Why does it seem that there’s a feeling of animosity towards Stewart Cink?

I personally don’t feel that way, but you can’t help feel that’s the attitude of the general public with the outcome of this past weekend’s 138th British Open Championship.

And what for?

It wasn’t Cink’s fault that Tom Watson missed an eight foot putt on the par four 18th, costing him his sixth Claret Jug. Cink won the four hole playoff in dominant fashion over the worn out Watson, winning the tournament fair and square and securing his first major championship.

I must admit I barely watched any of the tournament over the weekend, but I did see Watson play the 18th on Sunday. His approach shot bounced past the pin and rolled off the back side of the green.

All he had to do was chip on and putt in for par and the Championship was his. I don’t think there was a casual golf fan watching that wasn’t routing for him.

But it didn’t happen.

He pushed his par putt to the right, bogeying the hole and forcing the playoff with Cink. The rest is history.

The overall feeling here should be that of sympathy for Watson, not to make Cink out to be the apparent villain. If Watson made his putt, where would this story have ranked all time in the history of sports? Top 10? Top 5? I think an argument could be made for it, but we’ll never know.

The combination of Tiger not making the cut and this year’s Championship being played at Turnberry, where Watson beat rival Jack Nicklaus in the famous “Duel in the Sun” in 1977, makes it all more intriguing.

Moments like this are the reason we watch sports. In the end, the 138th British Open at Turnberry will be remembered more for what almost happened than Cink winning his first major.

Which is unfortunate.