Watson almost wins sixth British Open

    Despite the fact that he’s nearly old enough to collect Social Security, pro golfer Tom Watson came within a hair’s breadth of winning his sixth British Open over the weekend.

    Despite the fact that he’s nearly old enough to collect Social Security, pro golfer Tom Watson came within a hair’s breadth of winning his sixth British Open over the weekend. At his side was Philadelphia political consultant Neil Oxman, who’s been Watson’s caddy on the PGA tour for the past six years.
    Credit: Jon Super/AP

    Listen:
    [audio: 090720sbcaddy.mp3]

    Oxman has successfully strategized the political campaigns of elected officials like Mayor Michael Nutter. But during the summer, Oxman spends his time plotting out the path to victory for a different kind of contestant. He’s been a caddy on the PGA tour for over 30 years, most recently with the 59 year old Watson.

    • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

    Oxman says the buzz over Watson’s play this weekend came in part from his age.

    Oxman: There’s a lot of baseball pitchers who are in their forties, but Tom is literally going to be sixty years old on the fourth of September, and that’s old. I mean, he’s playing against Tiger Woods was in the field. Tiger Woods. The Tiger Woods. You know, the greatest player who’s playing nowadays, and Tom is competing on the same field as him.

    Watson will also compete this week in the Senior British Open, where he has won three out of the past five years.

    WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

    Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

    Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal