Cink sinks history, and for that he deserves our sympathy
If it’s possible to feel sorry for a guy who just won his first major tournament, I feel sorry for Stewart Cink. Because 10 years from now, maybe 10 days from now, nobody outside Atlanta will recall the 2009 British Open as Cink’s breakthrough. It will forever be the one Old Tom Watson almost won.
And that’s a shame. Facing the onrushing tide of history, what was Cink to do? Jump out of the way and grant the watching world its fervent wish? On ABC, Paul Azinger said afterward: “This would have been the greatest feat in the history of sports,” and a listener’s first thought wasn’t, as is always the case when confronted with such absolutes, to yell, “Heck no!” but “Well … maybe.”
But Stewart Cink didn’t pull a Tonya Harding and club Watson with a mashie. Cink simply played winning golf when Watson’s body remembered that, 46 days hence, it’ll turn 60. Watson missed an eight-foot putt on the 72nd hole and Van de Velded the playoff, and the Georgia Tech man was a six-shot winner over those four holes. And the watching world turned away saddened by what it had witnessed.
Watson’s first words in the press tent: “Would’ve been a hell of a moment, wouldn’t it?”
Yes, it would’ve been a Great Story, and I’ve been around long enough to know what happens when we writers are denied our Great Stories. I remember Rick Reilly, then of Sports Illustrated, ripping the unassuming Scott Simpson for having the gall to win the 1987 U.S. Open over an immortal named Watson who, 22 years ago, was even then in comeback mode. Reilly called Simpson “a square in a groove” and then got really nasty:
“Now Simpson is a decent enough player. But on the thrill scale he ranks just behind Edwin Meese and slightly ahead of a tuna sandwich. Though he had no right to, Simpson ruined Watson’s longed-for coming-home soiree, partly because of an ungodly run of putting and partly because of one ungodly piece of luck.”
And who was sitting there in Scotland on Sunday, serving as ESPN’s “essayist”? The same Rick Reilly. Good luck with this week’s “essay,” Mr. Cink. Perhaps you’ll get upgraded to a BLT.
But the Tech man isn’t without allies. He has 590,000 followers on Twitter — he’s @stewartcink — which is 590,000 more than Watson enjoys. (”I don’t twit or tweet,” Watson told reporters this week.) And maybe his Jacket background helped Cink steel himself for the playoff against the people’s choice. As we know, the Institute is an underdog, at least numerically, in its own state.
Loading ...It’s a tough place to be, one man (plus assorted Tech fans and Twitterers) against the tide of history, but the pride of Sugarloaf did himself proud. He played steadily, was exultant but not excessive in victory and was duly deferential afterward. As he told ABC: ““I have such an admiration for Tom … I was a little reluctant to be pitted against him.” But then this: “I’m elated I won.”
Let’s hope Cink won’t have cause to regret the circumstances of his Open championship. Golf fans tend to love everybody — except J.C. Snead; never understood that — so there shouldn’t be a problem there. Golf scribes, however, are a tougher lot.
Surely more than a few had this one written — “Aging golfer wins one for the ages,” yada yada — and the only thing we writers hate more than a dull winner is rewriting. That sound you heard yesterday from across the pond? The “thwack” of a hundred correspondents hitting the “delete” key in ticked-off tandem.
New headline: “Cink wins, hearts sink.” Not his fault, though. Just the rub of the green.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
70 comments Add your comment
ABC was awful
July 20th, 2009
7:46 am
ABC did a dreadful job of coverage in my opinion. Cink was rarely shown, same as Boo Weekley, even though scorewise they were close, so the sense is that he came from nowhere to win. Because of that, as Bradley says, this will be remembered as the one that Watson almost won. I saw Cink hit maybe five shots before the playoff. Thanks ABC.
Dan
July 20th, 2009
8:28 am
It was pretty cool to watch the last couple of hours yesterdy and it just emphasizes how great a game golf is. Game not sport game. Please don’t ever give any golfer “Athlete” of the year again EVER! Please a sixty year old almost wins the most prestegious event??? (lets not forget Norman had the lead on sunday last year and his wife who actually played an athletic sport has been retired for 20 years!)
