The Sporting Weekend

For the third week running Jeremy Chapman pulled up a winner in Jon Rahm in the DP event at Dubai. Justin Rose at -19 seemed to be coasting along but lost his mojo in the final back nine. He had a relatively simple chip to the green which he bunkered, bogeyed the hole, hit the water and fell back into the chasing pack. Rahm, who can have a suspect temperament, kept his cool to win.

I suddenly feel more confident about the European chances in the Ryder Cup. We lead off with Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stensen (Major winners all) and then Jon Rahm and Paul Casey. Hopefully the English veterans like Westwood and Poulter won’t get the nod from Thomas Bjorn on a French course Le National in Paris

I would like to see Victor Dubuisson and Alexandre Levy and leave the final places to whoever is in form though I hope to see that ‘Steady Eddy’ Francesco Molinari is selected. The Americans are so strong with the likes of Spieth, Thomas, Koepke, Berger, Reed and Fowler and the older DJ, Kuchar and Mickleson but the Europeans can give them a run for their money. Rahm coming home and Harman getting placed in the USPGA made for another tidy week and few bob in the Xmas Kitty.

Speaking to Alan, I thought Fulham over-priced against resurgent Derby and duly laid them. I watched a game they dominated in possession but not in goals and was not surprised when Derby equalised.

Tommy Fleetwood won the Race to Dubai thanks to Rose’s travails and is another candidate for Ryder Cup inclusion. Matt Fitzpatrick should make it but I am not so sure about Cabrera Bello, Kaymer, Sullivan and Willett; the latter shows how quick and dramatic is the descent of a golfer as, not so long ago, Danny boy wore the green jacket.