Wizard not done yet

Still my head is shaking in disbelief at the climax to the DRM Championship.

Our critics had correctly pointed out that there is always a defining moment, and surely it would be the double par the Wizard carded at the (407m Par 4) 15th hole.

Before the Championship Day, I remember thinking: "This is it!" At last, Wizard glory after months of near misses and a succession of failed challenges in 9 DRM Monthly Medals.

Well, we all know what happened and it's prompted plenty of responses. Terengganu-born Gold Tee, now residing in the Miri, (perhaps harshly) has disowned the Wizard - "Wizard is like Sergio Garcia," he says.

Smiley Khai in Serusop reckons that "he appeared more frightened of losing than wanting to win". And Holland-based Aidiradiman was "astonished" to see the DRM Championship trophy remain in Brunei-Muara (the “Joker” Pg Ali’s district).

Personally, I'm reluctant to write off the Wizard - he is a one-off who defies all logic and never ceases to find a way to bounce back.

Take his current schedule - he's on an eleven-week solid run of golf. Every other DRM Golfers would consider that absurd, yet it's working for him.

He's more likely to smoke Marlboro Light on the course than eat banana or energy drinks used by his peers and his time on the range is regular during a tournament.

For many players it would be impossible to recover from the sort of disappointment the Wizard inflicted on himself at Pantai Mentiri.

But it wouldn't surprise me if he were to return all the stronger - after all, he has now finished Champion in two of the DRM Cups, which makes him one of the top men in the game at the moment.