The Punter / Steven Rawlings / 06 October 2008 /

It seems that Steven Rawlings can never win on both sides of the Atlantic on the same weekend...

I think they call it Yin and Yang?

I've been away visiting family for a few days but did manage to spend Saturday afternoon shepherding in-running pick Martin Kaymer safely in to the clubhouse. I was also clever enough to add to my Dunhill portfolio by taking [8.2] about Padraig Harrington, as he closed the gap on the leaders. I then travelled home on Saturday evening content that Id positioned myself strongly.

The five hour drive meant there wasn't so much as a peek at the American coverage until yesterday morning.

Rising early yesterday I examined the Turning Stone leaderboard, only to see that in-running pick Mark Hensby had thrown away a fantastic position by bogeying four of the last six holes to leave him three off the lead. Very frustrating.

I then watched Ian Poulter lose the Korean Open despite leading with three holes to play. I'd had a small bet on him at [9.0] from the outset, so more frustration.

Unperturbed, I settled in to watch the final round in Scotland, hoping for a fantastic result with Markus Brier but happy to accept a very decent win on Kaymer and - if all else failed - I'd settle for Pod steaming in to assure a decent profit.

Well, the best laid plans and all that. Brier was out of it in no time, Kaymer started with five straight pars and Harrington had a mare, he was two over par after four holes while everyone else was flying in the other direction.

Robert Karlsson and Ross Fisher were the men in form, knocking in birdies left, right and centre. Jarmo Sandelin kept tabs on the leaders, as did my man Kaymer, finally getting into gear after frustratingly three putting the par five 5th hole.

By the time Karlsson and Fisher had finished on -10 it was looking like a three horse race. Kaymer then birdied the 16th hole to take the lead and it was at that point that I laid some of my bet back at [1.31].

And thank God I did. A bogey at the notorious Road Hole (the 17th) meant he needed to birdie the last.

Having suffered the tragedy of losing his mum this year, partnering his brother in the Pro-Am and having his dad there, caddying for his brother, it seemed to be fate when he stood over about an eight foot birdie putt for the title. But no, sport is rarely that perfect and his birdie putt slipped by and it was to be a three man play-off.

Unlike The Belfry last week, it was far from dramatic. Fisher inexplicably drove straight into the Swilcan Burn, Kaymer chipped to about ten feet and Karlsson about three and when my man missed the Swede coolly stroked his birdie putt in to pinch the spoils. Deservedly so I may add, he was pretty much flawless all day yesterday.

I had to resign myself to a frustrating day and turn my attention to the leaderboard at the Turning Stone Championship. It reminded me of a very poor selling hurdle at Huntingdon and I didn't really know where to start!

Although he'd seemingly blown his chance on Saturday and was three shots behind I still fancied Hensby had a reasonable chance. Having gone through the top ten or so I couldn't really fancy anyone to take it and ended up backing Dustin Johnson @ [30.0], who was two shots off the lead, because he was the only one that I didn't know for sure would struggle in contention.

It's nice when a plan comes off. The first six players after the third round all shot over par, a truly pitiful effort. With joint third round leader Tag Ridings and youngster Kyle Thompson the worst, both shot seven over par 79s.

Having birdied three of the first five holes it was Robert Allenby, who had started the day alongside my man Johnson, who led the field for most of the day but he didn't add to his birdie tally and when he bogeyed the 15th hole the door was ajar.

Fortunately for me, my man Johnson kicked it open and birdied the last two holes to secure his maiden win in fine style, turning a pretty poor week's work in to a very decent one.

I had layed some Johnson back @ [2.20] and [1.25] and I'd also backed Austin @ [42.0] and Imada @ [110.0] in-running but a great result all the same.

I've had a decent run of late and had resigned myself to that run ending when Kaymer failed to seal the deal, so the Johnson win really was a sweet and unexpected one. It had been a roller coaster kind of day but I enjoyed the ride after all.

Next weeks events are the Madrid Masters and the Valero Texas Open, which I'll preview on Wednesday.

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