Last Wednesday I turned to fellow sports writer Jeremy Reeves and said, “I wouldn’t mind seeing someone like Tom Watson contend for the British Open title.”

Little did I know.

The 59-year-old Watson didn’t just contend for the crown, he owned the tournament from start to (nearly) finish. The operative word being “nearly.”

Watson’s meltdown on the 72nd hole was out of character for the weekend. Watson was superb until 18 — where he was one club long on the approach, played the chip poorly and never gave an eight-foot putt, one that he has made a thousand times in his career, a chance to go in.

On Saturday night, Watson said in an interview he had a 36-hole strategy to win the British Open and he was halfway there. He didn’t think he would need 40 holes … and it showed. However, Watson could’ve two-putted from eight feet and still won his sixth claret jug if it wasn’t for Stewart Cink.

While No. 18 was Watson’s albatross on Sunday, Cink excelled on the final green. Two groups ahead of Watson, Cink calmly sank a tricky 12-footer for birdie on his 72nd hole that made him the leader in the clubhouse at 2-under. Other top flight golfers, including Lee Westwood and Retief Goosen, had every opportunity to join the party at 2-under and couldn’t do it.

And, after Watson opened the door, Cink walked through and slammed it behind him in the four-hole playoff.

For that, Cink is a most deserving champion. n Summer lovin’: Sure, it was only five games in the summer league, but the Bucks should be encouraged with their youngsters, who finished the Vegas tour at 4-1.

First-round pick Brandon Jennings looked like a real point guard averaging 14.6 points, a league-high 8.2 assists, 3.6 steals and 2.6 rebounds. Second-round pick Jodie Meeks was instant offense from the two guard, scoring 19 points per game on 56 percent shooting.

Throw in last year’s top pick Joe Alexander (16.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game) and the Bucks have already shown signs of life for next season n Book it (19-14): The Cubs held up their end of the bargain by wrapping up a seven-game road trip Wednesday by blasting Philadelphia to finish 5-2. The Brewers dropped the finale in Pittsburgh to make my prediction fall flat. The Brewers, lost 2-of-3 to finish their seven-game road trip at 3-4.

Here are a few predictions to keep me honest until I return from vacation:

1. Brett Favre will retire from throwing passes to Mississippi high schoolers for a return to the NFL with the Vikings.

2. The Brewers will do no better than a split in a four-game series against Washington from July 27-30. Doubling up: Milwaukee will trade for a starting pitcher prior to the July 31 trade deadline.

3. By Aug. 12, the Cubs will be in first place in the N.L. Central. Doubling up: By Aug. 12, Milton Bradley will get his batting average above .275.

Contact Mike Larsen at mlarsen@kenoshanews.com

Mike Larsen is a sports writer for the News. E-mail him at mlarsen@kenoshanews.com