green jacket, because then he didn’t have to look back on his career and think to himself: If only I’d won the Amateur…!’ Immelman wasn’t the only brilliant 17


year old that Watson encountered that year. A couple of months later, among his team mates at the Walker Cup, was the youngest player ever to compete in the contest….a certain Justin Rose. ‘He went on to have by far the most successful career of any player on either side, and I can’t say that came as any surprise,’ said Watson. ‘Like Trevor, you could just tell. Justin had all the shots even then, and I’m so happy that he’s fulfilled all his potential and become such a credit to the British game.’ As for his own performance that week,


Watson remembers it like it was yesterday, and offers reflections that stand as good advice to the competitors on both sides this time. ‘Do you know, I never imagined that


I would ever play in a Walker Cup,’ he said. ‘I fast-tracked myself into the team with my Amateur win. I almost came through the back door. I was 31, and not good enough to turn pro, so I knew this was going to be the highlight. I remember telling myself to go and enjoy it and that’s exactly what I did. It was my first experience of a US Open-type set-up and I did pretty well, winning one


of my singles and halving the other. The whole experience was just fantastic, even though we ended up getting trounced.’ Watson played at Hoylake just before


Christmas and will visit again with a squad before the Lytham Trophy in May and with another in August. ‘Given that every member of the last team has turned pro, it would be foolish to predict how this team will shape up,’ he said. ‘I know from my own experience that someone who doesn’t think they’ve got a chance at the start of the season can still end up making the team.’ In recent times, the Walker Cup has


rather shadowed the Ryder Cup in terms of the home team largely holding the upper hand, with Britain and Ireland looking for a sixth home win out of the last seven to be staged. ‘I


think there was a point, like the


Ryder Cup, where it was far too one- sided to be completely compelling but there’s a lot more interest now it’s a more even contest,’ said Watson. ‘I think putting has a lot to do with the home side doing so well. I remember when I played, watching my putting stroke disintegrate on the lightning-fast greens, and for the Americans it’s the opposite problem when they come over here. It is a difficult adjustment. ‘As for this match, I’m very proud to


Hoylake is one of the


best courses on the


Open rota


Above: Hoylake’s 1st green with that out of bounds always on your right


Left: Craig Watson with Matt Jordan at 2018’s St Andrews Trophy


have the chance to add to our recent record. I know I have huge shoes to fill after what Nigel Edwards did during his time as captain but I’ll give it my best. It’s such a huge thing for me, something I never expected.’ It will also be an emotional week for


Watson, who should have been captain for the last match in Los Angeles. Four months before it was due to be staged, he discovered that his sister, Kirstie, had been given just four months to live, and he stood down. ‘She died on the day the team stepped


on the plane,’ said Watson. ‘She was quite keen for me to go but it wouldn’t have been right.’ Kirstie will no doubt be in his thoughts


when Watson takes a break from his job with the distribution arm of the Isle of Skye brewing company for a week he will never forget. Win or lose, you can be sure he will raise a glass. n


ROYAL LIVERPOOL GOLF CLUB 2019–2020 MAGAZINE 17


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72