The Punter: Losing week brings good run to an end

The Punter / Steven Rawlings / 23 March 2009 / Leave a comment

Goosen is gifted the title on the PGA Tour while a semi-unknown takes the Madeira Islands Open. It all added up to misery for our columnist...

As good as out of the game at the Madeira Islands Open, I was off doing family stuff on Saturday and when I eventually remembered the US golf, Trevor Immelman, the player I was planning to monitor closely early on, had eagled the first. Great, why didn't I just take the [28.0] available earlier? I ended up scrambling on at an average of [13.0].

Nick Watney's CA Championship hangover finally kicked in and he slumped down the leaderboard, as did fellow second round leader Steve Stricker. The surprise new leader at the close of play was Tom Lehman, who led by one from Retief Goosen and by two from my man Trevor and a host of others.

On Saturday I'd suggested Michael Hoey's chance of success in Madeira was enhanced because he'd just turned 30 and the power of a significant birthday was also in evidence in Florida. Tom Lehman had turned 50 on March 9th and Retief Goosen had celebrated his 40th back in February.

My last chance of success in Madeira had been Paul Broadhurst but his third round 78 put paid to that, and with Argentinean youngster Estanislao Goya leading by three and trading at odds-on I granted myself another day off yesterday.

When I eventually looked at the leaderboard late in the day, Goya was still leading by three but now from Scottish youngster Callum Macaulay, who had made an incredible seven birdies in his last eight holes and only had the last hole to negotiate. He was one ahead of everyone else but someone was offering [100.0] so I took a small interest.

Moments later Goya had birdied the 14th to take a four shot lead with four to play and I was philosophical enough, it had been worth a poke. But then Macaulay birdied the last and Goya double bogeyed the 16th hole and it was game on.

Every credit to Goya though, he kept his nerve, pared the last two and held on to win by one. Close, but no cigar.

At the start of the final round in the states Immelman hit the green in two on the par five 1st and traded as low as [6.0] but a three-putt for par and a bogey on the next ended his chance. He just drifted out of it after that.

Lehman struggled, as did Goosen early on and it was Korean Charlie Wi who grasped the nettle with a run of five birdies in his first 11 holes. He was followed through by Steve Stricker and then Charles Howell III, but all three were to mess up late on.

After a slow start, Goosen eagled the 11th just as the others were starting to leak oil and was suddenly the man to beat but when he hit a low of [1.2], holding a two stroke lead with still five holes to play I layed him. Although the leaderboard was littered with completely un-genuine types I felt I simply had to take him on.

Wi followed his five birdies with three bogeys, Stricker bogeyed his last two holes and Charles Howell also made a hash of things, bogeying the 15th and 16th holes.

I was still given a chance with the Goose though. He bogeyed the 16th and then, holding just a single stroke lead, hit a poor tee shot to short-side himself in the rough on the par 3 17th, and he drifted out to [1.70]. I didn't take the chance to get out of my lay though and a brilliant up and down, followed by a brave par on the last sealed his victory and condemned me to what I felt I was in for two days ago, a losing week.

I can't complain at all, I've had a great run and given this week's winners I was never going to do any good. I'd barely heard of Goya, and Goosen has been shocking for years, though he did hold on well in the end this time. He was also clearly well suited by the extremely fast greens and was possibly inspired by reaching the big four zero.

I'm not sure I'll be rushing to back him next time he gets in the mix though, it was like the parting of the waves ahead of him and he'll do well to find opposition that obliging next time.

Other news that grated somewhat - Chapchai Nirat, who I've backed plenty of times lately, romped to victory on the Asian Tour, setting a world record 72 hole score of 32 under par, winning by a remarkable 11 shots!

I'll preview next weeks events on Wednesday - the Bay Hill Invitational and the Open de Andalucia, where hopefully I can get back on track.