Watson takes another shot at elusive U.S. Senior Open title

LAKE ORION, Mich. – Tom Watson has accomplished a lot in golf, winning the British Open five times, the Masters twice along with a U.S. Open.

The 62-year-old has had success on the Champions Tour as well, winning three of its five majors, including the Senior PGA last year.

Finishing first at the U.S. Senior Open has been elusive.

“I’ve come close,” Watson said Wednesday. “Come close a couple times.”

Watson, a three-time runner up at the event, acknowledged that winning the event would mean a great deal.

“This event is a very special event to me,” he said.

Watson, Fred Couples and amateur Douglas Snoap will tee off together this morning in the first round. Snoap got a shot to join the star-studded group when Nick Price withdrew because of a family emergency.

“I hope he goes away thinking he got a good break getting paired with us,” Couples said. “I think he’ll be more nervous than most guys. We’re not going to try and make him more nervous.”

Defending U.S. Senior Open champion Bruce Fleisher also withdrew from the 156-player field with a hand injury.