Rosie and Smylie
It was a good weekend for Justin Rose who won the UBS Hong Kong Open and Smylie Kaufman who took the Shriners US PGA. It was a good weekend for me as I backed Rose, Matthew Fitzpatrick who finished 3rd and Yang who finished in the top ten, plus Jason Bohn in the top 5 in the Shriners and the 0-0 draw in the Manchester derby. Mrs P was delighted and it’s a midweek trip to IKEA for us.
I am always seeking to disabuse readers that I am a professional gambler or an addictive one. One thing I don’t like about gamblers is their boastfulness about a win. Alan Tanner was upset after Fulham lost to Brighton to meet a Fulham supporter boasting of backing that result. It raises the ethics of betting against your own team. I have no such allegiances but Justin Rose is my favourite golfer. He is not as flashy as his great mate Ian Poulter but under his modest disposition lies a steely determination thst has won him two majors and a top ten position in world golf. He virtually led the Hong Kong event from start to finish and even when the Dane Lucas Bjerregard gained a two shot lead on the ninth in the final round, Rose kept his head and won comfortably. A new generation is coming through – Matthew Fitzpatrick, Eddie Pepperel, Tommy Fleetword, Andy Sullivan and some of the hardy perennials of the Ryder Cup team will be looking nervously over their shoulders, guys like Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter and Jamie Donaldson. The Shriners was not covered by SKY so it’s harder for me to comment. With a name like Smylie Kaufman you would think he was a Damon Runyon character but he is obviously a talent. The biggest stars stayed away, as well as the cameras, leaving top spot for Smylie Kaufman whose grandfather coached Graeme McDowell. He is only 23 and turned pro in 2014. He joins the American group of college kids Justin Thomas, Patrick Rogers and of course Jordan Spieth competing for their Ryder Cup team. What an event held in France next September to savour.
