Tom Watson, Natural Leader

We all wanted Tom Watson to win the Open at Turnberry. It's that simple. Any of the thousands surrounding the 18th hole on the Ailsa course or any of the millions watching on television would have done anything to help him win his sixth Open Championship at the age of 59. It's that simple: Tom Watson is a natural leader. Standing there on the sidelines of the 18th fairway if I ever dreamt eight iron would be too much club from nearly 180 yards even for a near sexagenarian I would have risked my golf writing career and ran out there to tell him to hit the nine iron. Natural leaders do that. They get out in front and lead. And you want to follow and are willing to do anything to make the venture a success. After not winning the Open Championship Tom Watson was sitting there in the interview room waiting and patiently watching as the press corps somberly filed into the room in a silent manner. "This isn't a funeral, you know," said the iconic golfer. Everyone burst out in laughter and was immediately at ease. This wasn't going to be a doom and gloom interview it was going to be uplifting and a celebration of what happened this week at Turnberry in the 138th rendition of the Open Championship. "It's a great disappointment. It tears at your gut, as it always has torn at my gut. It's not easy to take. I'll take some good things from it, but it's still a disappointment to do what I did and lose the golf tournament." Nobody thinks Tom Watson lost this golf tournament. Yes he bogeyed the 18th hole and lost the playoff but he did it as a Champion in the manner of winning not losing. His drive on No. 18 was perfect. His second shot was perfect though hit too well and narrowly carried through the green and down the other side. Even 59 year olds get pumped up and adrenaline enables them to do things which do not seem physically possible like an 8-iron second shot too far on a 461-yard par four. The decision was good to use a putter on the third shot and hit it a little harder since it was into the grain with the grass on the slope falling towards the location of the golf ball. He missed the comeback putt as even the best players in the world do from time to time. Remember who was not playing the weekend at Turnberry and you will realize how difficult that golf course was especially for the final three days of competition. Who could have faulted the Champion, even though he wasn't the Champion today? Would he have done it all again even though it meant reliving that disappointing bogey on the final hole of regulation play and being trounced in the playoff by deserving Champion Stewart Cink? "Well, hell, yes. Yeah, darn right. I knew I had a chance starting out. So, yeah, I'm glad this happened." "I take from this week just a lot of warmth, a lot of spirituality in the sense that, you know, there was something out there. I still believe that. It helped me along." A natural leader embraces a diversity of thought, of physical differences and yes even that of the spiritual world. Something was out there that we could all relate to no matter what your religious views happen to be. After all we simply happen to be. We come into this world in one sense predetermined with our heritage and nationality. Though in another sense with the gift of life, the chance to improve upon our circumstances and make the world a better place for people. Tom Watson brought us together this week in the sense that even the impossible is once again possible. All it takes is commitment, hard work, an opportunity and belief. Yes, nostalgia, thoughts of the good old days plays a role. "It reminds me of what it used to be like when you played the big Tour, played the kids' Tour (the U.S. PGA Tour) and were in contention all the time and the responsibilities that you had, that you have, to take care of business. After all it does come down to the business. Winning not losing. Making a profit not a loss. Trust in one's leadership that they have a wider and more thorough view and a plan for success. Not only for themselves but for the organization and all its members. Watson admittedly so had a plan this week to win the Open but came up one stroke short of doing it when it had to be done. Whether there at Turnberry or at home watching on television there was that special magic that brings us together for at least a moment. Tom Watson acknowledged "the feeling is mutual. And that warmth makes you feel human. It makes you feel so good." Thanks for making us feel good. That is the type of leadership we need whether on the golf course, at home or wherever it is that we go to work. Natural leaders are realistic that they are fortunate to be in a leadership position. It's an opportunity to give back. "That's what I've always said is when all is said and done, one of the things I hope that will come out of my life is that my peers will say, you know, that Watson, he was a hell of a golfer." Yes sir, that Tom Watson was a hell of a golfer and a natural leader. Sadly, at the end, Tom Watson winning his sixth Open Championship at the age of 59 wasn't to be. But it was- after all was said and done this week at Turnberry Tom Watson showing us again as he did all week that he is a "natural leader." He led us once again to the heart of the matter- our love and respect for the game of golf, the essence of golfing competitions, and our love and respect for young Tom Watson. Cheers to all three!