Golden Bear sheds a tear for Turnberry master Watson

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

TURNBERRY, Scotland (Reuters) - An emotional Jack Nicklaus said he had tears in his eyes on Saturday while watching fellow American Tom Watson take control of the 138th British Open.

Nicklaus, 69, beaten by Watson in the famous 'Duel in the Sun' in the 1977 edition at Turnberry, monitored most of the third-round action on television at his home in Florida as the 59-year-old golfing great established a one-shot lead.

"I watched most of the front nine and all of the back nine," the 18-times major winner told his official website (www.nicklaus.com).

"I did manage to play some tennis before it and in between some holes. Like everybody else -- including Tom -- I had some tears in my eyes."

Twenty-six years after winning the last of his five British Open titles at Royal Birkdale, Watson is bidding to become golf's oldest major champion, eclipsing compatriot Julius Boros who clinched the 1968 U.S. PGA Championship at the age of 48.

Watson, a master of links-course golf, birdied two of the last three holes to card a one-over-par 71 on Turnberry's Ailsa layout and Nicklaus believes his compatriot and good friend is the favourite going into Sunday's final round.

"The key for him is to just not let the mistakes multiply or manifest themselves into a bad hole," the man widely known as the 'Golden Bear' said.

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