The best second place finish in golf this year

I’m actually desperate for these weekly updates to not turn into a safe space for me to just moan about the poor weather we seem to still be experiencing here in the UK - but here we are again after another wet week, and my home course was closed all weekend. 

That said, it isn’t all bad news. 

Some of new gear has made its way to me - I am now the proud owner of the Cobra OPTM X driver and 5-wood. I'm waiting for the King Mini Driver and 3DP Tour irons to arrive (hopefully) this week. 

We did get out and played some golf earlier last week, the February edition of the Winter Fourballs at Felixstowe was played out in rather windy conditions, usually at Felixstowe the wind direction means you get an even split of holes that play down and into the wind, but this wind was different and can only be described as a nasty and bitter cross wind - everything was either right to left, or left to right. It made conditions very challenging which was represented in our better ball scores. 

I have also played there this morning, a much more pleasant experience and the sun even made an appearance. Couple of birdies for the first run out for the two new sticks and a +5 round after making double on the first. Lovely jubbly. 

The Most Impressive Runner-Up Finish of The Year?

I note Patrick Reed has once again won on the DP World Tour at the Qatar Masters - that’s two wins in the last three events. I can see him pinching a few more throughout this season too, but it’s actually the guy who finished in second place that raised my eyebrows this week. 

Last week, Calum Hill basically threw away the chance to win in a playoff at the Bahrain Championship. In fact, it was so bad he didn’t even finish the playoff hole, conceding the tournament to Freddy Schott. I did hear the gents Steve and Tom on the National Club Golfer podcast in the week talking about Hill robbing (for want of a better word) Schott of his winning moment by conceding the playoff - personally I’m not so sure Schott would have minded much when he was handed the trophy and a big fat cheque. 

When something like that happens to a golfer, especially on the biggest stage, one does wonder what lasting effect that would have on him. But in Hill’s case, there were no playoff dramatics, but he bounced back from that disappointment tremendously well to finish second again this week behind Reed. 

I can’t even fathom what must go through your mind as you capitulate like Hill did the week before. To be able to pull yourself back from that and go again the following week is obviously the best thing for Hill personally and I would go as far as saying that will be the most impressive second place finish you will see all year on the DP World Tour - or any tour for that fact. If I make a bogey up the last, I don’t want to speak to anyone for two days. Maybe that’s why I’m the amateur and he’s a professional. Yeah, that will be it. Nothing to do with ability, obviously.

But for now, I'm signing off to check the weather forecast for this week and see if/when I might be able to sneak out for another round - and hopefully you will too!