Dustin Johnson in control as curtain comes down on Tom Watson's fabled British Open career
Darkness ends play with big-hitting American at 10-under-par through 13 holes, one stroke clear of England’s Danny Willett
The grand pursuit of Jordan Spieth, redemption for Dustin Johnson, the mystery that has become Tiger Woods. It all came to a momentary halt on Friday in the gloaming of St Andrews when Tom Watson said goodbye to the British Open.
Watson, the most prolific winner of golf’s oldest championship in the last century, finished his 129th round with lights from the Royal & Ancient clubhouse illuminating the 18th green. The five-time champion made bogey. The score was irrelevant.
“There were no tears,” Watson said. “This is a joyous occasion. I have a lot of great, great memories. And those memories filled me up.”
A heavy downpour at dawn flooded the Old Course and disrupted the start by more than three hours. Johnson and Spieth teed off shortly before 6pm and were headed in different directions when it was too dark to continue.
In swift, shifting weather – umbrellas on one hole, sunglasses on the next – Johnson made three birdies in four holes on the front nine and built a two-shot lead before he made his first bogey of the tournament. He three-putted on the par-3 11th in wind so severe he had to back off a four-foot putt and wipe his eyes.