MARC POZZO
Tiger Woods made golf history Monday when he won the Zozo Championship in Japan for his 82nd PGA Tour victory, equalling Sam Snead’s 54-year-old record and adding to his long list of achievements.
The 15-time major winner held off the challenge of home favourite Hideki Matsuyama to win by three shots at the weather delayed tournament, his first outing since arthroscopic left knee surgery in August.
Woods broke into a huge smile after he birdied the 18th to complete a three-under final round of 67 and finish 19-under par at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club.
Woods led from gun to tape in the inaugural US PGA Tour event in Japan, which saw Friday’s play washed out by the fringes of a typhoon that dumped almost 25cm of rain on the course (80km) from Tokyo, forcing play into an extra day.
World number two Rory McIlroy finished birdie-birdie for a 67 and a share of third place on 13-under par with South Korea’s PGA Tour Rookie of the Year Im Sung-jae who Tiger Woods made golf history on Monday carded a fine five-under 65.
Lewis Hamilton drove to a near-flawless victory, but not yet a sixth drivers; world championship on Sunday when he claimed his 10th win of the season for Mercedes at the Mexican Grand Prix.
The defending five-time title-winner produced the measured drive of a champion-elect to claim a well-judged triumph ahead of Ferraris Sebastian Vettel and his Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas who kept his own title bid alive for another week by finishing third.
Lewis can do the business at the USA Grand Prix this coming Sunday as long as he does not lose more than 22 points to Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas. I have had a usually hectic week and its usually like this as we approach the final few months of what has been another telling year for us all.
On Thursday, I popped down to Chapman Golf Club, where I conducted the prize giving and did my auctioning skills for the ladies organising the “The Think Pink Golf Day”. This group of volunteers have for years put on a first class event and they did not disappoint again this year. All proceeds and there was lots going to the Cancer Association. Such a worthy cause and well done to all the teams who came out and supported the day in such tough times”.
Friday was another charity event. This time it was the “King of the Rings” amateur boxing out at Wild Geese. The brain child of this is Stuart Irvine ( son of Sandy Irvine). His concept was to get a group of youngsters into training for 10 weeks with gyms and boxing trainers and get them up to a fight 10 weeks later. It was another epic night with 750 tickets sold and the boxing did not disappoint either. I did the live Facebook commentary, and it really was a classy event with all the proceeds on the night making their way to St Josephs Home for boys here in Harare.
So that was Friday evening, after the powers that be, decided our economy is in such a good state, we should have a public holiday so imposed sanctions can be lifted . What I am interested in will this be an annual event!. Just a thought. On Saturday I was again called upon to officiate at a Potje cooking competition at the Tin Roof.
I was elected the chief judge to taste the pots, then auction a few items all in aid of VAWZ who are raising funds for the starving animals in Mana Pools . Must say people have great talents and some of the pots I tasted were mighty fine. Great taste and delicious flavours. Credit to all the chefs.
Finally, what a weekend of great rugby starting with Englands 19-7 win over New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup semi-final . Eddie Jones; side beat the defending champions to reach the final for the first time in 12 years. It is England’s first World Cup win over the All Blacks.
England’s previous victory over New Zealand had been a 38-21 win at Twickenham in December 2012, but that had been followed by six consecutive defeats. It was only England;s eighth win over the All Blacks in 42 meetings, and just their third on foreign soil. For me it was the most clinical performance I have ever seen by England.
The other semi final on Sunday was on the other hand a pretty dull affair. The Springboks held on to beat Wales, 19-16 thanks to late penalty from Handre Pollard . Now Bookmakers have installed England as narrow 2019 Rugby World Cup final favourites against South Africa in Saturday’s showdown in Yokohama.
Twelve years after the two teams did battle in the2007 World Cup final in Paris, Eddie Jones and Rassie Erasmus will spend the next week preparing their respective sides for 80 minutes of all or nothing rugby. Leading bookie are backing England to win by 4 points on handicap and 53/100 for the outright victory.
The Springboks are on offer at 8/5. I am going for a bigger margin. England to win by 9 points I say. Enjoy the final on Saturday
