A November to Remember

Returning to action in the idyllic surroundings of the Aphrodite Hills resort in Cyprus, few would have imagined that a player struggling for form and consistency could turn things around in such spectacular fashion. We should have guessed which way Bob’s trajectory was going after rounds of 68, 67, 66 and 65 saw him brilliantly finish tied third in the Cyprus Open.

With the next tournament, the Cyprus Challenge, held over the same course, Bob teed off with his confidence sky high. The unique shoot-out format of the tournament meant you could not afford an off day as the field was whittled down to the last day 16.

His final day 64 will live long in the memory of those who witnessed it. Knowing he needed to birdie his final two holes to win, any doubts about Bob’s ability to handle pressure disappeared as his majestic tee shot at the 17th almost dropped in for a hole-in-one. His adrenalin-fuelled drive at the par five 18th split the fairway and left him a knee trembling 163 yard nine-iron over water to try and close out the victory. As every golf fan in Oban held their breath, his towering approach dropped 15 feet from the hole and he nudged his putt to the hole side to claim his maiden tour victory.

The outpouring of emotion that everyone witnessed in Bob’s post round interview showed what the victory meant to the man from Oban, but it was his willingness to discuss how lockdown and Covid-19 had impacted his own mental health which underlined what a thoroughly decent human being he is.

As if a victory and a third place wasn’t enough, almost as an afterthought the Oban left hander dusted himself down, packed his bags and headed off to South Africa to take part in the Alfred Dunhill Championship where, amidst the splendour of the Kruger National Park, a brilliant closing 67 saw him finish tied sixth to truly round off a November that saw him crowned European Tour golfer of the month.