Simon Dyson may not yet appreciate how or why it happened, but I have a feeling that his capitulation in the China Open will be the making of him rather than the destruction. Simon is not the first player to enter the final round of a tournament with a six-shot lead and not win. Indeed what happened to him as Miguel Angel Jiminez triumphed by three strokes was nothing compared to how Nick Faldo dismantled Greg Norman at the 1996 US Masters when the Australian defended a similar starting advantage.
Most of the world’s top golfers went through a period of learning how to lose before they ever mastered the art of winning. Tom Watson was considered a ‘choker’ by many of his fellow countrymen before he became the world’s best and a prolific Open champion, while Faldo himself dismantled a swing that had brought him fame, fortune and titles because he knew it was not good enough to get him the Majors he craved.
So Simon should not kick himself too hard over what happened to him in mainland China. Instead he should take all the positives. The cheque he earned just about secured his card for next season and a second place finish earned him a place in this week’s event in Germany.
Simon should build on the experience and let it power him to future glory. After a season filled with injury and under-achievement last year, he re-dedicated himself to the game during the winter and has emerged as a European champion in the making.
We will learn more about the Yorkshireman in the way he deals with his disappointment. My guess is that he will become a better player for it.
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