A wondrous Sunday of sport

Can it be exactly a year ago yesterday that England won the Cricket World Cup in the greatest white ball game ever and Novak Djokovic beat Roger Federer in a memorable Wimbledon final?

Such a day of sport-fest may never be emulated but yesterday‘s offerings came pretty close.

I had the Test on all day on the radio.

I prefer the commentary there to the television with the backdrop of empty stands as  there is little atmosphere.

I agree with Duggie Heath that we missed Chris Woakes at number 8 who might have halted the collapse on Saturday.

A few more runs were added but 200 seemed an achievable total for the Windies when you bat down to Jason Holder at 8.

It was exciting enough though.

In the late afternoon I watched the North London Derby.

Here I admired the stadium at Spurs which has a real majesty about it.

I backed against Spurs which in retrospect was silly as Jose Mourinho has an Indian sign over Arsenal.

Arsenal have an unreliable centre defence – especially David Luiz – and, having taken the lead, Luiz committed yet another error for Son to equalise.

Late in the game Toby Alderweinald headed home from a corner and once a Mourinho side is ahead with ten minutes to go you know the result.

Never mind.

Justin Thomas, whom I had backed at 10-1 for the Workday Charity Event at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Memorial Course, would surely bring home the bacon as he was third round leader.

He went two over but restored his game and when he made an eagle for a 3-shot lead over Collin Morikawa, that was surely that.

No.

Morikawa  birdied the final three to get a play-off. After Thomas sank a 50-foot putt I felt confident but – bless me – Morikawa goes and sinks his 25-foot one to stay in the game.

They move to the 20th and Thomas’ drive finished behind a tree whilst Morikawa lands plum in the middle of the fairway.

Thomas can only play out but Morikawa pitched close to the pin.

With Sir Nick Faldo delivering his commentary in an irritating drawl, finding fault with the players, I could not bear to watch the coup de grace.

At least with my system I only lose a tenner.

Steve Palmer in the Racing Post had backed Thomas and I cannot wait to read the agonies he went through losing several bags (bags of sand = thousand).

That is why true gamblers are unhappy and mere flutterers, where a tickle enhances the excitement, are not.

Jim Nantz of CBS is a far better commentator then Faldo, or indeed the collection that gathers in the SKY studio comprising Sarah Straite with her flat accent and delivery and Andrew Colthard with his gravelly Glaswegian tones, who really compare badly to Nantz who has a great voice.

Where have all the voices gone?

Nantz  made the point that Morikawa is one  of three rookies – Victor Novlund and Mattt Wolff the other two – who have really made an impression.

I thought yes –  golfers come in threes.

There are the seniors like Tiger Woods, Lefty Mickelson and Jim Furyk; the mid-thirties like Dustin Johnson, Webb Simpson and Matt Kuchar; the early-30s Rory, Ricky Fowler and Jason Day; and the mid-to -late twenties Bryson DeChambeau, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas.

And every year rookies emerge from the Colleges pushing every group.

Next Thursday we are back at the Memorial for their showpiece event. Jack Nicklaus will be there, so will Tiger, DJ and DeChambeau.