The golf continues to thrill, but who's watching?

Post by Sports Writer Derek Clements

So  where are the crowds? When the world matchplay championship was played at Wentworth, they used to come in their thousands, but the attendance at the London Club has been disappointing.

Let's not kid  ourselves that it has anything to do with the time of year. It was always played in  the middle  of October. And maybe there are some who believe that the quality of the field is to blame. Sorry, but that doesn't hold water either. We have Ryder Cup players, we have the 2013 FedEx Cup champion and Race to Dubai winner, we have arguably the most exciting young American, we have a former  US Open champion and in Victor Dubuisson and Alexander Levy we have two fantastic French golfers.

And can it really be the venue? As a veteran attendee of golf tournaments all around the world, I can tell you that the London Club offers better spectator vantage points than just about any other course I have ever been to. It is also a beautiful course and, with all the rain we have had, the magnificent greens are soft - so low scores are guranteed.

When you throw in cheap admission, it is hard to fathom why the crowds have been so sparse. But those who have come along have been rewarded with a feast of great scoring and, against all the odds, spring-like weather.

We really should make the most of this great event because Volvo are withdrawing their sponsorship, so there is no guarantee that it will survive.

The third day began with Francesco Molinari and Stephen Gallacher already knowing that even if they won their final matches they would be going home, and Graeme McDowell, the defending champion, joined them.
Top seed Henrik Stenson set up an all-Swedish quarter final against Jonas Blixt after a spectacular victory over Thongchai Jaidee on day three. The world No5, who played nine holes in eight under par against Molinari on Thursday, beat Paul Casey at the first extra hole, after topping the Arnold Palmer Group courtesy of a 2&1 win over last year’s beaten finalist, Thongchai Jaidee.

Stenson closed the game out in typically stylish fashion at London Golf Club, holing his second shot on the 17th hole for an eagle which his Thai opponent was unable to match.

Joost Luiten is the only player with a 100 per cent winning record in the field after he came from three down to beat the defending champion Graeme McDowell two up.

The Dutchman will take on Spaniard Pablo Larrazábal in the quarter finals after the Spaniard saw off Irishman Shane Lowry.

The quarter final line-up is completed by Patrick Reed and George Coetzee, and Victor Dubuisson and Mikko Ilonen.

Stenson said:"I probably played a little bit better the first day than yesterday, but the back nine was good yesterday and today was pretty nice, as well. I got off to have a good start, but he was always hanging in there. Every time he missed the green he got up and down, and I had to make birdies to win holes which you kind of expect. I was playing nicely and he came back but I returned the favour on 17, so it was nice to not have to go down the last."

Luiten was relieved to survive. "It's always hard when you're three down after eight, but you know you have 10 more holes so you just try to get back on your game and hit some good shots and win some holes back. Luckily that happened for me today," he said.

Image Credit - European Tour Facebook 

Derek Clements is a sports journalist with a particular passion for golf with over 12 years of experience covering golf and other sports including Chief Sub-Editor on the sports desk of The Sunday Times. To contact Derek email direct via [email protected]