Watson eager to tee off at ‘elegant’ Royal Porthcawl
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Tom Watson will renew his love affair with links golf when he takes to a course he has branded “the complete package” ahead of the Senior Open Championship this summer.
Royal Porthcawl has been chosen to host the event for a second time from July 27-30 and the eight-time Major champion is full of admiration for the Welsh course.
“I think it’s an elegant links course which has everything to offer the links golfer,” said the 67-year-old. “Of all its special qualities, I love the fact that there is such variety to playing golf there. Unlike some narrow strips of links land, which necessitate nine holes out and nine back, Royal Porthcawl has infinite variety of direction.
“It has a mixture of hard and easy holes; it requires long and short shots; dog-legs going left and right; tight driving holes and generous driving holes. The shots I was required to make in 2014 were all you could want to put on a menu if you play a links course.”
Watson finished tied 10th three years ago at Royal Porthcawl as Bernhard Langer won his second Senior Open by a record 13 shots. It was a performance which Watson believes was the “best four rounds of golf not just on the Senior Tour, but on any of the regular Tours that year”.
The German will be looking to repeat his heroics this year and will be part of a star-studded field which includes Colin Montgomerie, José María Olazábal and defending champion Paul Broadhurst.
