I was looking fine courtesy of the fabulous function18.com, they are supplying me with the Ian Poulter collection clothing that I will be wearing this season. For the final round, I wore purple pants and purple shirt, both by Ian j Poulter design.
The weather had changed dramatically from the first round, today it is raining heavy, although it is still very warm. This will obviously make keeping the grips dry very difficult indeed.
It was my honour to go first as I was leading the tournament. I aimed down the right hand side of the fairway, aiming to play a right to left shot with a three wood, hopefully leaving me a chance of going for the green in two. I made good connection with the ball and it streaked down the middle of the fairway.
Whew,
that is one shot out of the way and even though it is raining, that was the best shot I have hit from the first Tee since I have been here !!!!
My second shot comes just short of the Green, but leaves me with an easy pitch, allowing me to attack the flag.
I am left with around 10 foot for Birdie but it just passes on the right hand side, and I leave my self an easy tap In for par.
First hole done
, no mistakes,
still have a four shot lead.
On to the next hole, a Medium length par three, well guarded on the right by four bunkers and a big drop off on the left hand side of the green.
I decide to play an easy six iron just as I had the day before.
I made a terrible connection with the ball and finished short of the Green but with a relatively easy pitch shot to the flag.
I shanked the pitch !!!!
And finished in the bunker to the right of the green.
Uh-oh,
where did that come from.?
I played out off the bunker, it was not my best shot, and I was left with a long putt just to try and drop the one shot.
I could not see the line of the putt, so I just tried to play the correct weight and aimed at the middle of the hole. I hit a nice smooth putt and was very happy to see it drop and just drop the one shot.
I Now had a lead of three and still had 16 holes to play. The rain was coming down even harder than when we started and I was soaked through as were my clubs and grips.
I played 3,4,5,6,7 in one over and quite solidly.
I dropped another shot before I got on to the eighth T, a relatively easy par 4, slight dog leg left with a very small Green. This hole should be a birdie Hole if I play it correctly.
I hit my drive well but I was trying draw the ball in from right to left but it stayed straight and unfortunately went out of bounds !!!!!!
Now I started to get nervous ;-)
I hit a provisional ball , it was a lovely shot and finished level with the Green leaving a nice simple chip and run to the flag.
After finding my ball, I played my chip and run nicely with my provisional up to around 4 foot from the cup and rolled the putt in for a five.
I had a very lucky escape on that hole to only drop the one shot.
I played the next hole, a tough par five with water and out of bounds on both sides well and walked off with a par.
After the front nine, I had shot a +3 (39) and I had taken a 7 shot lead over second place and knew that all I had to do was keep my head and the title was mine.
As we moved to the start of the back nine, the rain stopped, and the heat was really starting to build.
I went from wearing a jumper and a jacket, to just wearing a polo shirt and still being hot.
How much of the heat I was feeling was due to the weather or the situation I cannot answer, all I know is I was Damn hot !!! ;-)
I played really really solid on the back nine and followed par on 10 with a lovely birdie on 11.
I then hit solid pars on 12 13 14 and then got to the 15th tee.
I remembered that the last four holes cost me three shots on the day before and I was determined that I was not going to make the same mistake again today.
I played 15 very conservatively and was happy with a solid par.
The 16th hole is a short par three, to a raised Green. It is a relatively easy hole and I hit a solid 52° wedge over the top of the flag and spun it back to 3 foot for a simple birdie chance. I then proceeded to miss the easiest putt I have had in the whole tournament and had to settle for a par three.
I went on to 17, knowing that I now have an eight shot advantage and that I could pretty much do what I wanted on the last two holes and not throw it away.
I hit a solid drive on 17 and left myself with an easy shot into the heart of the Green, I followed this with two putts and walked off with par.
Okay, just 18 left and I still have eight shot lead.
I hit a very nice drive a long way down the fairway and was tempted to go for the green in two.
I then had a moment of clarity, and decided to lay up.
As I was being sensible,
obviously the ball went into The bunker short left of the green.
I hit a very poor Bunker shot, and was in the fringe of the rough on the front part of the Green.
I used my 48° wedge and played a simple chip and run, the ball finished around 12 inches from the flag leaving me a short putt for par.
I looked at the line of the putt from every possible angle, even though I had eight putts for the win.
I took aim and made a smooth stroke, and the ball dropped.
I couldn't believe it.
I had done it.
I was the Czech disabled masters golf champion for 2012.
I felt such a range of emotion leaving that 18th Green, it was such a brilliant feeling to know that I battled and came out on top.
It made all the hard work over winter, honing my game and working on the short game worth it.
Hopefully, this is just the start of my journey to the next level. I feel that the game is there that I can break par on most courses however, it is the consistency that I strive for at the moment.
Once I become more consistent I am sure that this result will be a more regular occurrence.
I must thank the Czech disabled Golf Federation and the owners of the resort, but mostly Jana and Mitch for organising such a fantastic event, with a great atmosphere, good golf and best of all fabulous company.
Many thanks to all of you out there who have got me this far, you know who you are but for the benefit of others a very short list would be, my family, my two wonderful caddies Duncan and woggle, my very supportive golf club Bicester golf and country club, my wonderful clothing sponsor function18.com and oxford golf centre where i started my journey and of course.....
YOU !!!
YES !!!
YOU ! :-)
Without you and people like you reading my blog and spreading the word of disabled golf, all our efforts would be worthless.
My next international is Holland for the Dutch open at the beginning of July where I can hopefully build on my second place in Italy and my win here.
Until next time my faithful disabled golf friends and blog followers may your drives be long and straight, may your putt run true.
Monk out
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