Before I look ahead at what will be as jam packed a golf season as there has ever been here's who I know should be having a great Christmas..
* Brooke Henderson can't drink legally yet, but her eggnog is fortified with the thoughts of her break through year of 2015 as she goes into the festive season as the highest ranked Canadian pro at #18 in the world, well on her way to what should be a fantastic 15 years vying for the #1 ranking along with Lydia Ko, Inbee Park and a slew of young international but mainly Asian players.
* all the members of the American Solheim Cup team who were trailing Europe 10-6 going into the 12 Sunday singles but the European squad could only win three and draw another and Julie Inkster's team rallied around rookie Alison Lee who was penalized for picking up the ball when she thought her putt was conceded in the morning fourballs. The 20-year-old missed a birdie putt on the 17th hole and then picked up the ball only for
That galvanized the Americans and later in the afternoon controversial pick Paula Creamer silenced the German crowd as she defeated Germany’s
* all the members of the American Presidents Cup team who travelled to South Korea and were seemingly down and out going into the singles, but rallied and won a storybook 9th trophy when Bill Haas was conceded his birdie putt on the final hole by Korean hero Sangmoon Bae for a 2-up victory for the 15½-14½ triumph.
There were many twists and turns along the way with seven matches being decided on the 18th green none more dramatic than Bae, needing to win the hole to halve the match and make it a 15-15 tie, chunked his third shot from just short of the green and watched in shock as it rolled back towards him and then pitched his 4th long. missed the putt and conceded to end the closest match since the teams tied 17-17 in South Africa 2003.
* Jordan Spieth and Jason Day for obvious reasons, Spieth with his 5 wins including the Masters and US Open for Player of the Year and Day for the tremendous fall run he made starting with his win at our RBC Canadian Open followed by the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, then wins at the The Barclays and the BMW Championship, two of the first three events in the FedEx Cup playoffs and the world #1 ranking.
* Zach Johnson who will forever be known as the "Champion golfer of the year" after his improbable win of the Open Championship in a playoff at St Andrews.
There are many others, and with the 2016 season about to resume at Kapalua on Maui, there will be many more.
The majors this year are all at great courses. The Masters of course at Augusta then the US Open at Oakmont CC where I remember Angel Cabrera beating Tiger and Jim Furyk by a shot in 2007, and before that Ernie Els beating a distraught Monty in a playoff in 1994...
The Open Championship is back on Scotland's west coast at Royal Troon where I narrowly escaped from the members after my late brother Rodney, and our touring partners Bill Bruce and Glen Whitebread hit the jackpot on their clubhouse slot machine and cleaned it out. The PGA Championship wraps up the majors at venerable Baltusrol in Springfield NJ, where Jason Day will defend his title.
However the year is far from over as the world's best head for the Olympics in Rio in mid August where golf makes it's first return since 1904, then fourteen days later the Fed Ex Cup playoffs begin, wrapping up with the Tour Championship on September 25.
As if that weren't enough, the juggernault that is now the Ryder Cup will be contested on American soil this year at the fabulous Hazeltine National GC in Minnesota the following week.
Don't forget the scene then shifts to the Race to Dubai where Rory McIlroy defends his title and speaking of Rory, what about the players who will be challenging for all these titles with him.
I believe we are in for an era of great parity with Rory and Jordan right at the top, with Jason Day, Rickie Fowler, Bubba Watson, Dustin Johnson, Justin Rose and Patrick Reed just to name a few right up there just behind. The age of young guns winning right out of the Web.com or Challenge tours is here with stars like Matt Fitzpatrick, Danny Lee, Justin Thomas, Emiliano Grillo, Smylie Kaufman set to vie with established veterans like Kevin Kisner, Graeme McDowell, Jimmy Walker and so many more.
Then of course the old guard comes into the story, with Phil and Ernie still competitive when they get their confidence rolling and what of Tiger and his inevitable return to the game he had dominatedfor fifteen wonderful years.
What a year and I haven't even mentioned the whole Canadian story with David Hearn leading the way for the men and I get back to Brooke leading the women..
First I wish all of you a wonderful Christmas with your families, then let's get this great season ahead off with a safe and happy New Year's.
All the very best
Bryan
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