Royal St George's [host of this year's Open Championship] was very lush that week for a links course, with thick rough. It might have played more like a US setup than the traditional, bouncy links?
I rate Royal St Georges behind only Carnoustie in terms of difficulty amongst the Open courses. I remember going back there again in 1985 when Sandy Lyle won and was amazed at how difficult it was. I think it held its own as a true links course, with the blind shots and the premium you needed to place on hitting the ball to certain areas. I managed to work out the best lines to play the course and drove the ball well that week.
After such a year of highs, was backing it up physically and mentally, dare I say ‘burnout’, an issue for you in 1982?
In retrospect it probably was. I was pressing from day one of the tour in 1982 to validate what I had done in 1981. Why I thought I needed to do that, I don’t know, but that was my mindset. Looking back, I could say I could’ve been a better time manager but...
You contended again the 1982 US Open at Pebble Beach. You were paired with Tom Watson in the last round and had the best seat in the house for Watson's famous chip-in at the seventeenth. What were you muttering under your breath at the time? I was not totally at my best that week but still felt I had a strong chance to win it. In fact, I had the lead through nine holes in the last round but it wasn’t to be. I had my opportunities but it was definitely Watson’s time and it set up another great Nicklaus - Watson duel. [The chip] is probably the most watched clip in golf, so I get to see myself in the background every time. I guess I was in a state of shock when it happened. It was a surreal experience in a way because the crowd was several hundred yards away, so there was a delayed and distant reaction. Tom Watson is a true champion in every respect and it was definitely his time to finally win the Open.
For the younger readers, which current PGA Tour players do you think have similar game to how you played in your prime?
Not that I hit it anywhere near the length of most of the players these days but I would say a Trevor Immelman type, the mistake free kind of player. Zach Johnson would be a pretty good comparison, someone who’s a fighter and plays it tough. Corey Pavin and I had a lot of similarities. –– As told to Paul Prendergast
