Underdogs

When golf fans are asked about The 138th Open, in 2009, many will think of a man who didn’t even win the Championship.

That is a testament to the remarkable nature of the feat Tom Watson almost pulled off 16 years ago, when one of the most popular Champions in Open history came within a whisker of winning the Claret Jug for a record-tying sixth time, at the age of 59.

Watson’s captivating but ultimately unsuccessful challenge to become the game’s oldest major champion stands the test of time as one of the most incredible stories in sport.

Needing a par putt to secure the Championship, Watson was painfully close to an astonishing underdog triumph, his errant effort and subsequent unravelling in a four-hole play-off allowing another unlikely winner to prevail.

Stewart Cink took advantage of Watson’s miss to claim his first and only major title.

Yet after the winning moment came vilification. Cink’s triumph should have been warmly celebrated, instead he was labelled as the man who stole Watson’s fairytale.

An achievement that for most would be one to forever remember fondly, Cink’s greatest triumph brought struggle, as he was forced to get to grips with fame and scrutiny while being cast as the villain of the piece.

The aftermath for the man cruelly known as golf’s “forgotten man” is a story that has gone untold. Until now.

From the award-winning team behind TREVINO and DUEL, Underdogs goes behind the scenes to provide fresh insight into the sporting miracle that never was. 

A gripping 48-minute documentary by R&A Films – featuring in-depth interviews with both players and eyewitness accounts from those fortunate enough to be inside the ropes – Underdogs is a fascinating retelling of one the most dramatic duels in The Open’s long and storied history.

In a portrait of legacy, heartbreak and resilience, Underdogs reveals how the pressure of history can derail even the most seasoned of winners, and how the weight of winning can be the most complex and significant burden of all.

You can watch Underdogs exclusively on R&A TV from Monday 7 July.