Photo of the week

Englishman Oliver Wilson plays his tee shot on the 18th hole during the first round of the Hong Kong Open in Fanling. If only he knew that massive disappointment wasn’t far away…

Lin sings in Hong Kong

Well I hate to say that I called it, but Oliver Wilson blew another chance to break his European Tour duck in Hong Kong after a shaky finish saw him end up out of the frame which opened the door for Taiwan’s Lin Wen-tang to triumph.

Three bogeys in Wilson’s last four holes dashed his hopes but his cheque for a tie for sixth place sees him maintain second spot behind Sergio Garcia in the Race To Dubai.

In a dramatic finale in Hong Kong, Rory Mcllroy and Francesco Molinari shared second place after losing a play-off with Lin Wen-tang.

Bernhard Langer failed in his bid to become the oldest winner on the European Tour. After shooting 63 on Saturday, the 51-year-old German shot 69 to finish tied for sixth with Wilson and three others.

Credit must go to Lin Wen-tang who played near faultless golf in a three-under final round of 67, but my main concern is still with Oliver Wilson. I think that he is a great player and a fantastic competitor but when the hell is he going to win something!

14-year-old Jason Hak makes the cut

Oliver Wilson may well be leading the way at the Hong Kong Open, but I’m sure even he wouldn’t begrudge 14-year-old Jason Hak hogging a few of the headlines.

Hak became the youngest golfer ever to make the cut at a European Tour event. A highly impressive feat, and let us hope that his new found fame means he will be able to afford a decent haircut and some contact lenses…

The record breaking teenager beat the record set by current world No 2, Sergio Garcia.

Hak is just 14 years and 304 days and shot an impressive par 70 in each of the first two rounds at his home tournament, the $2.5million Hong Kong Open, finishing right on the cut line of 140.

Garcia was 15 years and 46 days old when he made the cut at the Turespana Open Mediterrania in Valencia, Spain in 1995.

So remember the name, I guess! Jason Hak…

Wilson on course for Hong Kong win?

Oliver Wilson has once again put himself in pole position to clinch a maiden European Tour victory in the UBS Hong Kong Open.

But don’t hold your breath, because Wilson is an eight-time runner-up so far in his career, including two play-off losses this year!

However, he managed to fire a third round 65 on a day of low scoring to lead the international field by a shot going into Sunday’s final round.

Wilson is chased by Lin Wen-Tang from Chinese Taipei but a greater challenge may come from veteran Bernhard Langer, who rolled back the years with a thrilling round of 63 to sit two off the lead.

Northern Irish wonder-kid Rory McIlroy is currently three shots off Wilson and is residing in fourth place.

So does Oliver have what it takes to win? Or will he once again do the ‘English thing’ and come second?

If he does somehow manage to grab the win then not only will it be long overdue, but hopefully it will kick him on to win some more!

Not again Ollie!

For a shocking fifth time in 2008, Englishman Oliver Wilson has had to settle for a second-place finish.

He was pipped to the HSBC Champions crown in Shanghai by Sergio Garcia with the Spaniard overcoming his rival in a play-off at the Sheshan Golf Club.

Wilson is in danger of becoming the ‘nearly man’ of the pro tour and he needs to start converting these winning positions in to trophies sooner rather than later.

Garcia made a birdie at the final hole to force the play-off and then repeated the trick on the second time of asking at the same hole to clinch a victory.

The Spaniard’s win has seen him rise to second place in the world rankings behind Tiger Woods, whereas Wilson’s second-placed did help him to move up to 42nd in the world, which will earn him a place at next April’s US Masters in Augusta.

But why is it Wilson can’t seem to get a win? Is he a bottler? Many great golfers have had all the skill in the world, but when push comes to shove, the pressure mounts and the putts don’t sink.

One bright spot for Wilson is the fact that the ladies love him. Why you ask? Well, he always comes second…

Anyway, let’s hope for Oliver’s sake that he breaks his duck as soon as possible!