Sunday at The Open: Golf's Bermuda Triangle

And just yesterday, I was pre-celebrating Adam Scott's victory. But yet there were strange unexplainable happenings and disappearances (of game) on the British links. Stonehenge-type stuff.

And even thru 14 holes today it was a sure thing. Backtime's editorial department headed to the local pool armed only with two children, a Twitter feed and an Elmore Leonard novel. The book didn't get much play as Scott's collapse played out in real time on my Android. And Ernie Els' fourth Major win almost seems like a footnote.

Sunday demise is even more of a signature of this tournament than triumph.

The 1999 saga of Jean van de Velde is the most famous debacle. Nobody remembers that he still forced a playoff, or that Justin Leonard was in it, or that Paul Lawrie won it.

In 2003, Thomas Bjorn's late bunker blunders opened the door for unknown Ben Curtis, who had posted his number hours earlier.

The next year, Els himself yipped a short putt to seal it, and Todd Hamilton of all people, ousted him in the playoff.

In 2007 at Carnoustie, Sergio Garcia needed only a par on 18 to win and claim his Major, but he backed into a playoff with Padraig Harrington, and predictably lost.

And then in 2009, 59-year old Tom Watson's story for the ages was derailed by a poor 72nd hole, and he was blasted in the playoff by Stewart Cink.

How Scott's career trajectory goes from here is anyone's guess. Rory McIlroy imploded at the 2011 Masters, then won the U.S. Open in a tour de force just two months later. So hang in there, Scotty.

That's Quite a Pitch

The sight of a 59-year old Tom Watson on the doorstep of a 6th British Open title gets more and more surreal with each cutaway. If Hollywood made a movie about it, nobody would believe it. But we're one glorious day away from sizing up who will play Watson in the movie.

I'm thinking William H. Macy or maybe Bill Paxton with a good makeup job.

Last year, Greg Norman's run for the championship was electric, but Norman was never regarded as a real threat by the fans or the oddsmakers. The Shark is an icon and a brand name, but for the most part he's not been a finisher.

The difference this year is that Watson has won this title 5 times. He knows how to get it done. And physically, complete with a new hip, he seems not to be at any real disadvantage against players a generation behind.

He is in complete control of his game, and is out-thinking the field and conquering Turnberry before he swings his club. And most unlike Watson, he is draining one improbable putt after another. That's why he is leading and not just in the mix.

UK book-making sites have Watson as the 4th choice going into Sunday's final round, behind two Brits (Westwood & Fisher) and 2-Time US Open champ Retief Goosen. I say watch out for Jim Furyk (3 back) and Angel Cabrera (5 back).

But the point is, he is a legitimate and very real contender for the world's most prestigious golf title...and he was born in the 1940s. This is the sport owned by a young terminator. I'm trying to think of a precedent or a cross-sport analogy, and coming up blank.

Maybe I'll start my first draft of the screenplay at 9AM eastern Sunday.