Mason rues his missed opportunity

Published on Monday 28 July 2003 01:00

ENGLAND’S Carl Mason was left to reflect on what might have been after he lost the Senior British Open to Tom Watson on the second hole of a sudden-death play-off at Turnberry.

Watson, 53, who defeated Jack Nicklaus there to win the 1977 Open Championship, seemed destined to have to settle for second place when he bogeyed the final hole to finish on 17-under-par 263. But the American got a second chance when Mason took six on the same hole and Watson grasped the opportunity.

Both men went on to card par fours on the first extra hole before Watson won the 157,800 first prize with a regulation four on the second extra hole.

Mason’s consolation was a second place cheque for 105,800 which takes his earnings from three Seniors Tour starts to 142,062, allowing him to jump to first place on the European Seniors Tour Order of Merit. "I’m proud of the way I played, but to get that close and then miss out is extremely disappointing," he said.