Mason's 64 threatens to upstage main attraction
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Tom Watson's attempt to win his first major as a senior was upstaged by his playing partner yesterday, and it was not Jack Nicklaus.
While the Senior British Open was billed as a rematch of the 1977 "Duel in the Sun" when Watson edged Nicklaus by one stroke on this same links, someone forgot to tell Carl Mason. The Englishman whose record pales into insignificance compared with Nicklaus and Watson, shot a bogey-free, six-under-par 64 to take a one-stroke lead into today's third round on nine-under-par, 131.
Watson, who added a 67 to his first round 66, is tied for third behind DA Weibring, who shot a 63. Tom Kite also made 67 and is tied with Watson and another American, Bruce Summerhays on 133. Summerhays shot 65.
A two-time winner on the regular European senior tour after 20 years without a victory, Mason was supposed to be the supporting cast to Watson and Nicklaus as the trio were followed by the only big gallery on the course. "It feels great, absolutely great," he said after walking off with the lead. "I felt a little bit nervous on the first tee. That's pretty normal with the company I was keeping."
With the three players finishing a combined 12 under for the day, it was easily the best scoring match of the round. Mason said: "My 61 when I won the 1994 Scottish Open at Gleneagles was special, but, under the circumstances, I would have to say that is probably the finest round I have ever played. It was a great honour to play with Jack and Tom. It isn't often you get to play with one legend, far less two. I'm just glad I didn't let myself down."
By contrast, Watson, a five-time Open champion, said: "I played a very scratchy round and I watched Carl Mason play a very, very good round of golf. He was very precise in what he was doing and I need to pick up on that and do the same."
Watson, starting four under, slipped to three after a bogey at five. But he followed it with an eagle three at seven and birdied two more holes on the back nine. Mason went out in 33 after picking up two birdies and Nicklaus, who was level par at the start of the round, made up for a double bogey five at the fifth, to collect five birdies in a 67 for 137.
Senior British Open: (Turnberry): Leading second-round scores (GB or Irl unless stated): 131 C Mason 67 64. 132 D A Weibring (US) 69 63. 133 B Summerhays (US) 68 65; T Watson (US) 66 67; T Kite (US) 66 67. 135 D Durnian 67 68. 136 F Zoeller (US) 67 69; D Quigley (US) 71 65; B Cameron 69 67; T Gale (Aus) 70 66; M McCumber (US) 67 69. 137 B Longmuir 69 68; J Nicklaus (US) 70 67; B Charles (NZ) 69 68; G Encina (Chile) 70 67. 138 W Hall (US) 74 64; M Lyle (US) 70 68; B Jones (Aus) 69 69; F Gibson (US) 74 64; H Carbonetti (Arg) 70 68; I Aoki (Japan) 69 69. 139 J Grace (US) 71 68 A Pierse 72 67; G Marsh (Aus) 71 68. 140 M. Gray 70 70; B Hardwick (Can) 68 72; D Good (Aus) 73 67; J Bland (SA) 71 69; N Sugai (Japan) 67 73; K Takahashi (Japan) 71 69; M Gregson 68 72.
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