In July of 1977, under azure Scottish skies, Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus fought one of the most memorable battles in golfing history. Finishing 11 and 10 shots ahead of the field, Watson came out on top at Turnberry in the famous “Duel in the Sun.”
But it wasn’t the first Major confrontation the American pair had fought, nor was it the first time that Watson had tamed the Golden Bear. In the 1977 US Masters Watson and Nicklaus duked it out right to the wire with the younger man finally prevailing. That thrilling competition has been somewhat forgotten, overshadowed by the monumental encounter between the two men in South Ayrshire just three months later. But it’s a contest well worth recounting. This is the story of the stirring overture to the Duel in the Sun.
The Build Up
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At the start of 1977, golf fans had reason to expect a great deal from the year’s first Major. The best players in the world were on form and a strong field had assembled at Augusta for the 41st Masters tournament. Jerry Pate, 1976 US Open champion, had won the first event of the year in Phoenix; Jack Nicklaus had claimed his 62nd PGA Tour title in the Jackie Gleason Classic in Florida and talented Tom Watson had won twice in California. Other favourites included Tom Kite, Hale Irwin and Ben Crenshaw. In addition, everybody was excited to see what 19-year-old Spaniard Severiano Ballesteros might produce on his first Masters outing, having thrilled crowds in The Open at Royal Birkdale the previous summer.
Watson led the PGA Tour money list at the start of Masters week, but he was under some scrutiny for a couple of recent poor finishes that had led some of the, more cynical, members of the press to suggest he might have an issue as a “choker.” In The Players Championship at Sawgrass he’d been three ahead with nine to play. But he bogeyed four holes on the back side and then drove into the water on the 18th to hand the tournament to Mark Hayes. In the following week’s Heritage Classic at Harbour Town, Watson was four ahead going into the final round. But after some scrappy golf, he had lost his advantage through nine holes. When he found water on the 14th, his race was run and a disbelieving Graham Marsh walked away with the title.
Watson knew he would face questions about his ability to close a tournament in the build up to The Masters so, as far as possible, he did his best to avoid them. While most were practising at Augusta, Watson spent…
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