Tom Watson knows that the end is near.
“My time is over — it’s like a death, in a sense,” the veteran American tells CNN’s Living Golf show.
It is 40 years since Watson won his maiden British Open title at Carnoustie, the first of eight major successes during an illustrious career.
Next month, at the age of 65, he will play his final Open at “the home of golf” — Scotland’s St. Andrews.
Such is Watson’s sadness at saying farewell to golf’s oldest major that he compares it mourning a loved one, although he admits that — in time — he will will look back fondly on a tournament which has brought him incredible success.
“I have my friends and family around me for the week,” Watson told CNN. “It’ll be a wonderful farewell to the Open but I’ll never lose the memories of a wonderful experience.”
Watson will always remain a favorite with British golf fans — his five Open victories between 1975 and 1983 established him as one of the legends of the game.
He will walk the famous Swilcan Bridge for the final time on Sunday July 19 — should he make the halfway cut — or the preceding Friday if his fairytale comes to a premature end.
In 2005, Watson followed his great friend Jack Nicklaus across the bridge after the “The Golden Bear” said his farewell.
The experience left him overcome with emotion as tears rolled down his cheeks.
Four years later, at the age of 59 and with a hip replacement, Watson rekindled his love affair with the British public.
An unexpected sixth Open title appeared within reach as he entered the final day with a one-stroke lead.
But just as the patrons began to dream of a most unlikely triumph, the years caught up with Watson.
An eight-foot putt which would have sealed one of the great successes of an illustrious career failed to fall into a hole which appeared to shrink with each passing second.
Instead of becoming the tournament’s oldest winner by over a decade, Watson crumbled in a four-hole playoff against compatriot Stuart Cink, 23 years his junior.
“The old fogey almost did it,” Watson said after capturing the hearts of a whole new generation of golf fans.
Six years on, he is ready to say goodbye to the game. His first “retirement” in 2010 appeared to be rather premature, but this time it’s for real.
His 2014 return to Scotland — where he won his first four British Opens in a golden period between 1975-82 — was not the happiest moment of Watson’s career. It ended in acrimony following his unsuccessful captaincy of the U.S. Ryder Cup team, as he was publicly criticized by senior member Phil Mickelson after Europe’s crushing victory.
Watson, a man known for keeping control of his emotions, displayed notable dignity in the aftermath — but with it came the recognition that modern golf may have finally moved on without him.
“The finality of it will, you know, probably make me cry,” he says of his impending farewell.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen yet but I know that my friends and family, Hillary and my son will be caddying for me.
“It will be wonderful to be able to walk that last walk with my son and meet Hillary at the green. That will be a special time for me.”