Tom Watson stood over an 8-foot par putt yesterday evening on the final hole of a mystical British Open, one stroke away from becoming the oldest major champion in history. For the first time all week, he showed his 59-year-old nerves, missing it and ultimately losing the tournament to Stewart Cink in a play-off.

Cink, who made a 12-foot birdie on the final hole of regulation, took advantage of Watson's missed opportunity and overwhelmed him in the four-hole play-off to win by six shots.

Watson stood on the 18th tee one last time, blinking away tears. He wasn't alone in his sadness. Thousands of fans who filled the grandstands for the first time all week sat in stunned silence.

The loudest cheer was for the player who won the silver medal.

Cink, who was never atop the leaderboard all week until Watson missed the winning putt, was flawless in the play-off and finished with two birdies. As he gazed at the fabled claret jug, he paid his due to Watson, the modern-day King of the Links.

"I don't even know what to say," Cink said. "My hat's off to him. He turned back the clock. Just did a great job. I speak for all the rest of the people here, too."

Cink's birdie gave him 69, and at 2-under 278, it looked as though he would be the runner-up.

"It was almost," Watson said. "The dream almost came true."

Tied with three other players along the back nine on a breezy afternoon, Watson two-putted for par on the tough 16th hole, where his challengers all made bogey to fall back. Then he made an easy birdie on the par-5 17th, giving him a one-shot lead as this unforgettable British Open reached a crescendo.

From the middle of the 18th fairway, Watson hit 8-iron and followed its flight, right at the flag. It bounded through the green, and his putt back up the slope ran 8 feet past the hole.

Watson steadied himself over the par putt, and thousands of fans braced themselves.

All week long, as Watson kept his name atop the leaderboard, there was a feeling that he couldn't hold up over four days and 72 holes. Now, he was 8 feet away from the unthinkable.

The drama ended as the ball wobbled off the blade, obvious that it wasn't struck hard enough. Watson's shoulders slumped.

"I made a lousy putt," he said. "Then in the play-off, it was bad shot after another."

For the first time all week, Watson looked tired. His approach to the first play-off hole, No. 5 tumbled into a pot bunker and led to bogey to fall one shot behind. After a remarkable par save on the par-3 sixth, Watson came undone.

He hooked his tee shot on the 17th into grass so deep it took him two hacks to get back to the fairway. He three-putted for a double bogey, while Cink played safe and smart for a two-putt birdie and a four-shot lead.

Cink, born two years before Watson won his first claret jug at Carnoustie in 1973, captured his first major and sixth career victory. He will move to No. 9 in the world.

"It's been a surreal experience for me," Cink said. "Not only playing one of my favourite courses and a wonderful tournament, but playing against Tom Watson. This stuff doesn't happen. I grew up watching him on TV, hoping to follow in his footsteps, not playing against him."