Tom Watson Q&A: On Bryson hitting bombs, a penalty he once called on himself in college, that putt in 2009 at Turnberry and what player reminds him of himself

TW: Well, Kansas City is my home. I have my family and friends mostly there in Kansas City. I ask you the question, why would I want to move away from my family and friends? Life is full when you have your family and friends. If need be, I can always rent the weather.

GW: I hear you like to hang out at the Topgolf in KC?

TW: I don’t hang out there, but I do go out there every now and then. I enjoy it. That’s fun.

GW: Are people surprised when they see an 8-time major winner there?

TW: Oh, yeah. They go, ‘Hey, look, it’s Tom.’

GW: How much golf are you playing these days?

TW: I’ve been playing a lot, getting ready for the Father‑Son, trying to find a swing that works. It comes and goes every now and then. I think, ‘I’ve got it,’ and then the next day I can’t find it. It gets lost. My body is not very strong anymore, and my balance isn’t as good, so I’m mis‑hitting the ball more now than I did 10 years ago.

At my age of 72, to be able to play courses and not perform the way I used to, I’m not sure whether I’d get a lot of joy out of it. I’m not sure.

It’s all about joy. It’s all about having fun in the game and joy. Some people, when you have deteriorating age skills, some people can deal with it better than others. I still enjoy practicing and trying to hit some shots consistently, one after another. Sometimes I get them, like I said, sometimes the next day I don’t have them. But I don’t play golf a lot. I still do love to practice. If I start hitting the ball pretty well, I’ll go play. If I’m not hitting the ball very well, I’m not going to play.

GW: Do you still get that joy out of feeling a good shot?

TW: Yeah, I do. It’s rare, that solid shot. I hit everything thin or fat.

GW: One four‑foot putt for all the marbles: Jack or Tiger?

TW: Jack. He would make it for sure.