Sunday

It is approaching 7:00 pm Thai time as I write this and I am sat in front of the TV with The Open coming in live from Turnberry, Scotland. The main contenders are teeing off now so I think it is going to be quite an evening. The breeze and the possibility of rain probably mean there is not going to be low scoring; of course some one will hit a low score, (John Daly?!) but there are are also going to be disasters. Tom Watson has a one stroke lead and I reckon he's going to do it because he has the game and appears to have the temperament to win. However strange things happen.

I am in the process of preparing mid-term tests for my students. So far it has been a good day. We took Benedict to mass again today and he behaved himself; I think the singing soothes him. Spent most of the afternoon working on these tests and expect to do so most of this evening.

Some four hours later Turnberry and The Open has me and countless millions on absolute tenterhooks. Stewart Cink, USA, has just birdied the last to share the lead in the clubhouse with Tom Watson. Lee Westwood has an outstanding eagle putt opportunity at the seventeenth;that would take him into a one stroke lead. Watson, currently co-leader, has just driven at the seventeenth and appears to be left with a decent shot to the green. Westwood misses eagle by the narrowest of margins but birdies it and now we have three co-leaders. However surely Watson at 59 is the story regardless of who wins and if he actually does win it then basically this must be one of the greatest sporting achievements of all time.

Watson plays a peach of a fairway wood that just goes through the green but is about 15 yards from the hole; he must have a chance of holing it from there and surely must be fancied to get down in two and make birdie to take him into a one stroke lead with one to play. Westwood appears to have played his drive at 18 into a tough bunker. Watson is striding up the 17th with a relaxed smile on his face. I remember the amazement and astonishment when Jack Nicklaus won a major aged 46. Watson plays a simple putt and scores birdie to take him into a one stroke lead with one hole to play. A decent drive at 18 should do the trick and hopefully avoid the trouble Westwood is in. Westwood plays an amazing stroke which has the BBC commentary team in awe. He is on the green with an outside chance of a birdie. Watson has left his drive in a very safe place and Westwood is now struggling for a par as he has hit his birdie putt well past. Yup Westwood has bogeyed. Unlucky I like Lee Westwood, genuine, honest golfer.

So a par wins it for Watson. Here we go. The BBC has shown a clip of Watson winning in 1977, guess what, he has the same sponsor, Adams Golf. I guess that says something about the guy. Watson has played and his ball has run through the green. Not the most difficult shot in the world but he is in the fringe. I bet he would prefer a simple putt! Anyhow he has opted to putt. If he gets down in two he wins it, three he is in a play off with Cink. Oh dear, Watson has left himself a ten foot putt to win the championship. I have a feeling we are headed for a play-off. Poor Watson he fluffed it. We call it the bastard game.

The rest is now history. I feel gutted for poor Tom Watson, he had it and then he lost it. I guess that is golf for you. A cruel, humbling game with the potential to take you to incredible highs. I guess its likes will never be seen again. Well done, Tom, you done brilliant!

I have drafted four exams during the excitement. What a relief! Glad to get that done.

Oh and Benedict is just a joy, but seems mainly interested in his mum right now!!!