PHIL MICKELSON - CHAMPION GOLFER !

And so it was not to be Westwood's year.

 

After going into the final round of the Open Championship with a 2 shot lead, which was extended to 3 at one point, Lee Westwood's bid for immortality eventually faded away with a string of wayward blows. Tiger Woods challenge never materialised though Ian Poulter made a determined bid from several strokes back, though he also faltered towards the end. Others came and went at the front, including my own choice for the title, Adam Scott, who looked a near certainty before either the course or his nerves, or both, produced several dropped shots in quick succession.

 

At the death it was the American Phil Mickelson who burst out of the pack with a magnificent round of 66 and claimed a title he's always coveted. Mickelson's eventual winning margin of 3 shots was a true reflection of his dominance on a day when few others made a real challenge and most of the round 3 leaders simply fell away. It was his 5th major triumph and he also became the first golfer to win the Scottish Open and The Open in successive weeks. Westwood finished third, alongside Ian Poulter and Adam Scott, 4 shots behind, while the runner-up was the hardly-mentioned Henrik Stenson.

 

Mickelson is one of those sportsmen about whom it's very hard to find anything bad to say. He is always courteous and polite, he smiles a lot with no effort and he truly loves his sport. He also loves his family and is effusive in his thanks to and praise for others; in short Phil Mickelson is a truly great sportsman. If he has one slight drawback, it's that he's American and not British, but he's also such a great gentleman I'm even prepared to forgive him that and cheer him on.

 

Well done, Phil Mickelson, "Winner of the Gold Medal and Champion Golfer for the Year" !

WESTWOOD FLIES THE FLAG AS ROSE, McILROY AND DONALD DISAPPOINT.

As usual, the media built up British expectations to fever pitch prior to the start of the Open Golf Championship, this year being played at the Muirfield course in North Berwick.

 

Would McIlroy regain his form ? Could Rose add 'The Open' to his US Open title ? Might it be time for Donald to win his first major ? In the event, none of these three vaunted players has even survived to play the last 2 rounds, having failed to make the half-way cut. Yet again, the great British media built them up only to see them fall flat.

 

Muirfield has proved to be a very hard test, even though the weather has been beautiful. Warm and sunny, no rain and just a bit of wind, and yet the world's finest golfers have struggled to break par. With 2 rounds completed, Spain's 'old man', Miguel Angel Jimenez, has the lead at three under par, but he's hotly pursued by another 9 players within 3 strokes, including the ominously placed Tiger Woods. Jimenez's immediate pursuers are a mixed bunch, though, including 4 from the US, another Spaniard, a Swede, an Argentinian, a Scot and an Englishman.

 

The Englishman who's emerged as the current leading contender is Lee Westwood, now getting a bit long in the tooth but playing some lovely golf before losing his way a bit over the last 6 holes of round 2. Martin Laird of Scotland is there and looking good while the 2011 winner, Darren Clarke from Northern Ireland, and England's Ian Poulter are only another shot behind. Also close at hand is my tip for the title, Adam Scott, the Australian who missed out narrowly last year and is on one over par.

 

Who will win ?