Wrap Up

Ernie Els held off Retief Goosen by one stroke in an enthralling final round head-to-head duel, to notch his fifth national golf title in the weather-affected hundredth playing of the South African Open at Durban Country Club. We saw two rounds needing to be played on Sunday to complete the tournament, and the rarity of one hole – the par 3 fourth – being declared unplayable due to the rain soaked green and everyone being granted a three on the scorecard to avoid confusion.

There is now a two week break in the world of golf for Christmas and New Year. As always, this is the time when we look back over the past season and also anticipate the possibilities for the coming campaign. After Phil Mickelson’s fourth major victory at Augusta five shots ahead of a rusty Tiger Woods still reeling from the turmoil in his not so private life, who would have guessed that all the other majors were destined to be won by first time winners and all from the European Tour. Additionally, the year would see Tiger dethroned from the number one position, and finish the season without a win for the first time in his professional career.

The world is getting to know more about Lee Westwood as he defies the naysayers and comfortably holds on to the top spot. We watched the coming of age of a host of twenty-somethings as Louis Oosthuisen and Martin Kaymer won majors, and Dustin Johnson would have made it three but for a spectacular blow-up in the final round of the US Open. Justin Rose, Jason Day and Rory McIlroy had break-through victories this year and joined the burgeoning band of winners in their twenties on the PGA Tour – 14 events this year as opposed to just seven last year. And don’t forget 21-year-old Rickie Fowler’s eight top-10’s, 17-year-old European Tour Rookie of the Year Matteo Manassero, and 18-year-old Ryo Ishikawa’s fabulous 58!

Going forward, will Tiger’s progress with his new swing coach bear fruit, or will the unaccustomed frailties appearing in his game in recent months consign him forever to the ranks of the also-rans as happened with fellow former world number one David Duval?

On the 6th January everything starts again with the ‘winners only’ Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Kapalua, on the beautiful island of Maui, Hawaii, and the second playing of the Africa Open at East London Golf Club. Roll on the New Year!