Oh Greg - where did it all go wrong!!!!

I couldnt help but post my views on what happened when watching the golf last night and I think there's a very strong lesson to be learned for everybody from it!!

Baring in mind Luke Donald (an englishman) won in America last week, this was a superb chance for another englishman - Greg Owen to make it the first time any Brits have won back to back weeks in America since I can remember, if ever!
The tournament was the Bay Hill Invitational in Florida and to cut a long story short, Owen had about a 3 foot putt for par on the 17th green which would have given him a 2 shot lead over Rod Pampling of Australia going up the last hole and almost certain victory. What happened next, and the repercussions are simply unforgettable and also a truly fantastic illustration of what nerves and pressure can do to golf.

Owen hit his first putt very hard and it missed - fair enough, we can't all hole every putt! The ball however, continued to roll about 3 foot past the other side of the hole leaving another strong testing putt coming back. Owen, perhaps in a moment of craziness, didnt even line up the putt coming back and took no time at all over it. Consequently, he missed that putt too and tapped in for a double bogey, leaving Pampling tied with him for the lead going up the last.

Understandably, Owen's nerves were gone going up the last hole, and Pampling's par was enough to give him the title as well the prestige going with it. How Owen must have felt is perhaps far worse than any of us golfers (including myself) have ever felt on a golf course. That moment of lapsed concentration cost him not only leaping from 95th in the world rankings into the mid 30's and a certain place in the US Masters next month. Also, it cost him a 2 year exemption to play on the tour and some £200,000 also!!!!!!

Ouch!! I have certainly seen this and taken it on board for my own game. Golf is a cruel game in which you cant get complacent because it will always get the better of you. I'm sure Greg Owen will have his day, but you've got to wonder how something like this will affect the rest of your career. I guess you will only have a certain number of chances in this game and to let it slip in this manner is a bit unbelievable. Hopefully, he will emerge stronger because of it and certainly never ever make the same mistakes again.

We live and learn.....