Tom Watson always excited to shoot his age

No, Tom Watson isn’t about to alter his tournament schedule just because of his first top 10 on PGA TOUR Champions since 2015.

The man will turn 70 this year. He hasn’t played in more than eight events in a year since 2011, and that’s about how many he figures to play in this year.

Still, he came away from his tie for 10th at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai, his best finish there since 2012, feeling good about his game. And as well he should. He shot under par in each of his three rounds, twice shooting his age or better.

Watson finished ahead of such PGA TOUR Champions stalwarts as Steve Stricker, Vijay Singh, Scott Parel, Scott McCarron and Miguel Angel Jimenez.

“I hit some good shots. I was pretty happy about the way I played,” Watson said on Tuesday. “I hadn’t played or competed very much since September of last year. I had just been working on my game here and there.”

Watson couldn’t put his finger on any one thing he had done well. He just didn’t make the big mistake. Yes, there were bogeys – seven of them in all – but there was nothing worse.“It’s somewhat surprising, you’d have to say, that I played that well,” Watson said. “Temper that with the fact that I know the course very well. I’ve played there for 19 years. I know which holes to be careful with.

“I basically did my job there. I made a few birdies here and there. I’m pretty happy with it.”

Watson shot a 5-under 67 in the second round in which he had seven birdies and closed with a 3-under 69.

“I drove it pretty well. I hit some quality iron shots,” Watson said. “I played the golf course the way you’re supposed to play it. You have to avoid the big scores, like on No. 5, the par 3 over water. That can ruin your day in a heartbeat. I played that hole well. I didn’t play the par 5s well. But I played the other holes well.”

In shooting his age or better for the 10th and 11th times, Watson moved into a tie for fourth in PGA TOUR Champions history with Miller Barber.

“Every time I shoot my age I feel excited about it,” Watson said. “I don’t know if it’s getting tougher or easier.

“The first time I shot my age was at the Toshiba Classic. I was 64 and I shot a 63. I walked by Hale Irwin and I exclaimed to him, ‘Hey, I shot my age!’ And he said, ‘Big deal.’ And I kind of got it because he has done it probably a hundred times. I know some amateurs who’ve done it hundreds and hundreds of times. But it’s still a milestone when you do. It really is.”

Irwin ranks first all time in shooting his age during PGA TOUR Champions competition. He has done it 39 times. The only other players ahead of Watson are Gary Player (30) and Bob Charles (14).

As far as his schedule, Watson said he’ll play next at the Mitsubishi Electric Classic at TPC Sugarloaf in Duluth, Georgia, April 19-21.

“Hualalai is pretty forgiving. Sugarloaf is not forgiving,” Watson said. “You better be on your 'A' game and hit it a long way to compete successfully there.”

The second Mitsubishi event should be the beginning of a stretch in which Watson will play in three consecutive events, including the Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf and the Insperity Invitational.

Watson said he also plans to play in the Mastercard Japan Championship, the U.S. Senior Open Championship and The Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex.

Watson said the professional game is in great shape, citing excitement for the tours around the world, the resurgence of Tiger Woods, and the talented young players entering the game. His chief concern is getting new players into the game at the youth level, and he mentioned such initiatives as The First Tee and Youth on Course, which he said has been highly successful in his native Kansas City.

“We’ve got to get kids off their cellphones,” Watson said. “It’s hard. We’re competing directly with kids’ time on their phones, devices and playing video games.

“Kids are more sedentary than they used to be, and that concerns me. Are you keeping your body in shape? Golf is a great way to keep in shape. You walk, you carry your bag. It’s a really good thing.”

It’s also a really good thing to have a legend around to share his wisdom and remind everyone that age is just a number.