The golfing weekend
Rory Mcilroy won both the DP world Championship and Race to Dubai after an exciting back nine tussle with Andy Sullivan. Rory hit the water on the 17th, sunk a 30 foot putt to make a bogey and recovered on the 18th to win by two shots. This is his third Race to Dubai victory in four seasons. Andy Sullivan, the 29 year old from Nuneaton who went from ASDA to a star started the year winning 2 events in South Africa and very nearly finished it with another victory.
The big prize money in Dubai attracted a few well known Americans notably Patrick Reed. After another strong competition an interviewer joked he might be European rookie of the year. Obviously the likes of Matt Fitzpatrick and Lahiri make a claim as well. There was still a respectable turn out for the RSM USPGA at the Sea Island Course at Georgia. Kevin Kisner at 31 won his first PGA event by 6 strokes playing peerless golf.
The present Ryder Cup rankings were at one stage flashed up and though we have a long way to go to September 30 in Minnesota there are notable omissions on both sides of the Atlantic. For the Europeans such stalwarts of the last four victories as Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia, Martin Kaymer are not assured places. For the US Phil Mickelson, Brandt Snedeker, as a younger generation like Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Rodgers, Smiley Kaufman have made their mark. I can’t see Tiger making it but he has been appointed a Vice Captain by Davis Love so perhaps the captain wants to keep the hardy perennials on side.
Amongst Jeremy Chapman’s five picks , Kisner won and Graeme McDowell finished third. G -Mac is right back on form, he won in Mexico the previous week. Steve Palmer recommended Byeung An and Emiliano Grillo for the DP world championship so it all a most satisfactory betting weekend. Not that I can build up my war chest, the missus and I are off to spend the weekend takings at The Oak Furniture depot as she has set her eyes on a walnut dining table.
