Watson cements his links

Tom Watson was unequivocal when he received the phone call. "I think they expected me to mull it over for a while and give them a delayed answer. I didn't have to think twice about it, saying that I would be honoured."

Last night one of golf's icons was inducted as the Millennium captain of Ballybunion Golf Club; the a.g.m. marked, arguably, the most prestigious day in the club's history.

Outgoing captain Fintan Scannell was charged with making that phone call. "The whole of the committee was present in the office. I rang him at about 6.30 a.m. his time and honestly expected him to say that he'd think about it for a couple of weeks and then ring back and say that, while he's love to, it just wouldn't be feasible. We were stunned when he said yes immediately, that it would be his honour."

Watson arrived last Thursday morning and played 18 holes that afternoon, in strong winds and drizzle. "My goal was to break 80 and managed to shoot 78, including being three over par for the last two holes."

The 50-year-old, who plays on the USGA Seniors Tour, enjoys a love affair with the famed Kerry course dating back to his inaugural visit in 1981, a memory he fondly recalls.

"A former president of the USGA, Sandy Tatum, organised a trip to play some links courses prior to the Open at Royal St George. Ballybunion was the first course we played. I remember having a wee dram of whiskey on the 15th tee, something I would never do on a golf course, but it felt appropriate at the time. I fell in love with this place, the golf course and vowed to come back."

The par three 15th holds a special place in Watson's affections, and it was therefore appropriate that the members of Ballybunion presented the five-time British Open champion with a commissioned oil painting by William Grandison of the hole. "It will be hung prominently in my home. The 15th offers spiritual memories."

The Kansas City legend makes no apologies for his views on Ballybunion. "It's my favourite golf course. There is a natural beauty to the place. This is the way that golf is meant to be played. It is the epitome of links golf. "I have had great times here, bringing over some friends, like Lee Trevino and Ben Crenshaw, over the years. I have many special memories of the place, not least the story of my first visit.

"We flew into Shannon, hired some cars and eventually made it to the Tarbert ferry. While we were crossing, Sandy Tatum got talking to a young lad, asking him where he was going. He said he was off to see Tom Watson play Ballybunion. My visit was supposed to be a quiet one. "Sean Walsh (secretary manager) rang to say that the story had made the local paper. When I came down Sandhill Road, the American flag was flying over the clubhouse and 2,000 people were waiting. That was my introduction and it was a wonderful day."

This year marks a double celebration for the club, as they will play host to the Irish Open for the first time. Watson - a commitment to the US Seniors Open prevents him from playing - will oversee the preparation of the course, and has advised on accommodation, practice facilities and sundry other aspects of staging the event to guarantee the players are kept happy. He had no qualms about the course standing up to professional scrutiny.

After asking what the course record was (67), Watson pointed out: "It will be broken, but no one is going to shoot four 66s. With no wind the winning score will be 10 to 12 under, with a bit of wind seven to 10 under, and with a lot of wind, you never know."

One thing about which Watson is adamant is that the course will not be tricked up, a la Carnoustie (British Open, 1999).

"They got the results the R & A were looking for, 12 over par cut mark and a score of six over par for the winner. It was somewhat embarrassing to say the least and that's not going to happen here."

Watson received his maroon blazer at last night's a.g.m., and he will return twice during the year, once for his captain's prize on July 29th.

There was just time to outline his greatest golfing memory. "It was the last 36 holes of the 1977 Open at Turnberry when I went head-to-head with Jack Nicklaus, the greatest player in the game and came out on top by a single stroke."