12-05pm
I am amazed at how much I can say and write about a topic of which I am actually extremely ignorant. But last night, I sat glued to the TV watching as tempers flared, spectators fell, and the most brilliant executers of the game crumbled as if they had not played for months. It was a true life drama that unfolded on international television in the form of the US Open Golf Championship. The venue was the (we now know) incredibly difficult Merion Golf Course in Ardmore Pennsylvania. With a purse of $8 million, there was a lot at stake. If you think the prize money was big, the winner would also get automatic entry into several of the world’s top championship tournaments. That in itself is a huge bonus!
Our eyes were fixed on the South Africans. Charl Schwartzel was snapping at the heels of the leaders. Ernie Els seemed solid, but too far down the leaderboard to be a threat. Schwartzel was at one point alone in the lead. Then it all began to fall apart….and it seemed so for everyone. Things were changing from one minute to the next. There was drama all round. Rory Mcilroy dumped a shot into the creek, so took another from where he was…and put that in the water as well. In frustration, he bent his club, rending it unusuable! Steve Stricker went out of bounds on his drive, played a provisional, then shanked his third out of bounds and eventually scored an 8 on a par 5. Luke Donald, in trying to reach a par 3 with a driver, pulled it to the left of the green, flooring a young lady spectator who caught the ball on her head! Fortunately, she was okay, apart from being a bit stunned. Matthew Goggin hit a magnificent approach shot to the green – it hit the flag stick. But the problem was the flag stick was rigid, causing the ball to rebound almost back to the place from which he had played. It was carnage! Tiger Wood three putted from under a metre. And he was not alone!
We soon discovered that just because you were at the top of the leaderboard did not mean you would stay there. In the end I went to bed and caught up with the scores this morning. Amazingly, Charl Schwartzel, who at one stage was in the lead at -1, ended the competition tied 14 on +8. This course reduced the finest performers in the world to rank amateurs. So who won in the end? 
SOUTH AFRICAN BORN Englishman Justin Rose, ended on +1 and recorded his first major victory! He becomes Britain’s first golfer to win the competition in 43 years. Ernie Els tied 4th on +5. He did well!
What amazed me is how carried away I got! While most of the players will prefer to forget this one, it’s one that I will long remember!
I have had a full day today and it’s only 12 noon. I was up a bit later than usual for a work day (4-35am), and was at work an hour later. Had a great Rise and Shine show, including a chat with budding photographer Callum Tilbury, who is only 14 years old and has a great future ahead. Facebook.com/CallumTilburyPhotography. After leaving CCFm at 9am, I stopped at the Retief’s home to collect a CD of Frank Retief messages before driving into Cape Town to see Granny. We went and sat in the sun.
This morning I read 1 Kings 18:46 which says, “THE POWER of the Lord came upon Elijah and tucking his cloak into his belt he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.” I googled the distance from Mt Carmel to Jezreel… 34km!! Elijah, through the power of God outran the king Ahab and his chariot… plus Ahab had a head start because he wasn’t on Mt Carmel! That’s the power of God!
‘Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to HIS POWER that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.’
(Ephesians 3:20-21)
God has given us HIS POWER for today, tomorrow and forever!
God bless you loads!
In His Grip,
Helga xx 🙂
It Was Carnage…At Merion…
12-05pm
I am amazed at how much I can say and write about a topic of which I am actually extremely ignorant. But last night, I sat glued to the TV watching as tempers flared, spectators fell, and the most brilliant executers of the game crumbled as if they had not played for months. It was a true life drama that unfolded on international television in the form of the US Open Golf Championship. The venue was the (we now know) incredibly difficult Merion Golf Course in Ardmore Pennsylvania. With a purse of $8 million, there was a lot at stake. If you think the prize money was big, the winner would also get automatic entry into several of the world’s top championship tournaments. That in itself is a huge bonus!
Our eyes were fixed on the South Africans. Charl Schwartzel was snapping at the heels of the leaders. Ernie Els seemed solid, but too far down the leaderboard to be a threat. Schwartzel was at one point alone in the lead. Then it all began to fall apart….and it seemed so for everyone. Things were changing from one minute to the next. There was drama all round. Rory Mcilroy dumped a shot into the creek, so took another from where he was…and put that in the water as well. In frustration, he bent his club, rending it unusuable! Steve Stricker went out of bounds on his drive, played a provisional, then shanked his third out of bounds and eventually scored an 8 on a par 5. Luke Donald, in trying to reach a par 3 with a driver, pulled it to the left of the green, flooring a young lady spectator who caught the ball on her head! Fortunately, she was okay, apart from being a bit stunned. Matthew Goggin hit a magnificent approach shot to the green – it hit the flag stick. But the problem was the flag stick was rigid, causing the ball to rebound almost back to the place from which he had played. It was carnage! Tiger Wood three putted from under a metre. And he was not alone!
We soon discovered that just because you were at the top of the leaderboard did not mean you would stay there. In the end I went to bed and caught up with the scores this morning. Amazingly, Charl Schwartzel, who at one stage was in the lead at -1, ended the competition tied 14 on +8. This course reduced the finest performers in the world to rank amateurs. So who won in the end?
SOUTH AFRICAN BORN Englishman Justin Rose, ended on +1 and recorded his first major victory! He becomes Britain’s first golfer to win the competition in 43 years. Ernie Els tied 4th on +5. He did well!
I have had a full day today and it’s only 12 noon. I was up a bit later than usual for a work day (4-35am), and was at work an hour later. Had a great Rise and Shine show, including a chat with budding photographer Callum Tilbury, who is only 14 years old and has a great future ahead. Facebook.com/CallumTilburyPhotography. After leaving CCFm at 9am, I stopped at the Retief’s home to collect a CD of Frank Retief messages before driving into Cape Town to see Granny. We went and sat in the sun.
This morning I read 1 Kings 18:46 which says, “THE POWER of the Lord came upon Elijah and tucking his cloak into his belt he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.” I googled the distance from Mt Carmel to Jezreel… 34km!! Elijah, through the power of God outran the king Ahab and his chariot… plus Ahab had a head start because he wasn’t on Mt Carmel! That’s the power of God!
(Ephesians 3:20-21)
God has given us HIS POWER for today, tomorrow and forever!
God bless you loads!
In His Grip,
Helga xx 🙂