

"Whether Tom was 59 or 29, he was one of the field," Cink said. "I'm just filled with pride and honor. This article was taken from USAToday.