Champions challenge falls foul of the weather

Golf:Appalling weather conditions have forced the cancellation of this afternoon's four-hole Champions Challenge at the British Open. Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Lee Trevino and Peter Thomson were among the seven team captains for the four-hole event.

Twenty-five former holders of the title, including Padraig Harrington, had been due to take part, with five-time champion Thomson a non-playing captain of the team containing Tiger Woods, Nick Faldo and Mark Calcavecchia.

But driving rain and strong winds prompted organisers to call it off 45 minutes before play was due to start.

The event was part of the celebrations to mark the 150th anniversary of the first championship and was due to be played over the first, second, 17th and 18th holes, with one score to count at each hole.

The successful team would have been presented with a cheque for €60,000 to be donated to charities of their choice. Seve Ballesteros was hoping to take part, but withdrew two weeks ago on medical advice as he continues his recovery from brain surgery.

Tom Watson, meanwhile, could spend the rest of his life going on trips down memory lane if he wanted to. But this week at St Andrews is not one of them — he is here to try to win the British Open again.

“God, I hope a 60-year-old guy can do that. That would be pretty cool.”

Those were the five-time winner’s words today on the eve — a very wet and very windy eve — of what will be his seventh British Open at the Home of Golf and his 33rd in all. Such a victory would have sounded ridiculous two years ago. Then Greg Norman, 53 at the time, led with nine holes to play at Royal Birkdale.

And then last July at Turnberry Watson was one nine-foot putt away from arguably the greatest sports story ever told. For the time being his fellow American Julius Boros, who won the 1968 US PGA at the age of 48, remains the oldest major champion of all time.

But Watson is not ready yet to call off his bid to rewrite the record books and to join Harry Vardon, the only man to lift the Claret Jug six times.

“I never think about my history in the Open,” he said. “What I think about is I’m still here as a competitor to try to play the golf course the best I can and that’s what I’m doing.

“I wish I was playing as well as I was last year coming in here. I’m putting well, but I’m not striking the ball that well, so that concerns me, especially in the wind. Frankly that’s where I am right now. It’s no different than what it was, except I’ve got an artificial hip, I’m a little stiffer and don’t hit the ball as far.

“But I do have a little more experience under my belt.”

Even if he does not do it this Sunday Watson is exempt for four more years under a rule introduced because of his performance 12 months ago. And another top 10 finish would extend that further and even allow him to return to the Old Course again if the venue is chosen to host the 2015 championship.

“I don’t know how my body is going to be in five years. I can’t predict. I think that the extent of my exemption goes to 2014 at Hoylake — I think that’s where it (his farewell) would be.”

This week has already been notable after he, Arnold Palmer and Padraig Harrington were awarded honorary doctorates at St Andrews University.

“It was a wonderful ceremony. It was done in great spirit and I’m honoured and humbled to be a part of it, I really am. I congratulated Arnold. I said ‘Arnold, you’ve always been my idol.‘ I was a member of Arnie’s Army and then Jack (Nicklaus) came along and beat Arnie and I couldn’t stand Jack.

“I said ‘Arnie, the only reason I beat Nicklaus all those times is because he beat you’.”