Rose saves best for last

Without Sky it's hard keeping track, but it looks like Justin Rose has just won the Volvo Masters after a really exciting last day finishing with a three-way play-off. I'm pleased for Rose who has advanced by leaps and bounds this year without taking a big title, so this should make up for all the near misses. He also tops the European tour Order of Merit, not the biggest prize in golf, but better than a kick in the pants. Harrington was pipped at the post, having dropped to third place behind Rose and Els. It's a pity that the first few days at Valderrama were overshadowed by Monty's criticism of Els and others for staying away, but I doubt that Justin Rose will be worrying about them tonight. A good end to the European season, and Harrington can console himself with the biggest prize of the year.

Harrington wins (dinner guests lose out)

I reckon I did well to get a meal on the table tonight despite having one eye on the closing stages at Carnoustie. I think I had a premonition yesterday that Garcia would remain the nearly man, but not how close he would come to proving me wrong, or how long it would take for the whole thing to be over! As it was, as Romero stuffed his ball Out of Bounds I was stuffing the chicken, and as Padraig went in the burn (twice) I was chopping some pretty irregular carrots (in fact, I was lucky to get away with my fingers intact). Luckily, our Sunday dinner guests are also golfers and didn’t mind waiting for the end of the play-off for the meal to be on the table.
Fair result? Well, IMO each of the contenders had already lost the tournament, Harrington with his double bogey and Garcia when he missed the putt. I’m not surprised Harrington made the best recovery; he had won his reprieve, and throughout the play-off he had a look of grim determination.
A truly memorable last day, though maybe the chicken is best forgotten. I hope to remain Goddess of the Green, if not the Cuisine!