Watson to be praised for turning his spotlight on caddie's disease
By BOB HARIG
Published September 4, 2003
The golf is impressive, but so is what Tom Watson has done with his time in the spotlight.
While winning two major championships on the Champions Tour and acquitting himself nicely in five of the seven others he competed in this year, Watson has made it a personal quest to focus more attention on amyotrophic lateral scleroris.
Called ALS, the disease has no cure. Watson learned this painfully when his longtime caddie, Bruce Edwards, was diagnosed with ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, in January. Watson's win Sunday at the Tradition was his first since the diagnosis with Edwards on the bag.
Watson is best known for his eight major championships on the regular tour, but he is making another name for himself now. He is making people aware of ALS, telling them how they can help. He helped develop a fund-raising campaign, Driving 4 Life.
Fans have been touched, even handing over checks to Watson during practice rounds.
No doubt Watson has gained strength from being with Edwards, who is suffering the effects of the neurological disease. His speech is slurred, he has lost weight. The life expectancy is two to five years.
At the PGA Championship last month, Edwards was not with Watson, electing to get experimental treatment in the Bahamas. But to Watson, Edwards was not far away.
"His spirit of being able to deal with it has been wonderful," Watson said. "The one good thing about it from a spiritual standpoint, he has hope that the things he is doing are going to make him well. The history of this disease says you can't believe in that, but just to see him believe gives me hope."
By winning consecutive senior majors, Watson has moved to the top of the standings for player of the year. With all that he has done, if there were a vote, Watson would win unanimously.
CLOSING IN: When Tiger Woods made four bogeys in the first seven holes of the second round at the Deutsche Bank Championship, there was the possibility he might miss his first 36-hole cut since 1998. But he extended his cuts-made streak to 111, two short of Byron Nelson's long-believed-untouchable PGA Tour mark.
"I'm very proud of that," Woods said. "I fight all the time. It's the way I play."
Woods is not expected to play again until the Oct. 2-5 American Express Championship, a World Golf Championship event in Atlanta that has no cut but still counts. He then could tie the record at his hometown Disney event.
For perspective: The next-longest current cut streak belongs to Ernie Els at 25.
BOUNCING BACK: Lee Westwood was one of the world's best in 2000 when he won six times on the European PGA Tour and displaced Colin Montgomerie, after seven straight years, as leading money winner. It was assumed a major championship was next.
But Westwood quickly and startlingly dropped to the depths. He didn't post a top-10 finish in 2002 and wasn't doing much this year until a come-from-behind victory Sunday at the BMW International Open in Germany.
Westwood, 30, shot a final-round 66, including a back-nine 30, to win by three.
"I am fairly emotional," a tearful Westwood said afterward. "It's been more than two years since I won. This is a big moment."
No doubt. He had risen as high as No. 4 in the world ranking in 2000 before dropping to 215th.
"I'd won 24 tournaments and I always felt if I got the chance I'd know how to win again, but it's the first time I've been in contention and it's come quicker than I expected," he said. "I owe a lot to my new coach, David Leadbetter. We've worked together since February and he's given me short- and long-term goals."
BIRDIES FOR CHARITY: Bright House Networks will be the main sponsor of the Chrysler Championship's Birdies for Charity program. The PGA Tour event at the Westin Innisbrook Resort gives its proceeds to Academy Prep in St. Petersburg. But it also has a charity program in which not-for-profit organizations can solicit pledges based on the total number of birdies in the tournament. Bright House is donating $100,000 for a bonus pool. Call (727) 942-3737.
- Information from other news organizations was used in this report.
