Stewart Cink beats tiring Tom Watson in

four-hole play-off for Open title

FROM THE R&A WEBSITE
American Ryder Cup player Stewart Cink is the new Open champion, snatching the title from the hands of compatriot Tom Watson in a four-hole play off after they tied on a two-under-par total of 278 at Turnberry this evening.
Watson, who had turned the clock back all week, ran out of time in his bid to win his sixth Open over the same course where he won his second in 1977. The dream ended in anti-climatic fashion as the 59-year-old five-time champion wearied over the extra holes and destroyed his chances when he took two shots to force himself clear of the thick rough to the left of the 17th fairway. As they walked off that green he trailed 36-year-old Cink by four shots.
The final hole was a formality. Watson blocked his tee shot into the crowd and was in rough short of the green in two. Cink hit two perfect shots to less then three feet and tapped in the winning putt. Watson, sadly, trailed by six shots.
Unfortunately for the talented Cink, who has earned his place in the higher echelons of the game, he was cast in the role of villain.
Playing in his 50th major championship, Cink created his shot at the title with a closing round of 69, making up three shots on Watson over the final 18 holes. He has won five tournaments on the US PGA Tour over the past 12 years and has played in 11 Opens with a previous best of tied for sixth at Carnoustie in 2007.
He took up the game when his parents, both single handicap players, left him at the driving range before he was old enough to go on the course.
“I grew up watching Tom Watson on television and hoped I could one day follow in his footsteps,” said Cink. “I never expected to be playing against him. It has been a surreal experience on one of my favourite courses in this wonderful championship.”
Ross Fisher started his last round birdie-birdie to take the lead but ran up a catastrophic quadruple bogey 8 a few holes later and his chance had gone.
Lee Westwood was in the leading pair on and off after that but dropped crucial shots over the last few holes and he too finished with an anti-climax of three putts on the 18th to fall out of joint second place.
Chris Wood, the Englishman who won the silver medal as leading amateur at Royal Birkdale 12 months ago, did amazingly well as a rookie pro to tie for third place with Westwood on 279.

ANOTHER LOOK AT TURNBERRY'S FINAL DAY
... FROM THE AOL GOLF NEWS SERVICE
Stewart Cink claimed his first major title as Tom Watson squandered the chance to create history in a dramatic Open Championship at Turnberry.
Watson just needed to par the final 72nd hole to claim his sixth Open title - a remarkable 34 years after his first - and become the oldest major winner by 11 years. But the 59-year-old hit his approach through the green and then three-putted from the back fringe, his putt for victory from eight feet never threatening the hole.
And Cink then won an anti-climactic four-hole play-off for the Claret Jug and a first cash prize of £750,000 by six shots, playing the fifth, sixth, 17th and 18th in two under par as Watson stumbled to four over. Watson's monetary reward was £459,000.
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The American pair had finished tied on two under par, Cink making a birdie on the last for a round of 69 and Watson, who led by one at the start of the day, returning a 72 after three-putting from off the back of the 18th green.
England's Lee Westwood and Chris Wood missed out on the play-off by a single shot after both bogeyed the 72nd hole, Westwood three-putting from long range and Wood failing to get up and down from the back of the green.
Compatriot Ross Fisher led by two shots after birdies at the first two holes, but took a quadruple bogey 8 at the fifth and eventually finished tied for 13th.
Speaking after receiving the Claret Jug on the 18th green, Cink added: "I stand here a little bit intimidated by this piece of hardware I have in my hands.
"There are a lot of emotions running through my mind and my heart and I'm so proud to be here with this.
"I don't even know what to say. My hat's off to Tom. He turned back the clock and did a great job and it was fun watching you all week Tom."
+Paul Lawrie remains the last British player to win an Open - 10 years after he did it at Carnoustie. Paul had the best outward half of 31 today, perehaps the best outward half of the tournament. He had an albatross 2 at the long seventh after a birdie at the third to turn in four-under-par 35. He ran up a triple bogey 7 at the 12th and dropped another shot at the 14th but finished on a high for a 68 with birdies at the short 15th and 18th (a finish that would have made all the difference if Tom Watson, Chris Wood or Lee Westwood had been able to produce the same figures a couple of hours later than Lawrie!). Paul finished on seven-over-par 287 and picked up a cheque for £13,750, and David Drysdale, the only other Scot to make the cut, totalled 290, to earn himself £10,500.


FUTURE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP VENUES
2010 ST ANDREWS, Fife
2011 ROYAL ST GEORGE'S, Kent.
2012 ROYAL LYTHAM & ST ANNE'S, Lancashire.
2103 MUIRFIELD, East Lothian.