Golf takes great skill and concentration but it is hardly an athletic contest (and don’t get me started on NASCAR which has 50 year olds winning as well)
Jim
July 20th, 2009
8:39 am
To the guy that said Cink is garbage. I had the same experience with Paul Azinger. I met him at CHURCH in Tallahassee, FL, introduced by his sister-in-law. He was a total jerk. Was a big fan,now I hate the guy. He also sucks as a golf commentator.
Producer
July 20th, 2009
9:16 am
Watson could have been the best sports story of 2009. Even better than Federer winning the Career Grand Slam. I’m sorry he couldn’t get it done. Cink? He will be the Gerald Ford Ford of the British Open, the Accidental Champion. No one will ever confuse the greatness of Tom Watson with the whopping six career PGA tour titles that Cink has. It’s like comparing Secretariat with Mr. Ed.
Ailsa Craig
July 20th, 2009
9:20 am
Tom Watson – according to a Brit writer this morning – wasn’t the champion golfer of the year but he will be remembered as the champion man. All hail Stewie, he won with class. We’ll remember Watson, however, for his dignity throughout and his serenity in defeat. I agree with all the Reilly-bashers here and elsewhere but he made a good point – comparing Watson with Woods and Tiger’s club-slamming, profane tantrums. The media sycophants will say that “Tiger wants it so much.” Lee Westwood wants it, but he didn’t slam his club when he hit in the bunker on 18. No one else gets away with Tiger’s nonsense. He’s the best but not the best example. Watson reminded the short-attention span sports world that golf was played before the 97 Masters. Good column Mark.
Sting 'em Buzz
July 20th, 2009
9:35 am
Yesterday was the first time I had ever watched golf. I started out saying I was pulling for Watson and Cink. Unreal that it came down to the two of them. I don’t think it was possible for Cink to have played bad enough for Watson to win the playoff.
Ben Hogan
July 20th, 2009
9:40 am
There’s a reason it is called a championship – you have to WIN it!
As a fellow geezer, I was pullin’s strong for Tom. But he will be the first to tell you – it has to be won; it is not a gift.
Tom had done the hard work. All he needed was a par on 18 to cinch it. But the yips got him on the 8-footer. As a fellow golfer, I know how cruel this game can be. Somewherre in its cruelty is its beauty. I am sure deep down that Tom regrets getting so close and letting everyone down.
And Steve: Go back to your trailer and watch NASCAR.
ABC was AWFUL Part II
July 20th, 2009
9:54 am
You would have thought Cink didn’t make the cut with as little as he was seen Sunday until they showed his birdie put at 18. It was clear that ABC/ESPN really pooped the bed after Tiger was out it and they had no plan B. They simply replaced the usual continuous Tiger coverage with Watson, but didn’t broadcast the Open as a competitive tournament that was being played. And why did they keep showing Chris Wood, when Cink was matching him stroke for stroke thoughout the day?
They only way ABC redeemed itself was at the end when Reilly said “Thanks Tom, for showing us what golf was like before the Tiger Woods era. Its a Gentleman’s game”. Then they showed one of Tiger’s many tantrums, slamming his club in to the tee box like a spoiled 12 year old.
Mark Bradley
July 20th, 2009
10:03 am
Regarding ABC/ESPN: As much fun as it is to rip TV for its coverage, I’m not sure the American networks have control over what’s shown during the British Open. I know the BBC used to provide the “pool feed” of the actual golf. Not sure whether that’s still the case, but I’m guessing, in this era of cost-cutting, it is.
ThaMan
July 20th, 2009
10:24 am
Steve – you might stink. You are a crybaby for sure.
ThaMan
July 20th, 2009
10:36 am
wattzy – it is not possible to be a chef and a dawg fan. You are a hash slinger/burger flipper.
Spud Webb
July 20th, 2009
10:43 am
Reilly is an &ss and I cannot stand his pieces on ESPN. That voice is top 5 annoying.
