American halts Tom Watson's dream run in a play-off to win the British Open his maiden Major crown
American halts Tom Watson's dream run in a play-off to win the British Open his maiden Major crownStewart Cink was aware he had spoiled the party at the British Open here yesterday but that did nothing to take away from his sense of achievement.
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Stewart Cink poses with the Claret
Jug after winning the British Open golf championship yesterday. pics/getty images |
The 36-year-old from Alabama, got the better of a weary Tom Watson in a four-hole British Open play-off to claim his debut major win on a day of high drama, denying his 59-year-old compatriot the chance to become the oldest major winner in history.
A distinct anti-climactic atmosphere spread over the suddenly cold links as the cheers and roars that had accompanied Watson around the course gave way to polite applause for Cink.
He is no stranger to not being the crowd favourite.
"I'm engulfed by the joy, for sure, but I can understand the mystique that came really close to developing here and the story," he said. "I don't feel ashamed. I don't feel disappointed. I'm pleased as punch that I've won this tournament, and also proud of the way Tom Watson played because he showed what a great game we all play.
"It's not the first time I've been in that situation. I've played plenty of times with Tiger and hearing the Tiger roars and Mickelson.
"I'm usually the guy that the crowd appreciate but they're not behind me 100 per cent of the way.
"So that's the sort of role I've been cast into for my whole career. And, hey, that's not the worst. It's okay."
A solid, but unspectacular player, he has been a regular contender over the last 14 years since he turned professional but rarely a winner, the last of his five titles coming at last year's Travelers Championship.
A good team player from his college days at Georgia Tech, Cink has also grown into a key member of the US Ryder Cup team, but he was beginning to doubt his own abilities to win at the very highest level.
He did come close before in a major, taking a double-bogey in the final hole of the 2001 US Open at Southern Hills, Oklahoma to blow his chances of getting into a playoff which Retief Goosen eventually won.
