TOM Watson reflected on his Open near-miss and reminded everybody: “This ain’t a funeral, you know.”

One ahead with one to play, the 59-year-old five-time champion was bitterly disappointed that he allowed the chance to become easily golf’s oldest-ever major champion to slip through his grasp at Turnberry.

Watson, who bogeyed the last and then was crushed by six shots by fellow American Stewart Cink in an anti-climactic four-hole play-off, said: “It would have been a hell of a story, wouldn’t it?

“It tears out your gut like it’s always torn out my gut. It’s not easy to take. I put myself in position to win and didn’t do it.

“I hit a lousy putt and the play-off was one bad shot after another. Stewart did what he had to do and I didn’t give him much competition.

“But what I take from this week is a lot of warmth - the crowds were just wonderful to me all week - and a lot of spirituality. And it was good fun.”

Asked by a reporter what headline best summed it up Watson replied: “The Old Fogey Almost Did It.”

Cink, meanwhile, described his first major win as “a surreal experience” and paid tribute to Watson.

Cink said: “Extraordinary just tips the iceberg. Playing against Tom Watson, this stuff just does not happen.

“I grew up watching him - he has turned back the clock and I feel so happy just being part of it.

“I’ve just felt very calm all week. I played some links golf in Ireland last week and that was very good relaxation and preparation. I also found something in my swing.”

It was his 14-foot birdie putt on the final green that gave Cink his chance to deny Watson, who 30 minutes later bogeyed the same hole to join him on two under par.

“It’s the most crucial putt I’ve ever struck in my life - just a sweet feeling,” he added.
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