Has Tom Watson's performance in the British Open this week caught everyone by surprise? Apparently not. Here's a Twitter post from my old friend Steve DiMeglio, USA Today's golf writer, from last Monday:
"Just saw #tomwatson walk to 1st tee. Call me crazy, but I think he has a chance this week. Course is not long. Has won here twice."
Ascertaining whether DiMeglio is crazy won't turn on Watson's fortune, but I confess to wondering about temporary insanity when I read that post six days ago.
It brings to mind the 1990 U.S. Open, when on the eve of the tournament, the late great sports columnist Jim Murray was asked by USA Today to pick a winner and came up with Mike Donald. Donald was among the least likely contenders, yet wound up in a playoff with Hale Irwin before losing.
-- John Strege
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