That Winning Feeling

This is not my favourite time of the year when the missus does our household budget and like some nervous government Minister I anxiously await to hear what my department will be allocated. I am definitely treated as a provider not a cost centre. It was therefore unfortunate both for him and me that Dustin Johnson had his meltdown in Shanghai.

My guru Jeremy Chapman headlined his column last Tuesday “Rose could bloom for second week running”, stressing his back nine 31 in windy conditions in the WGC/HSBC tourney.

Rose was still on his A game winning yesterday at the Turkish Airlines Classic at Anatalya. Belgian Nic Colsaerts made a determined challenge, both pitched brilliantly to the 18th green, but it was Rosey who sank his putt.

I am sure in an era of great individual  British sportsmen – Chris Froome, Andy Murray, Lewis  Hamilton etc. –  Rosey will not be Sports Personality  of the Year but he deserves more than an honourable mention for possessing a steely game on the course and humble personality off it. He apparently regularly returns to his home Northamptonshire course to play and is always delightful in interview. Best  of all he provided a 8-1 winner for me.

Over in Las Vegas the Shriner’s Children Hospital was being played.

This was Tiger Woods first USPGA victory way back when and Chapman had tipped Patrick Cantlay as a classy first time winner.

He delivered  in a three-way play-off with Kim and Alex Cejka. Cantlay has had his travails on and off the course but on form he has a stunningly accurate  game. He came home at 22-1 each way. The play-off was way past my bed time but I was tempted to wake the snoring missus at 2-30am when I sneaked a look at the result on my mobile’s US PGA app.

Backing Brighton at Swansea on Ivan’s advice added to the war chest and even Fiorentina losing at home in thriller to Roma and the lack of goalless draw on Chelsea v Manchester United did not deplete this seriously. The betting treasury is in profit even after a distribution to the household account. It’s a marvellous feeling.