The pitfalls of trading by phone

Traditionally a small group of us sit in our local on the last night of The Masters and watch the final dozen or so holes being played out. It's a welcoming sort of local and mine host keeps his bitter well - an important consideration for yours truly who can't abide plastic or chemical beer.

 When I left home in the unseasonal drizzle and chilly wind Lefty was still trading in the mid twos and 8 under par. When I fired up my phone in the pub he was 5 under and trading at 14! Needless to say I greened my lay of him and then backed him. It was a great night's golf and I happily scalped a nice overall green figure across the field.

On closing time we hot footed it to a friend's den, charged our glasses whilst his delightful good lady produced some sausages in freshly warmed bread rolls for us, and watched the last couple of holes. When Bubba sprayed his tee shot into the trees on the second play off hole the limitations of trading by mobile phone became apparent. I wanted to lay Ooostie - available at 1.43 - but the refresh delay meant he'd taken his shot before my lay was matched and he too appeared to have found trouble off the tee. Convinced they'd both take five and that there would be at least one more play off hole I left it alone. Doh! Had I been trading indoors with my normal internet connection and specialist software that lay would have been matched - but the extra 'lost' profit is the price to be paid for a great night in good company watching exciting golf.

I've got to take my hat off to Mr Watson - that shot out of a narrow gap in the trees will, I'm sure, be talked about for a long time and although Ooostie very nearly made his par put I think most golfers would agree that 'Blubbing Bubba' deserved his green jacket.