Capelle On Golf

British Open Coverage

Mark O’Meara won at Pebble Beach five times, but on the dawn of the 1998 season, he was becoming more famous for being Tiger’s pal. Then, at age 41, he busted loose, capping a good but not great career with two majors in one season.

At the Masters he birdied the last two holes to beat Fred Couples and David Duval by a shot. After a 32t at the US Open, he captured the British Open at Royal Birkdale by two strokes in a four hole playoff with journeyman Brian Watts, who registered his one career top 10 at the Open. Good buddy Tiger Woods, who had been encouraging O’Meara, charged home with a final round of 66, but missed the playoff by a shot.

O’Meara finished the major’s season with a 4t at the PGA, then quickly receded from the spotlight. After winning twice each year from 1995-98, he never won again on tour. In the majors he recorded a solitary top 10 five years later at the Masters. O’Meara’s before and after compared to Vijay Singh’s is most revealing. The table shows their major titles, top 10s in the majors, and PGA Tour victories.

Singh vs. O’Meara – Before Age 41
M—T10—Tour Ws
2—11–16—Mark O’Meara
2—14–16—Vijay Singh
Singh vs. O’Meara – After Age 41
M—T10—Tour Ws
0—1–0—Mark O’Meara
1—8–15—Vijay Singh

Time helps to put careers in perspective. When Mark O’Meara won the British Open, it appeared he was on the launching pad to early 40s greatness. Now we can see that this was the end, not the beginning of a glorious ending. Which is too bad, for if O’Meara had parlayed those wins into just one more major, he would have elevated himself to a whole new level.

The rather generous committee at the Hall of Fame gives players a second chance to earn their way into the game’s most prestigious society. So today O’Meara is plying his trade on the Champions Tour, but he has yet to win in 24 starts. Since most good players on the senior circuit tend dominate in their early 50s, his first two seasons indicate that his record will likely not be getting the icing it needs to ensure his induction.

In time O’Meara will best be remembered for winning two majors in a season and for beating Tiger in the early stages of the Woods Era. But though he’s on the borderline for the Hall of Fame, unless he catches a number of the voters in a weak moment, he’ll remain on the outside looking in.