Hail Jeremy Chapman

We are going to construct a statue to Jeremy Chapman the golf analyst of the Racing and Football Outlook in our garden for services to our household budget at its time of greatest need, Black Friday and Xmas shopping.

He successfully tipped Matt Jones to win the Australian Open and Charl Schwartzel the Alfred Dunhill tourney at Leopard  Creek. He also had amongst his picks Rod Pampling who, after breaking the course record, finished in the top five and runner up tJordan Spieth. In the Alfred Dunhill Jaco van  Zyl and David Drysdale were contending for a top five place too.

It befits the diversity of the European Tour that it should open in South Africa. Schwartzel loves the Leopard Creek course and this was his fourth win. He never really trained on after winning the Masters in 2011. Like Adam Scott, Keegan Bradley and Kyle Stanley we expected him to have won more Majors but he is a consistent performer with one European  Tour with 10 victories, only Ernie Els and Retief Goosen have won more from South Africa . He has a divine swing and the problem appears to be more more mental. In the final round, defending a three stroke lead, his driving was so wayward that he switched to irons off the tee. Three French golfers chased  him down, Greg Bourdy, Sebastian Gros and Benjamin Herbert, but none could overtake him.

Over on  the Australian Course Jordan Spieth who won last year was the firm and short-priced favourite to retain the trophy. Matt Jones who was leading throughout also had a wobbly final round and Spieth could have forced a play-off had he sunk an eagle putt on the 18th. Rod Pampling broke the course record with a  61.

Backing a 0-0-draw on Spurs Chelsea consummated an excellent weekend for me. Black Friday was as skilfully negotiated as the Road Hole and now the Pargiter domestic budget is more than equipped to withstand the Amen Corner of the ravages of Xmas.