The Punter / Steven Rawlings / 06 July 2009 / Leave a Comment

It's been a profitable week for Steve as Martin Kaymer delivers the goods in France. While across the pond its business as usual for Tiger.

I went into Saturday's third round of the Open de France with three live chances in Martin Kaymer, Francesco Molinari, and playing in the final two-ball, Steve Webster, and all three put themselves on the back foot by making early bogeys.

Webster went on to struggle all day, shooting three over par and was a contender no more. Molinari yo-yoed his way out of contention and is increasingly a player to be very wary of - as soon as he gets himself up near the leaders a calamitous period of play sees him slide back down the board, and it's happening with such regularity now that it can't be a coincidence, but Kaymer fared much better. It wasn't a spectacular display but by the end of round three he was in second place, just a shot behind Rafa Echenique, who had scrambled well all day to keep his nose in front.

Having backed the young German at the start at [34.0], I'd layed him on Friday at [2.42], but then backed that lay back again at [5.6] on Saturday, so I was in a very healthy position as he started to look the likeliest winner.

I first layed Kaymer back yesterday after his sixth hole at [2.68] and [2.40] but then after the bogey on the seventh I backed him back again at [3.6]. I felt he still looked strong and that the price was just too big. Maybe with hindsight I was being greedy but I thought he'd go lower again and he soon did.

Remarkably, he holed from over 80 feet for birdie at the next hole and lengthy birdies followed at the ninth and tenth. With overnight leader Echenique treading water, it really should have been a stroll in the park but Lee Westwood ensured it wouldn't be. The Englishman made seven birdies in 11 holes between the third and thirteenth and it soon developed into a two man battle that went all the way to a play-off.

Thanks to the Westwood charge, I ended up diluting my Kaymer winnings somewhat with a couple more lays and that was a bit frustrating, but as they drew lots on the 18th tee I was winning and winning well whoever prevailed, so I'd done the right thing.

I can't complain for a second really, because although Kaymer showed real mettle he was also quite fortunate, narrowly avoiding the water with his drive on the 15th and again with his approach shot in the play-off.

I'm not a fan of Westwood and really don't trust him in the mix anymore but he was fairly solid yesterday. He did bogey the 14th hole just after he'd hit the front, but other than that it was a much improved performance in contention, until the play-off that is, when he had a complete disaster.

Kaymer went on to win and deservedly so. He'd led on day one and had been in the heat of battle all week, whereas it had certainly helped Westwood to have started the final round four off the lead.

I'd taken the decision to leave the AT & T National alone after the halfway point and I stuck to that until I returned from the pub flushed with the Kaymer success and several pints of ale.

Tiger Woods was leading by two shots from Anthony Kim and Hunter Mahan with ten holes still to play. I thought the [1.07] was a shade short and layed it modestly.

The next time I looked in on the event, Mahan was in the house on -12, level with Woods and two ahead of Kim and my whimsical wager was getting some mileage.

Of course, Tiger did what he does best, he birdied the 16th and won with consummate ease but I didn't mind a jot, it had been a great weekend and it was particularly pleasing to see a young talent maturing further. I like Kaymer and think he has a big future and it was good to see him so solid in contention.

A very strong field assembles at Loch Lomond next week for the Barclays Scottish Open, while in the States it's the John Deere Classic and I'll preview both events on Wednesday.

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