Only one thing -- rather, one person -- could make Tom Watson's Open Championship swan song complete: Jack Nicklaus.
Speaking ahead of this week's Open Championship at Royal Liverpool, the five-time Open Champion said he'd like nothing more than to play with his "Duel in the Sun" co-star one last time in the game's oldest major.
"Get Jack out of retirement," Watson said. "I'd like to play with him for my last go round in the Open Championship -- that would be fun."
Nicklaus made the Old Course at St. Andrews, host to the '15 Open Championship, the site of his last Open round in 2005. The memory of Nicklaus going over the Swilcan Bridge for the last time made Watson, long-time adversary and friend, emotional.
"I had real strong feelings about Jack Nicklaus in his final round in the Open at St Andrews," said Watson. "I was crying like a baby from the tee to the green on 18. Jack's the greatest player in the game, he means a great deal to me, he was the man I wanted to beat."
The R&A extended Watson's exemption by one more year to afford him the opportunity to wrap up his Open Championship career at the Home of Golf -- that is, unless he defies the odds again like he did when he nearly won the Claret Jug for a sixth time in '09 at the age of 59 at Turnberry. Watson knows the end is just about a year away and got choked up already thinking about his farewell.
"St. Andrews is a very special place. People say it may not be the end but let's face it, it is probably going to be the end of my Open career," Watson said. "It means a great deal. I just hope I can hold back enough of the tears to look presentable."
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