So, I was sitting in a nice position overnight but as anyone who had watched or played golf before, leads can dissolve and swing in one hole, and with 18 left to play, it was anyone's game.
I was playing with Manuel de Los santos and Hans van Elven in the final group.
The wind was howling and the rain was lashing down but nothing was going to dampen what was always going to be an explosive group.
After three nice long tee shots on the opening hole, the game was underway.
A reasonably solid start from us all and the positions were as the start after 7 holes. Then on 8 I made a lovely birdie after just missing chipping in for eagle and Manuel got the unluckiest bounce I've ever witnessed an all of a sudden I have a 6 stroke lead over Manuel and 7 over Hans.
The game is certainly mine to lose from here.
The par 5 9th was the start of my wobbles, !!! A very lose tee shot saw my ball in the hazard, and a silly decision to play it saw me back where I started playing my 4th shot !! After making a silly double I surrendered 2 shots back and I could feel them clawing me back.
On 10 I pulled a big drive and was around 3" oob. Bugger
3 off the tee and a great wedge into the green and 1 putt saw me escape with a bogey 5.
Throwing shot for fun at the minute.
It was at that point I relaxed and just concentrated on fairways and greens
A good string of pars and a birdie followed
Hole 17. 8 shot lead over Hans 10 over Manuel. Impossible to mess that up right ?
Well
I tried to a certain extent and learned a very valuable lesson.
I thought I had such a big lead, I didn't need to try. A sloppy sloppy bogey on 17 and a loose drive on 18 saw me having to just punch up the fairway and taking the green out of play even for 3. I put my 3rd shot into a bunker greenside after getting greedy.
It was then I felt the walls close in. I started hearing about scores already posted and after an absolutely scorching round by Mick Horsley, I only had a 2 shot advantage !!!! I didn't see that coming and it has taught me not to ever stop playing at 100%.
The state of play was , I had to get down in 3 to win.
The ball was sat a little down in the bunker and I just aimed to get it out and leave a nice simple 2 putt.
The ball sailed out just as I wanted and after a nice little lag putt I wa left with 12" for the win.
Manuel and Hans putted out and then it was all down to me.
A 12" putt to retain my Czech masters title.
I hit it nice and firm and the lovely little noise as it settled at the bottom of the cup was what I had been waiting to hear.
It was mine !!!!
The feeling of retaining my title was something I have never felt before. It was an amazing experience and I must thank the Czech disabled golf federation and Jana and Mitch especially for laying on yet another flawless event.
So with my first win of 2013 under my belt it was eyes now towards the Dutch open in 10 days and the hope of carrying this form forward and going one better than last year when I lost in a playoff to Manuel de Los santos.
Till next time monk followers.
Monk out