ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — In a race against darkness, men, women and children spilled from the grandstands and cheered and clapped for Tom Watson as he finally surrendered to Father Time.
Watson, playing his final British Open, faced one final 5-foot putt in the gloaming Friday for a 79. In 25 previous tournament rounds at the Old Course, he had never failed to break 80.
He missed the putt, not that it mattered to the crowd of dignitaries, players and spectators who warmly paid homage to him as he strode off the green alongside his son, Michael, who caddied for him, and his playing partners Brandt Snedeker and Ernie Els.