The passing years have not dulled the enthusiasm. Then again? “My aim was to still be in the Scottish Amateur Championship on my birthday,” said Craig Watson as he looked ahead to this week’s showpiece at Blairgowrie.
“I will be as the second qualifying round starts on that day. But my smile will be wiped off my face when that first tee-shot heads towards the trees. You get the buzz after not playing for a while … but that doesn’t last long.”
Watson’s sense of self-deprecation is renowned in the domestic amateur scene. At times he is so dry, he has to issue a hosepipe ban on himself.
The East Renfrewshire veteran turns 52 tomorrow, during the second round of the 36-hole strokeplay qualifier for the national championship.
Given that he rarely plays these days, getting through this first stage would be quite the achievement for the current GB&I skipper. “These days, I’m trying to beat my age on each nine now,” he added with a wry chuckle.
Watson, who beat Trevor Immelman in the final of the 1997 Amateur Championship, has plenty of other golfing affairs to keep him busy.
His GB&I team lost 15 ½ - 9 ½ to the Continent of Europe in the St Andrews Trophy at the weekend in a defeat he hopes will act as something of a wake up call.
Watson has been re-appointed GB&I captain for the Walker Cup at Hoylake in 2019 having been forced to stand down from the post at the last minute in 2017 following the death of his sister.
“Our boys were hit by a barrage of birdies and eagles by Europe,” said Watson of that St Andrews Trophy reversal.
“But once the dust settles they can look back and appreciate the kind of standards they have to reach particularly for the Walker Cup next year. It could turn out to be a blessing in disguise with another year under their belt and more experience.”
Watson, who lost in the final of the 2001 Scottish Championship to an imperious Barry Hume at Downfield, remains a true career amateur in an age when the turn over to the professional game is on an industrial scale.
The latest to make that loup is the current Scottish Amateur champion, Sam Locke, who joined the pro ranks after winning the silver medal at the Open.
“He must have been on such a high and it was probably quite hard to pitch up at an amateur event after that,” said Watson.
“I was a wee bit surprised he turned pro but good luck to him. It’s all changed now. The pro game seems to be the be all and end all. I don’t know how many players this week will still be an amateur in five years or so.”
Watson is one of the old guard in a 264-strong field made up of youth and experience.
That number includes host club member Glenn Campbell, who won the national crown at Southerness in 2005 as well as well-worn campaigners like Matthew Clark and the former Scottish No 1, Euan McIntosh.
Watson and company will contest two rounds of qualifying today and tomorrow with the top 64 moving on to the matchplay knock-out phase which concludes with Sunday’s final.
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