Valero Texas Open Round Four: A Rose by any other name might actually win something

Memo to Justin Rose: if you can’t win a tournament like this against a bunch of rookies and journeymen what’s the point? Eric Axley was there for the taking Sunday, four-shot lead or no four-shot lead. But he was never put under the slightest pressure, so much so that at one stage he and his caddie were having a long and animated discussion about music, with full vocals.

Rose wasn’t the only one to blame. Just about everyone melted away - too busy protecting what they already had in the bank I guess. It was over before Axley had even turned for home, his price only just off the floor. So when he double-bogeyed the 14th it hardly raised a ripple.

That’s one of the easiest wins anyone is likely to get on the PGA Tour. It says something when the most threatening of the challengers is a 21 year-old playing his first PGA event on a sponsor’s exemption. Mind you, Anthony Kim is worth keeping an eye on in the upcoming Southern Farm Bureau, where he’s got another exemption. He’s the 2001 Junior World Champion who has previously played two Nationwide events - and that’s just about it! Eat your heart out Jason Day. Kim says he learned a lot by playing San Antonio with Todd Hamilton’s caddie - make of that what you will.

So not a lot on in Texas to make up for my Ryder Cup disappointment. I dabbled a bit when Axley’s challengers pulled his lead back by one at the start, but one by one they quickly dribbled and splashed their way out of contention.

So that wraps up an unprofitable weekend. They happen. Hopefully not quite as regularly as European Ryder Cup wins.