Well done David Horsey. Not only for his maiden European Tour win and being the only Englishman to beat the Germans on Sunday...but also for proving me right.
David, or Giddyup as he is affectionately known, kept his head at the BMW International in Munich while all around were losing theirs. The title and a cheque for E333,330 were all part of a career-changing weekend for the 25-year-old Mancunian.
Regular readers of this column will know that I have always championed David’s cause because I saw something I don’t think anybody else did when he turned professional three years ago. I noticed he had a massive drive and work ethic, the likes of which I had never seen in an amateur on his way into the paid ranks.
I figured it might take him on a longer road than some, but I always felt he was destined to get to the very top of the game and now that he’s in the top 100 he can set his sights there. Everybody who has worked with him, coaches, fitness king Steve McGregor (11 per cent muscle gain since they started together) and yours truly know how hard he works and how well he manages his game.
He’s been criticised for not going at par fives in two or not trying to get over water, but he knows what he’s doing and that quality will serve him well once he qualifies for Augusta and has to consider what to do at the par fives, 13 and 15.
David makes a lot of astute decisions although I’m sure when he made birdies at two of his last three holes, he thought they were to force a play-off and not to win the tournament. But everybody else imploded and he deservedly completed his first of what will be, I believe, many triumphs.
It was quite noticeable in Munich just how difficult it was to cope with a nine-hour time difference for those returning from the US Open in Pebble Beach. A big majority of them missed the cut among them Ernie Els.
On top of the jet lag, Ernie had had a very punishing week both physically and mentally at the US Open where he finished third and once again highlighted just how brilliant a links player he is – Pebble being as close to that kind of golf as anything there is in America.
I know Ernie was very disappointed to miss out on his fourth major, but don’t back against him at St.Andrews next month when The Open is staged at the home of golf.
A big pat on the back also to winner Graeme McDowell. You very rarely see anybody as inexperienced as he is at being in contention in majors, react as he did. He was cool, calm and made good decisions under pressure with the help of his caddie Ken Comboy.
Graeme’s success hopefully will start a glut of European wins in the majors just like Rory McIlroy’s success at Quail Hollow prompted a succession of European winners in America.
Back in Munich, Charl Schwartzel continued his charge up the world rankings with another top 10 while Jeev Milkha Singh showed that he is almost back to his best after injury, accompanying Joost Luiten in joint 11th.
Elsewhere the remarkable Danny Denison was celebrating his first hole in one in competitive golf at the Fred Olsen Challenge de Espana while Florentyna Parker followed her recent win with a fourth place in Portugal.
As ever, onward and upwards.
