Stewart Cink claimed his first Major title as Tom Watson squandered the chance to create history in a dramatic Open Championship at Turnberry. The 59-year-old American just needed to par the final hole to claim his sixth Open title — a remarkable 34 years after his first — and become the oldest major winner by 11 years.
But he hit his approach through the green and then three-putted from the fringe, his putt for victory from eight feet never threatening the hole.
And Cink then won an anti-climactic four-hole play-off by six shots, playing the fifth, sixth, 17th and 18th in two under par as Watson stumbled to four over.
The American pair had finished tied on two-under-par, Cink making a birdie on the last for a round of 69 and Watson, who led by one at the start of the day, returning a 72.
Cink followed Watson’s old routine in warming up for the Open, spending a week in Ireland where he played Lahinch, Doonbeg and Watson’s old favourite, Ballybunion.
He described his first major victory “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, however, that gave Cink his chance to deny Watson.
“It’s the most crucial putt I’ve ever struck in my life — just a sweet feeling,” he added.
England’s Lee Westwood and Chris Wood missed out on the play-off by a single shot after both bogeyed the 72nd hole, Westwood three-putting from long range and Wood failing to get up and down from the back of the green.
Compatriot Ross Fisher led by two shots after birdies at the first two holes, but took eight at the fifth and eventually finished tied for 13th.
Graeme McDowell and Paul McGinley were best-placed of the Irish going into the final round, but, playing alongside each other, they both failed to make an impression.
McDowell finished in a tie for 36th spot after a closing round of 73 left him on three over, with McGinley two shots further back after carding six bogeys in a 75.
Darren Clarke was the best of the Irish on the final day, his one-under-par 69 leaving him on nine over for the tournament.
FINAL LEADERBOARD
(Gbr & Irl unless stated, (x) denotes amateurs, Par 70)
278Stewart Cink (USA) 66 72 71 69 (Stewart Cink won the 4 hole play-off), Tom
Watson (USA) 65 70 71 72
279Chris Wood 70 70 72 67, Lee Westwood 68 70 70 71
280Retief Goosen (Rsa) 67 70 71 72, Luke Donald 71 72 70 67
281Richard S Johnson (Swe) 70 72 69 70, Thomas Aiken (Rsa) 71 72 69 69, Justin Leonard (USA) 70 70 73 68, Mathew Goggin (Aus) 66 72 69 73, Ernie Els (Rsa) 69 72 72 68, Soren Hansen (Den) 68 72 74 67
282Francesco Molinari (Ita) 71 70 71 70, Ross Fisher 69 68 70 75, Jeff Overton (USA) 70 69 76 67, Metteo Manassero (Ita) 71 70 72 69, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 69 72 69 72, Justin Rose 69 72 71 70, Andres Romero (Arg) 68 74 73 67, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 64 73 76 69, Boo Weekley (USA) 67 72 72 71, Camilo Villegas (Col) 66 73 73 70, Henrik Stenson (Swe) 71 70 71 70
283Peter Hanson (Swe) 70 71 72 70, Oliver Wilson 72 70 71 70, Angel Cabrera (Arg) 69 70 72 72
284John Daly (USA) 68 72 72 72, Nick Watney (USA) 71 72 71 70, Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 68 76 71 69, James Kingston (Rsa) 67 71 74 72, Mark Calcavecchia (USA) 67 69 77 71, Davis Love III (USA) 69 73 73 69, Kenichi Kuboya (Jpn) 65 72 75 72
285Jim Furyk (USA) 67 72 70 76, Graeme McDowell 68 73 71 73, Martin Kaymer (Den) 69 70 74 72, Richard Sterne (Rsa) 67 73 75 70
286Steve Marino (USA) 67 68 76 75, Vijay Singh (Fij) 67 70 75 74, Sergio Garcia (Spa) 70 69 76 71, Nick Dougherty 70 70 73 73, Thomas Levet (Fra) 71 73 71 71
287Bryce Molder (USA) 70 73 67 77, Anthony Wall 68 72 75 72, Branden Grace (Rsa) 67 72 73 75, Paul McGinley 71 71 70 75
288 Rory McIlroy 69 74 74 71, Zach Johnson (USA) 70 71 77 70, Paul Lawrie 71 73 76 68, Paul Casey 68 76 74 70, Gonzalo Fdez-Castano (Spa) 69 72 73 74
289Steve Stricker (USA) 66 77 70 76, David Howell 68 73 72 76, Billy Mayfair (USA) 69 73 73 74, Darren Clarke 71 71 78 69, Johan Edfors (Swe) 71 73 72 73, Graeme Storm 72 72 74 71, Kenny Perry (USA) 71 72 75 71, Robert Allenby (Aus) 70 74 73 72
290David Drysdale 69 73 75 73, Kevin Sutherland (USA) 69 73 73 75, Tom Lehman (USA) 68 74 74 74, Paul Broadhurst 70 72 74 74
291Ryuji Imada (Jpn) 74 69 79 69
292Sean O'Hair (USA) 68 75 75 74, Stuart Appleby (Aus) 71 72 76 73, Padraig Harrington 69 74 76 73, Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe) 71 70 78 73
293J.B. Holmes (USA) 68 70 75 80
295Fredrik Jacobson (Swe) 70 72 77 76, Mark O'Meara (USA) 67 77 77 74
303Paul Goydos (USA) 72 72 77 82
304Daniel Gaunt (Aus) 76 67 79 82
