Advantage, Cink: Commanding 4-shot lead over Tom Watson heading to final hole of Open playoff

Cink takes 4-shot lead in playoff with Watson

TURNBERRY, Scotland — Stewart Cink has a commanding four-stroke lead with one hole left in his British Open playoff with 59-year-old Tom Watson, who squandered a chance for a historic victory in regulation.

Watson, trying to become the oldest champion in golf history, missed an 8-foot putt to win on the 72nd hole, forcing a four-hole playoff with Cink on Sunday.

At the first extra hole, No. 5, both players put their approach shots in bunkers, but only Cink could get up-and-down for par.

Watson fell apart at the third extra hole, the par-5 17th: an errant tee shot, two whacks to get out of the rough, and three putts resulted in a double-bogey 7. Cink made a birdie.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

TURNBERRY, Scotland (AP) — Stewart Cink has claimed a one-stroke lead in his playoff with 59-year-old Tom Watson, who squandered a chance for a historic victory in regulation.

Watson missed an 8-foot putt to win on the 72nd hole, forcing a four-hole playoff with Cink on Sunday.

At the first extra hole, No. 5, both players put their approach shots in greenside bunkers, but only Cink could get up-and-down for par. Watson hit an ugly sand shot that just cleared the lip of the pot bunker, and needed two more putts for a bogey that gave Cink the early edge.

The playoff also includes the sixth, 17th and 18th holes.