Caddie "Boffin" did not skip a $10M no cut WGC HSBC Event
Do you seriously think that a caddie would skip a $10M no cut WGC event?
After I notified ETCA caddies via our Group Telegram I was available as stand-in for the week, because Brett Rumford didn't qualify, someone responded to me personally: > "Frankly speaking your.....is ridiculous." Do you seriously think that a caddie would skip a $10M no cut WGC event????".
My Sunday flight from LHR was delayed &,having missed my connection, I was put up in a Frankfurt hotel. At 0245 I received a call from Poom Saksansin's Manager Pimporne asking if I could caddie for Poom Saksansin (a happy Thai 1st reserve). She advised me he wouldn't be @ the course until 0300 Thurs or 0900 depending on when his Visa could be collected from Bangkok!! She'd be requesting a late tee off & this was 1000.
Not the ideal preparation for a 24year old, who'd arrived 0300, playing Sheshan the first time & meeting "Ronnie" shortly before teeing off. I'd done my usual meticulous course preparation & equally detailed plan for Round1 & Poom listened attentively. Played with Peter Uihlein (eventually finished 5th) & Liang Wenchong (finished 38th) & were 61st with a solid 73.
Thursday night was Caddies Party & Annual Awards. I was shell shocked to win the Mathematical/Course Boffin award & you can only imagine my pride winning with my exalted peers, the World top players, coaches, administrators, referees & the rest of our travelling "circus" cheering my success & resulting from 20years of attention to detail & support for 87 players to date!!
Round2 Poom had overcome tiredness & moved up to 38th with a solid -2 (70).
Round3 was moving day with Adam Hadwin (around 25th PGA Tour who struggled for 79) & guess who caddied in the opposite "corner".... as we moved up the field to 15th?... yes, Mr "Ridiculous. This opportunity wasn't to be missed & he was stuffed by 5 shots as Poom shot a bogey free 68 (one of only 4 68s) & I shook the hand of my "opponent" & said "that's why I'm out here!". Did he apologise? Did he hell!
Round4 Poom played with Kiradech Aphirbarntat (also Thailand) & Charles Howell 111. An unfortunate double @ 11 when Poom went in the hole's only bush & then missed from 6ft pin high after a great recovery shot from 148yds lost us momentum, but a strong finish ensured an honorable 24th place. Poom's an only "child" & you can only imagine the pleasure his father (coach) & mother got following their son all 4 rounds.
Poom only dropped shots on 7 holes and finished 12th on Driving Accuracy in windy conditions amongst virtually all the World top players. This was a massive leap forward & has propelled him to 8th in the Asian Tour OOM.... and my decision to go was TOTALLY JUSTIFIED!!
John Roberts alias "Ronnie"
