The Punter / Editor / 04 May 2009 / Leave a Comment

It's been another bad week for Steve Rawlings who had to watch as [150.0] shot Zach Johnson blew up at the Quail Hollow Championship with the tournament at his mercy.

What a dreadful weekend, again....

Going into the third round in Spain my main hope had been young Chris Wood. He birdied the 2nd hole but completely collapsed after that - limping his way round in 79 strokes.

By the close of play on Saturday Thomas Levet had seemingly taken control but I couldn't quite trust him and decided to back a few players that I thought could go low and cash in on any collapse from the Frenchman.

Soren Hansen, Francesco Molinari, Charl Schwartzel and Marcel Siem were all backed at prices ranging from [60.0] to [140.0], but all to no avail. Early charges from Schwartzel and Siem offered some encouragement but neither could sustain their efforts.

Levet wobbled early on and drifted from odds-on to [4.8] as his playing partner, the virtually unknown Stuart Davis, birdied the first three holes and was matched at as low as [2.72], but to his credit, Levet was soon back on track and in the end won quite comfortably.

The third round at the Quail Hollow Championship started dreadfully. I had three players in with a chance at the start of play on Saturday but after only an hour or so it looked like all hope was lost. Anthony Kim was five over, and Mickelson and Zach Johnson were both two over.

The first two couldn't recover and by close of play had no chance but Johnson rallied spectacularly, finishing the day with a lead of two shots and trading at around [3.6]; somewhat smaller than the [150.0] I'd taken pre-event.

I had plenty of time to ponder my next move. Should I lay some back before play started? Should I lay some back and back Woods, who was two shots back, trading at around [2.5] and obviously the main danger? But in the end I took the decision to do nothing, I'd wait and lay some off once he hit odds on, I was confident. Woods hadn't impressed and I trusted Johnson to get the job done, after all, he'd been so solid when he won in Hawaii, and Dallas, and Augusta. What could go wrong?

A Woods bogey at the first resulted in Johnson contracting to around [2.7]. My man made a solid par and my confidence was growing. I'd done the right thing and was soon to collect a massive pay-out . And then it happened. A complete an utter catastrophe in one hole!

A wide tee-shot that bounced wildly on a cart-path, a second shot that hit a tree and flew miles backwards and a predictable, ugly three putt - a triple bogey six!

He followed that with a bogey on the third and I was putting my walking boots on. Absolutely gutted I set out with the dogs again for yet another mind clearing walk. "Take your mobile" said Mrs R.

A mile or so from home and still going strong, the phone rang - he'd bounced back with a couple of birdies, and when I got home there was hope, definite hope. Trading at around [4.0], Zach was standing in the eighth fairway, 100 yards from the green with a wedge in his hand, a birdie a distinct possibility. But a complete duff, a weak chip and a poor putt led to a bogey and I'd merely been teased. A false dawn, a dead cat bounce, call it what you will. I guess I knew he couldn't possibly recover from the shenanigans on the 2nd, who could? It was horrific and he must have been in shock. I know I was.

Sean O'Hair went on to win, despite bogeying the last two holes. Woods just didn't get going and Zach shot 76 to lose by the four shots dropped on two and three.

I feel pretty down, as I did last week after not backing Thongchai Jaidee. I tried to stay positive then though and had told myself that things could be worse, and indeed this week they are!

But I guess Zach doesn't feel too terrific this morning either, and spare a thought for Levet's regular caddy. The poor sod took the week off this week - a break that's cost him close to thirty grand in lost percentage!

Onwards and upwards, there are some great events again this week, the Italian Open and the Players Championship, so I'll try and summon up some enthusiasm from somewhere and redouble my efforts to find a winner to get the year back on track. I'll post a preview on Wednesday, by which time I may even have stopped sobbing!

Post a comment

Name:

Email Address:

URL:

Remember personal info?

Comment: