Loo blue flushes Belgian

‘Here’s some Belgian guy playing golf in some toilet block in Bulgaria’

DEFENDING champion Nicolas Colsaerts crashed out of the World Match Play Championship yesterday after being forced to play out of a toilet.

The Belgian was beaten by Ryder Cup colleague Graeme McDowell two and one in the quarter-finals on the Thracian Cliffs course.

His challenge unravelled on the par-four 10th hole when his tee shot flew into a public toilet close to the green.

He was then told that he had to take a one-stroke penalty drop within the cubicle.

As it was impossible for Colsaerts to play in the confined space, he was allowed to take a ‘‘free’’ relief on his way to saving par.

‘‘I’m sure now the whole episode at 10 is going to make all the TV news programs, Facebook and all the social media sites with the caption: ‘Here’s some Belgian guy playing golf in some toilet block in Bulgaria’,’’ laughed Colsaerts.

‘‘It’s the first time I’ve ever hit a ball into a toilet and you would have thought as a kid I would have been crazy enough to practise that shot, but I never did.’’

McDowell is the highestranked player in the event at number eight and had the toughest match of the $4 million competition earlier to get the better of American Bo Van Pelt winning 1-up at the 18th in the last-16.

He will now play South African Braden Grace in today’s semi-finals with the final to be played in the afternoon.

If successful, McDowell will become the first Irish-born player to win the event.

Grace had defeated Australia’s Brett Rumford four and three in the morning and while he lost the second hole to England’s Chris Wood in the afternoon, the four-time European Tour winner from last year levelled with a birdie at the eighth.

Their match was all-square at 14 before Grace sealed victory with birdies at 16 and 17.

‘‘I can’t remember the last time I played 36 holes in one day, but you know, it was a good day for me,’’ said Grace.

‘‘So far this week I’ve got off to a good start over the front nine, which has been the key for me.’’

Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee beat Sweden’s Peter Hanson at the 21st extra hole yesterday morning.

He then defeated Scotland’s Scott Jamieson four and three after Jamieson had won through to the last eight with a 1-up victory over Chilean Felipe Aguilar.

Thongchai will now play Thomas Aiken after the South African defeated Italy’s Francesco Molinari three and two.