Rory triumphs in World Matchplay

I always enjoy match play golf. It has has a sudden death element that strokeplay where one feels making the cut is all does not possess. The world match play has existed in various formats with different sponsors for many years. This year Cadillac has taken over from Accenture.

I followed Steve Palmer on Ian Poulter, Rissell Henley and Paul Casey, or thought I did. Poulter and Henley failed to qualify from their group. I went to check the odds on Casey as he fought a quarter final with Rory Mcilroy. Of this reach (the semi-final bet at 17-1) there was no sign. I decided to switch allegiance to Rory at 3-1. He was one down on the 17th , forced a play-off which he won the following day. The semi with Jim Furyk, the blue collar grinder, was a tough affair which Rory won on the 18th. To see Rory at the top of his game is one of the delights of any sport. After a shaky start in the final, in which he three-putted on the second and third, his game steadied and he sank two long putts to establish a lead over Gary Woodland who was struggling with the big stick. Rory, 4 up on the turn, faltered and had Woodland made a short putt on the 13th he would have pulled back from 4 to one down. As it was Rory never faltered again to win the competition comfortably.

Reading Steve Palmer’ s column I though he would be exultant over his Aphibarnrat 40-1 win but like all gamblers he was stressed that he could have put on more, deployed his doubles better. I just felt it might be incipient dementia that I could not even get a bet on Casey and the emotion I expended in cheering him on. It was another bountiful betting weekend thanks to my Rish boy, 26 today and on top of the golfing world by winning a tourney that Tiger Woods dominated with 18 victories.