As a 63 year old myself, I think the much younger Watson could pull it off. It will probably happen when we least expect it.

Sadly, like so many of us duffers, his best golfing days are behind him. But I wish it wasn't so, Tom is a great champion.

What he just did is proof golf has no age barrier...just stay in shape.

Tom Watson was the greatest story the sport has ever seen without the word "TIGER" in it. It may be the greatest story ever - if only it ended the way we wanted it to. I bet the TV ratings will be "HUGE!"

Unfortnately this is the one that got away. 9 times out of 10 he would have sunk that last putt on 18. He's only a year older than me, and I loved his effort. It just goes to show just because you are a certain age you don't have to give up on life, and doing the things you love to do. Tom will always be a champion, and I truly believe the world as a whole knows this. I loved the tribute ABC gave him even though he did'nt win. Unfortunately I believe this was Tom's last horrah for a major.

I hope Tiger was watching, because there are some things he can learn from Watson about sportsmanship, like the pounding the golf club temper tantums Tiger has when he misses a shot like a spoiled child. For once we got to watch a tournament without the cameras being on Tiger 90% of the time. Thank God!

tom won this week, even if the score says different. he brought back such fond memories. just the fact he was in the final group of a major is just a superhuman feat. mr watson, you are the epitomy of class, grace and you represent all that is good in our country. i, personally want to thank you for the trip back to a great memory lane. i shed some tears, probably along with a few million of us baby boomers that long for the days of of our innocence. its like the quote that james earl jones said in the movie" field of dreams-" the memories were so thick that you could swat them away like flies. on behalf of bob hope, if he were alive would have said-"thanks for the memories". mr tom watson, i along with countless people on this planet , thank you for bringing those cherished memories back to us and letting us relive such a wonderful time on a great sunday afternoon , the great memories we longed to see. you are a great champion--god bless and thank you for such a memory that just about put us back in the same unbelievable scenario like jack did for us in the 86 masters. again -thanks for giving us another outstanding memory that the game of golf has treated us. on behalf of all of us who live the game and follow its hereos, mr watson, thank you from the bottom of my heart

Tom Watson is a great guy, a class act, and he always has been.  The pressure he was facing on that putt had to have been incredible, there was so much riding on that shot.  And he has always had problems with the shorter putts for some reason.  But you have to respect the way he held up for the entire tournament, and expecially the grace he exhibited after he lost when we knew how devastated he must have been inside.  I haven't enjoyed a golf tournament like this one for a long time.

tom done good...

A fluke? No way! The comment made that poster was more the fluke.

Anyone after 4 days leading a major pressure packed tournament, in the windy conditions, earned what they got. Its not a fluke that TW hit a great shot to 18. Bad luck...a little. if only he had lagged up, and not gone past the hole.

He's almost 60 and he always felt he was confident playing over there. that's the comments of a veteran, who knew what he was doing.

Age may have played a part of Watson's loss, but what was everyone else's excuse? Watson's problem was his nemesis - his short putting. Had his putt been 10 feet longer, I think he would've given it a much better attempt.

Who needs Tiger???

Watson could not have said it more clearly. The uncertainties that links golf poses which include wind, rapidly changing and varied conditions between player tee times allowed him to become more competitive! He lamented that he couldn't compete anymore at a venue like the Masters because of the near "perfect" conditions that it is played on. Nonetheless he was inspiring for fiftysomethings!

I hope I am wrong in voting no, but for him to do what he just accomplished is miraculous, and don't suspect it could ever happen again. I sure hope he wins another major. He to me is what and how a golfing champion should be and how they should conduct themselves. A class act. I admire Tigers talents but I would root for Mr. Watson over him any day.

He probably will not win another major tournament. I just wonder how many he would have one in his prme if he didn't have true rivals like The Golden Bear, Player, Trevino etc. I don't think the current "best golfer" has to face players of that ilk on a regular basis like Watson did in the 70's and 80's.

Golf is such a game of inches, had his approach shot on 18 held the green, he surely would have two-putted for the win. These opportunities are rare and as the putt sped by the hole off the fringe, I thought how unfair and cruel golf can be. A couple of inches separated the man from true super-legend status and mere legendary ranking.

Damm shame, "Tom and Jim kelly should get together and tie one on!. Let's face it here, The final objective is to WIN.

This was a much more compelling story than anything Tiger could have done in this Open. Watson flat out used his brains, wit and great golfing talent to set him up for his 9th major, it's just a shame that he couldn't close it out with either a better 2nd shot on 18 or 3rd shot on 18 or putt on 18. He had 3 chances to get the deed done after a great drive down the middle of the fairway. Thanks for the great memories Tom, I was pullling for you like crazy and you kept us entertained for a full 72 holes. What more can a true golf fan ask?

Why not? The skill is there. He just needs to believe he can do it! Don't let the naysayers put you out to pasture Tom. You got a lot of fire left. Youth isn't everything. Experience and wisdom more than compensates. He almost did it this time.

It's great that we can celebrate Tom Watson's efforts, win or lose....and I think most of us do. However, too many are not only celebrating Tom, but doing so by stating negative comments concerning Tiger Woods. With all that both of these men have brought to the game, it's a shame we can't celebrate the accomplishments of a golf legend without critisizing a person who has revived golf and brought it to a whole new level. Despite the progress we have made as a country, this shows us how divided we still are.

Thanks for saving this OPEN championship for us Tom, after Westwood and Fisher coughed it up. They'll be hearing it from their home media(especially Westwood). There are still a few courses Watson can compete on. He may yet win on the regular tour again. Also David 441512, do you think other pros don't slam their clubs after a bad shot? We see emotion from Tiger because the cameras ARE on him 90% of the time. DUH.