Background
Watson was born in Salisbury, Rhodesia (now Harare, Zimbabwe) and educated at Oriel Boys High School, Chisipite.
Watson was born in Salisbury, Rhodesia (now Harare, Zimbabwe) and educated at Oriel Boys High School, Chisipite.
Watson finished second in the 1985 United States. Open, missing out on forcing a playoff by one shot, having incurred a two-stroke penalty earlier in the tournament.
He was Rhodesian Sportsman of the Year in 1975, but went on to represent South Africa in the World Series of Golf in 1980 and 1982 – sporting connections between Rhodesia and Apartheid South Africa were blurred at the time, for example the Rhodesian cricket team was once part of the South African domestic set-up. Watson turned professional in 1976 and played on the European Tour from 1978 to 1980. The penalty was assessed on the eighth hole in the first round, after he had waited longer than the allowed ten seconds for a putt that had hung on the lip of the hole to drop in.
The ball did fall into the hole, but the birdie was disallowed and the penalty strokes added.
The United States Golf Association and R&A, the sports governing bodies, have since amended the penalty for this rules infraction to just a single stroke. Andy North was eventually the only player to beat him, by one shot despite himself bogeying the last hole.
Watson"s career came to a sudden halt when he was injured while playing in the 1985 Goodyear Classic in South Africa. While hitting his ball out of the rough with a 9-iron, he struck a tree stump that had been hidden from view causing damage to his wrist, elbow and neck.
He required surgery on his wrist and neck, and was initially told that he would never play again.
After turning fifty, Watson joined the Champions Tour, and began to rediscover competitive form. In one of the most remarkable comebacks ever seen in professional golf, Watson has become one of the Champions Tour"s most competitive stars. Professional Golf Association Tour wins (3) Other wins (1) Champions Tour wins (4) DNP = Did not play CUT = missed the half-way cut World Development = withdrew "T" = tied Yellow background for top-10.
Summary Most consecutive cuts made – 5 (twice) Longest streak of top-10s – 1 Wins (1) Results timeline Results not in chronological order before 2012.
DNP = Did not play CUT = missed the halfway cut DQ = Disqualified "T" indicates a tie for a place Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.
Amateur Eisenhower Trophy (representing Zimbabwe): 1974.