Straight Cash Homie!
July 20th, 2009
10:59 am
Bradley is correct. The feed was from the BBC and ESPN/ABC had no control over who was being covered….might explain why Wood (English) was receiving so much face time on Sunday.
That is also the reason why it was not broadcast in true HD either. Stupid BBC….
At least Cink won it if Watson didn’t. It would have been worse if Westwood won it.
Spud Webb
July 20th, 2009
11:00 am
79, that 8:45 post was helarious. hahahaha, classic.
Monday Morning Links « Danimal’s Den
July 20th, 2009
11:52 am
[...] to. Plenty of commenters already, while the family and fans back in Georgia are quite proud too. As Mark Bradley indicates, hopefully we will all appreciate Cink’s accomplishment eventually, rather than just dwell on [...]
Lloyd
July 20th, 2009
1:31 pm
Stewart, Lisa and the boys have been friends and neighbors for 7 years. Class act, regular people. Sorry for all those who don’t really know him.. He’s the same guy at Frontera on a Monday night that he was last week showing his family the UK. (Instead of warming up) We’ll all be drinkng from the Claret jug in the coming days.. He is today, a “State of Georgia” icon.
All I'm Saying Is...
July 20th, 2009
1:44 pm
Bug Killer: Nick Faldo won the 1996 Masters and any student of golf knows that. While you are partially right in that its clear that Norman blew a six stroke lead, Faldo shot a 66 to seize the opportunity. Faldo did not back his way into a victory—he went out and shot a low score and took the prize that came his way.
Watson did not blow a six shot lead so Cink will definitely be remembered (just as Angel Cabrera is remembered for winning the Masters this year in a playoff and not just because Kenny Perry choked away a two stroke lead with two holes to play).
Cink sinks history, and for that he deserves our sympathy | Mark ... | Museum And Art
July 20th, 2009
2:24 pm
[...] here to see the original: Cink sinks history, and for that he deserves our sympathy | Mark … Connect and [...]
Hillbilly Deluxe
July 20th, 2009
7:24 pm
I’m not a golf fan but Tom Watson played very well and good for him. Stewart Cink played better when it counted and good for him. Somebody has to win and somebody has to lose. C’est la vie.
Bob Smith
July 23rd, 2009
1:12 pm
Stewart Cink epitomizes the very same, evil, corporate-greed-above-all-else mentality that the PGA’s sponsors display during golf’s TV commercials (many of which are paid for by your evaporating 401K’s – and your tax dollars, via “bailouts”)…the right thing to do is never what’s done, not ever, not when it comes to money and corporate control…had Cink lost to Watson, the sport would have received a shot in the arm that would have elevated its stature around the world to unfathomable heights…the entire game of golf would have benefited enormously, if Cink had done the right thing and shanked a couple of shots into the spinach…tens of millions of golf fans would have felt rejunvenated, alive again (most of them older people)…it would have been the sports story of the century…the greatest story in the history of the game of golf…but no, Stewart “I Love Ronald Reagan” Cink had to bash Watson’s dreams, and crush the impending elation of all the golf fans who were hanging on every stroke of that tournament…instead of thinking about the big picture, instead of realizing what Watson’s win would have done for the sport that had paid Cink so handsomely over the years, instead of thinking about how millions of people would be crushed if Watson lost, Cink just went ahead and displayed the type of selfish me-me-meism that we see everywhere in the Western world these days…what a dolt…the only reason he made the playoff was because he slopped in a birdie putt on the 72nd hole and Watson missed that eight-footer on the 72nd hole…Cink was there via pure luck…he was not the better player…and the right thing to do, no matter what anybody says, would have been to let Watson, and the sport, and the tens of millions of fans who were rooting for Tom, have their day in the sun…Cink will go down in history as a villain…if I ever see him in public, I will say, “Hey, what’s it like beating up on an old man in a playoff that you were lucky to be in, and crushing the dreams of millions of people…was it good for you?”