WINTER 2008

What a fantastic Ryder Cup match this year's event proved to be! The matches had everything, spectacular golf, occasionally poor golf, unlikely heroes, controversy, passion, excitement and enormous pride whether you were supporting America or Europe.

Most golfers anticipated a tighter match than the previous three encounters, in part due to the Americans having home advantage, and also because Paul Azinger was going to be a much better captain than his immediate predecessors. Some fans expressed doubts about Nick Faldo's ability to be a good captain, and to this day and with all future matches no doubt the debate will still continue as to whether or not a different European captain might have brought about a different result.

The matches got off to a poor start from Europe's point of view, with the Americans taking a suprising lead after the first morning's foursome's matches by three and a half to a half. I thought that putting out Paul Casey and Henrik Stenson as a foursomes pairing was tempting fate, since both although very long hitters, neither are known for hitting fairways, or for their ability to hole out well, especially Stenson. Although all the matches ebbed and flowed as inevitably they do, at the end of Day One, America had a three point advantage.

There is no question that no one had predicted such a start. in particularly because historically Europe have always performed so well in the foursomes and fourball matches. What was also slightly worrying, was that arguably our top three players, and certainly our most experienced, Padraigh Harrington, Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia had all, by their standards, played poorly.

Things did improve slightly on day two, when Europe rallied to gain a point back, but that still left Europe with a mountain to climb in the final day's twelve singles matches. With America's six rookies showing on the opening two days that they were not only comfortable playing on such a huge stage, but they raised their games and also inspired the veterans of the American side as well! There was a slight glimmer of hope that Europe could stage a comeback on the final day, but unbelievable golf from Anthony Kim as he defeated Sergio Garcia, from home town boy, Kenny Perry, and from rookies, JB Holmes, Boo Weekely quickly put paid to European hopes. For Europe I thought that Ian Poulter, and Graeme McDowel excelled, with honorable mentions going to Justin Rose, Oliver Wilson and Robert Karlsson.

I sat glued to the television for all three days of the matches, and speaking with other golf fans know that I wasn't alone. The Ryder Cup and Solheim Cups are very special events and produce some incredible matches and always controversy. With America now holding all four transatlantic team tropies, The Ryder, Solheim, Walker and Curtis Cups, let's hope that when the top European women professionals represent Europe in The Solheim Cup when it is played in Chicago next August, we can start to reverse that trend.

The curtain on this year's men's European Tour year came down appropriately with the last ever Volvo Masters event played at Valderamma. Not just huge prize money was on offer, but also who was to be crowned leading European player for 2008. With four players potential winners of that honour, all eyes were on Robert Karlsson, Padraigh Harrington, Lee Westwood and Miguel Angel Jimenez, to see who would emerge as player of the year. The winner of the tournament was Denmark's Soren Hansen, who lead from start to finish, and started to fulfill some of the promise that lots of observers thought he had. With none of the four players who could win the order of merit seriously challenging Soren Hansen, Robert Karlsson played steadily enough to maintain his lead at the top of the Order of Merit to become the first ever Swede to win that prestigous title.

Somewhat strangely, the 2009 men's European Tour started the following week in China, where Sergio Garcia continued his fine form of late, beating England's Oliver Wilson in a play-off to jump to the top of the 2009 Order of Merit, and commence "The Race to Dubai", the final of which will take place in Dubai at the end of next year. The literally millions of pounds, Euros or dollars on offer for those who qualify will rival America's Fedex Cup series and has already created much interest amongst everyone associated with the European Tour.

As the women's seasons in Europe and America draw to a close, France's Gwladys Nocera looks set to take the Women's European Order of Merit, although Helen Alfredsson, who won The Evian Masters in July might have a chance to overtake Gwadys if she can win the final event of the year - The Dubai Classic and Gwadys doesn't do very well. The Dubai Classic will be the focus of women's golf when it takes place from 11th - 14th December as apart from deciding who will be crowned top of the Ladies European Order of Merit, it will also be Annika Sorenstam's final event before she steps back from competetive golf. Having recently shown that she is back to her best, with a win in the inaugural China Open, Annika would love to sign off her fantastic career with a win in Dubai, which would also be her third in a row in Dubai. If you want to watch Annika's final events as a professional, tune into Sky Tv for The Lexus Cup where Annika is captain of The Rest of The World Team from 28th - 30th Novemember, and The Dubai Classic from 11th - 14th December. I will be a studio guest on both occasions and am really looking forward to it.

All that remains is for me to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas. Keep swinging, and happy golfing!

Mickey