My golfing weekend
Although I was on eventual runner-up Li Haotong, third round leader by 3 shots, I was delighted Justin Rose defended his Turkish Airline trophy successfully yesterday evening.
If there is any sense or justice Justin Rose will surely make the final six for BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
Anthony Joshua, Lewis Hamilton, Harry Kane and Geraint Thomas will surely be there and the female lobby will insist on a sportswoman plus a para sports person so he may not even make the final six. Which is a shame as he meets the criterion of personality with his essential decency, charitable work and – being a true ambassador of the sport – he has glorified with 2 Majors, Olympic gold and the world number one ranking he has now re-assumed.
Mind you he was not on top of his game at the Turkish Airlines closing stages. He passed by Li in the morning nine and looked to be coasting till the Chinese prodigy eagled the 15th to close the two-shot lead.
Justin then contrived to bogey the 17th and 18th but the Chinaman was shaky with his putter which cost him dear.
It was exciting, nerve-shredding, stuff but on the play-off hole Li three-putted to present the trophy to Rose. It cost me £100 and the missus was none too happy to see the trip to IKEA evaporate into the ether but I was still delighted for Rose.
Over in the States in Las Vegas where the Shriners Children Hospital PGA event was contested my man Patrick Cantlay is presently second and chasing down Bryson deChambeau.
Cantlay has emerged from the collegiate pack as a real force.
Personally I enjoy the post-Tiger Woods era when young talent emerges and has to assert itself. I hope more American talent like Brooks Koepka and Peter Uihlein choose to serve their apprenticeship on the European tour.
One rookie to watch it for with a promising name is Cameron Champ who already has one trophy in his bag.
Finally a rant about sports analysts with Midland accents.
It’s bad enough that commentator Mark Roe states the bleeding obvious, e.g. that Justin Rose is world class, but when it’s intoned in that nasal Brummie accent it does me in.
I had hardly recovered from him and bumptious Bogan (an Aussie Word for chav) Wayne ‘Radar’ Riley than I had to endure Alan Smith as pundit in Chelsea v Crystal Palace.
I could not see any value anywhere here but I like to watch Chelsea under Sarri for their free-flowing football.
