Weekend sport
US Open winner Gary Woodland was not on anyone’s radar: his big-hitting game did not seem suited to a course where accuracy is all. Will Woodland “do a Koepka” and become a multiple Open winner after his first, or will be the fifteenth golfer with just one US Major win?
Post-Tiger the field is more open though you would have thought one of the fifteen – Dustin Johnson – would have won more.
Justin Rose who shot a final round 74 fell away whilst Rory McIlroy never featured – so much for the British domination since Tony Jacklin.
Bad weather is not just a British thing either: it was grey and cold out on Monterey and the players were in fleeces. I was looking forward to the pictures of yachts and surfers out on the Bay as the rain fell here. The final Open will be The Open and the Americans will be looking for a grand slam here.
My only bet on the ICC World Cup, each-way on New Zealand, is looking good.
My experience is that the favourite, and often the best team, does not maketh a World Cup Winner so it was not just skinny odds that made me chalk out England on my staking plan.
I think India are the stronger side but weather and forthcoming encounters will continue to play a role and you can’t rule out the two meeting in the semis.
The Tall Caps have reached that stage in the last six World Cups and quite capable of beating Australia. No doubt this match will be hyped up (I’m going to the day/night league game at Lords next Saturday) but one hopes for a more even outcome than India v Pakistan on Sunday, where we were treated to a farcical conclusion with Pakistan brought back on the pitch with no prospect of overhauling the Indian total.
