The Focus on Form

I've bombed out posting of late. Weary of highlighting the wrongs and woes of the country recently and let's face it, with little changing there seems little point. Started the research into the visa process for Oz. A mine-field to say the least. It may take a little longer than I expected at first.
There's a few new websites I have been tuned into recently. One of them is the journal.ie. A host of subject matter with polls on some subjects.
Politics in America and corporation trend setters rely heavily on what's known as the Focus Group. Well here's the new type. OK, fair enough, I engage sometimes. I'll give my opinion to access the results, just to see what little old Ireland is thinking. And it's an opinion war that will remind politicians in this land that focus group politics won't be a winner anytime soon here. We're a very conflicted race on a range of issues. The weather doesn't help, so perhaps a timeout is really needed.

Regular readers know I'm a fan of golf. Monday night golf is not something that figures, but due to Labor Day weekend stateside, the latest round of the Fed-EX Cup had a Monday finish.
Chez Reavie became the latest victim of a minor meltdown when he somehow managed a six at the last after being on the fairway in two, needing just a five to take the title, opening the door for Webb Simpson - a first time winner two weeks ago.
Simpson is the latest young gun to emerge from the pack with his first win on the PGA Tour at the Wyndham Championship two weeks ago. Last week, having grounded his putter on the 15th in the last round of The Zurich, his ball moved costing him a one-shot penalty. He eventually lost to Bubba Watson in a playoff.
It was Watson who led going into today's final round, but it was Simpson who proved that once you get that winning feeling in golf, it can stay with you for a time. Simpson downed a 20 footer in the first playoff hole to tie, before securing the second win of his career at the second playoff hole, leaving Reavie wondering how it could have all been so different.
Simpson now leads the Fed-Ex standings heading to the final two events - taking over from Watson. No matter what happens from here on in, Simpson is unlikely to forget the past three weeks in a hurry.

In Europe it was a Great Dane who took advantage of form. Having won the Johnny Walker last week, Thomas Bjorn hit a spectacular 62 to win the Omega Classic - the first event on the European Tour to count toward next years Ryder Cup. It was the popular Dane's third win of the year and 19th in total in his career. It is also the 28th time a golfer has recorded a back-to-back victories on the European Tour.
It threw me back to 1998 when Mark O'Meara, then a 41-year old won his two major championships - The Masters and The Open. And Darren Clarke this year. Perhaps it is true, that life begins at forty. I sure hope so...
Of course it looks like no-one will match The Golden Bear - who won his 18th Major at the age of 46.

I'll finish off with a stat that could have Golf studied as a subject of the Absurd. Dustin Johnson this week ranked number 1 in driving distance and driving accuracy - the first time in history it has happened. His reward - a tie for 42nd.
I never liked golf much in Ireland. Too much of a real test. I'm sure Oz offers, should we say, a more fair-weathered approach. It's badly needed, trust me.