Adam Scott at the Helm
Adam Scott won his second successive event at the Trump Doral Blue Monster Course both predicted by Jeremy Chapman. He had not won anything previous for two years and it was thought he would continue to do so by having problems abandoning the anchored putter style he favoured. The tourney was very much billed as the three-way show between Rory Mcilroy, Jordan Spieth and Jason Day. Of these three only Rory featured. He was leading the tourney by 3 shots but lost his mojo. At Riviera it was his putting, this time his driving and approach play let him down. Scott and Bubba Watson hunted him down but after a string of birdies the Aussie won outright.
The Europeans need a consistent Rory for the Ryder Cup with so many rookies. At the moment I can only see Rory, Henrik Stensen and Justin Rose as automatic picks who have played before. Danny Willlett is a shoe-in and probables Shane Lowry, Rafa Cabrera Bello, Andy Sullivan, Matt Fitzgerald, Bob Pieters, all rookies. Captain McGinlay will want Graeme McDowell and Ian Poulter there so some of the old guard of Sergio Garcia, Martin Kaymer, Lee Westood may miss out. It would also be surprising if some of the young french aspirants, Victor Dubuisson, Alexander Levy, Romain Wattel do not make the team. Conversely the Americans core players – Spieth, the Johnsons, Watdon, Walker and Mickelson – all have playing experience.
I was delighted for Bob Tickler that his dog won his first race under new and his ownership at Hove. I explained to him that in financial terms he should write off the cost but hope that training fees equate with performance money. A dog normally runs four times a month with a minimum of £30 appearance money. The dog has now won four times in row so Bob think he has a Ballyregan Bob, the famous greyhound out of Hove who won 32 successive races and is regarded second only to Mick the Miller as the finest of all. I laid some cute forecasts and trios and the wins there and on Scott made for a happy Pargiter home with both money in the betting account, household budget and Mrs P had enough left over for her to purchase some expensive bathroom lotions and potions.
