Tom Watson prepares to bid farewell to Open championship

Five-time Open champion Tom Watson is bracing himself for an emotional weekend as he prepares to bid farewell to the event.

Watson, 65, won the Open on his first appearance in the event at Carnoustie in 1975 and went to claim four more titles. most notably an epic triumph over Jack Nicklaus at a sun-kissed Turnberry in 1977.

The two-time Masters champion is also hugely respected for his efforts in 2009 when - at the age of 59 - he threatened to establish a new landmark as the oldest player to win a major only to lose out in agonising fashion to Stewart Cink in a four-hole play-off at Turnberry. 

Some of those tools are missing right now and some are a little rusty

He said: "It's time for my final Open championship here at St Andrews. This will be it. I don't expect to end up in the top 10 - it would be nice if I did end up in the top 10 - to extend for five more years. 

"I kind of just hope I can make it to Sunday and when you get to a position when you are really just hoping to make it to Sunday then it really is time to just hang them up.

"With that said, I am also going to announce that next year will be my last Masters. I'm not going to play there any more after, even though I would be eligible to play. The golf course is too big for me with my declining skills and length.

"As I said a few weeks ago, the tool box is kind of half empty with the tools I used to use to play good golf. Some of those tools are missing right now and some are a little rusty, rusty like me.

"That's kind of where I am. People have asked me this week how I am going to feel and I really don't know how I'm going to feel. We have a few housefuls of friends and family coming over for my last Open and we are planning a big party on Friday night.

"I hope that will be just halfway through my four rounds that I am going to play and that we will have a good last get-together at the Open championship."

Watson will begin his challenge at 8.30am on Thursday morning alongside Ernie Els and Brandt Snedeker. Follow all the action from four fantastic days in Fife with our dedicated blog on the Sky Sports website and on the mobile apps.