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Enlarge Photo Tom Watson of the U.S. walks up to his ball on the 18th green to... Tom Watson was treated to the loudest roar of the day after marking his farewell British Open appearance at St Andrews with an emotional closing birdie three on Friday.The third major championship of the season is not due to return to the 'home of golf' until at least 2015 and the popular veteran's Open exemption runs out a year earlier.
Watson, 60, who is treated like an adopted Scot in these parts, mouthed the words "I love you" to the galleries as he posed for a battery of photographers on the 18th hole's famed Swilcan Bridge.
The five-times Open champion, and eight-times major winner, clearly found it tough to control his emotions as he removed his cap before stooping to kiss the floor of the bridge, knowing he had missed the halfway cut.
"I thought of Arnold (Palmer) on the bridge, I thought of Jack (Nicklaus) on the bridge, and their last Opens were both right here at St Andrews," Watson told reporters after carding a 75 for 148, four over par.
"My last Open is not right here, the good Lord willing. The creek don't rise, as they say, and I have a few more years left thanks to the R&A's special exemption for me."
Watson was unable to repeat his unforgettable performance at Turnberry last year when he came close to a golfing miracle by leading the championship on the 72nd tee before losing a four-hole playoff to compatriot Stewart Cink.
But in a typical act of sporting generosity on Friday he took time out to complete a symbolic handover to one of the brightest talents of the modern generation.
ISHIKAWA ENCOURAGEMENT
Watson gave a long, lingering handshake to playing partner Ryo Ishikawa and offered some quiet words of encouragement to the 18-year-old Japanese, who goes into the last two rounds on three under par and with an outside chance of victory.
"I just simply said, 'You're a fine player and don't change things," said Watson. "You have a very fine golf swing.
"I think sometimes people get the idea they can get better by making a major change in their golf swing and that doesn't usually happen. It usually goes backwards when you do that."
Ferocious winds of up to 40mph proved too much for Watson, dressed in a checked, fawn sweater and matching brown trousers, as the 1975, 1977, 1980, 1982 and 1983 Open champion left the Old Course stage for the last time.
Just as darkness fell and play ended for the day at 2145 local time, Watson gave his fans a glorious late reminder of his sublime strokeplay by driving just short of the 18th green and almost holing out with his eagle chip.
"This golf course was tough today and as I said on Thursday, she was naked yesterday but she put on her boxing gloves today and just hit us with all she had," he said.
"I had a lot of fun playing it. I didn't play my best. I was thinking to make the cut in this type of wind, if I had shot even par I might have been able to sneak in."
(Editing by Miles Evans. To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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