Major Tom

Make no mistake about it, had Tom Watson won the Open on Sunday it would have been the greatest single sporting achievement of all time - eclipsing Ali's defeat of Foreman or even an 8th Tour win by Lance Armstrong. To come so close to triumphing at such a major sporting event at the age of 59 was simply a phenomenal performance - even if he couldn't (quite) get across the winning line. Never has the climax to a sporting event been so anticlimactic - but that should not undermine the magnitude of Watson's achievement. One is reminded of the words of Eddie Futch, Joe Frazier's trainer, at the end of the 'Thrilla in Manila': "Sit down son; it's all over. But no one will ever forget what you did here today."