Tom Watson faces players his own age

BERKSHIRE, England, July 22 (UPI) -- Tom Watson, having almost pulled off one of the most stunning victories in the history of golf, returns to action Thursday against players his own age.

Watson, two months away from his 60th birthday, took a one-shot lead to the final hole of the British Open last Sunday before coming up second best in a playoff against Stewart Cink.

A victory in that tournament would have made Watson the oldest major champion by 11 years and would have allowed him to equal the century-old record for most wins in the British Open.

Watson will tee off Thursday in the British Senior Open, which he has won three times. The tournament will be played at the Sunningdale Golf Club's Old Course.

Former British Open champions Greg Norman and Sandy Lyle will be paired with Watson for the first two rounds. Bernhard Langer, leading money winner on the Champions Tour this season, will play the opening two rounds in a threesome with Nick Faldo and Mark O'Meara.

There will be 17 major champions in the field, including 73-year-old Bob Charles. He won the British Open 46 years ago -- a dozen years prior to Watson winning the first of his five titles.