The Punter / Steven Rawlings / 11 May 2009 / Leave a Comment

A spectacular crash and a thunderstorm can't prevent the Italian Open from ending as a damp squid. Meanwhile, after a lamentable final round from Tiger for the second week in a row, Ben Crane condemns the Punter to yet another defeat.

At the Italian Open on Saturday, my halfway pick Francesco Molinari started slowly but managed to get going after a few holes, tagging himself onto the leader's coat-tails. However, he then crashed in spectacular style - playing the last four holes in five over par.

Daniel Vancsik looked to be taking control but a thunderstorm halted proceedings and when play resumed he bogeyed two of his last thee holes. Going into yesterday's final round he traded at around [3.5], holding a one shot lead, but he soon extended that. Birdies at four of the first six holes put the event to bed and for the second Sunday in a row the European final round was something of a damp squib.

On a personal note it was yet another horrid result. Not financially, I hadn't gone mad from the start, nor had I staked much in running but I had backed Vancsik recently - in the Madeira Islands Open at [140.00], the Portuguese Open at [350.0] and in the Open de Andalucia at [320.0]. I finally gave up on him just a week too early and boy did he show why I've been keen on him, marching to victory by six shots.

Saturday at the Players' Championship was an intriguing affair. Overnight leader Alex Cejka surprised everyone, remaining composed and shooting level par, while all around him fluffed their lines big style. By the close of play, despite again appearing to struggle with most facets of his game, Tiger had clawed his way up into a tie for second.

It was fascinatingly poised - Cejka started the final round trading at around [2.30], Woods, five shots back, accompanied him in the final two-ball and started around [4.30], and five others sat alongside Tiger, including my man Ben Crane, who had finished the third round in great style, making eagle on 16 and birdying the last.

Would Cejka choke, could Tiger get some sort of gip on his game or would someone else sneak in for the title? I had just one more bet, taking an average of [130.00] about Kenny Perry who was on -4 and seven off the lead.

Cejka choked good and proper, Woods, for the second week running, put in a lamentable final day performance and it was left to the chasing pack to fight it out.

My man Crane, backed at [280.00], started incredibly well, draining two monster birdie putts on the first two holes and when he went to the seventh tee he led the tournament and was matched at a low of [3.40]. Was I finally to get the change of fortune I was so desperately and deservedly due?

I've been a fan of Crane's for years, he has a great record in contention and never leaves a putt short but it wasn't to be yesterday. Bogeys at the 8th, 13th and 14th sealed his fate and condemned me to yet another devastating losing tournament.

Henrik Stenson, playing alongside Crane, went from strength to strength as the day progressed, and having started the day at [10.5], cruised to a smooth four shot victory.

I'd started Saturday's update by saying that it looked like the glass wasn't quite half-full - well, this morning it looks like there's a warm flat mouthful left with a few dog-ends floating in it. I've had poor runs before, they're inevitable in golf, but I can't remember a more frustrating and cruel one than this.

Certainly, in hindsight, I could have gotten a lot more out of the last few weeks if I'd have traded my picks more, and maybe that's what I'm going to have to do now, at least until Lady Luck comes back from her ridiculously long holiday.

Once again, onwards and upwards - I'll preview this week's events, the Irish Open and Texas Open on Wednesday.

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