It was magic Monday for Europe as they won The Ryder Cup on a sensational final day at The Celtic Manor Resort.
As if they did not have enough Ryder Cup heroes already, Ireland came up with another amid amazing scenes at The Celtic Manor Resort - a real giant in Graeme McDowell.
Following in the famous footsteps of Eamonn Darcy, Christy O'Connor, Philip Walton and Paul McGinley, the 31 year old from Portrush won back the trophy for Europe when everything depended on him.
If McDowell thought he had faced the ultimate test of character when he won his first Major at the US Open Championship in June, he was made to think again.
"I have never felt as nervous in my life," he admitted.
Yet under such enormous pressure - this was the first match to go to the final game since 1991 - McDowell, back at the course where he won The Celtic Manor Wales Open four months ago, beat Hunter Mahan.
And he did so thanks to a dramatic 20 foot birdie putt at the 16th and then a par on the short 17th.
Gary Hallberg shot a record-setting 11-under 61 Sunday to win the Ensure Classic by one stroke ahead of Fred Couples.
Hallberg finished at 18-under 198, tying the event record at the Rock Barn Golf and Spa and winning his first career Champions Tour title. Hallberg bettered the final-round record of 62, set by Bob Tway earlier Sunday. Tway's round had surpassed the former mark of 64 set by Doug Tewell in 2004.
puregolf2010 is a story about the Kiwi ethos. Michael Goldstein and Jamie Patton two young Wellington lawyers who are travelling the world playing a different golf course every day throughout 2010. It was born out of a desire to challenge themselves, and a challenge it certainly has been In 2010 they will play a round of golf at a different course every day of the year, around the world. Along the way they hope to raise the profile of a fabulous youth program called The First Tee. It has proven to be very effective in teaching life skills to youngsters around the world, through the medium of golf.
Their journey started on 1 January 2010 at Kauri Cliffs and will finish on 31 December 2010 at Cape Kidnappers. A calendar year, no less. In between, they will travel through New Zealand, Australia, the United States, the UK, northern Europe and parts of Asia. Perhaps other countries too. Along the way they will play many of the world's best golf courses, meet a bunch of interesting people and generally experience life outside their comfort zone. The plan is also to raise a significant amount of money too.
puregolf2010, first and foremost, is an adventure. It embodies the truism that life is too short. Golf every day for a year...why not?
To date they have raise in the vicinity of NZ$15K
The legendary Laura Davies will return to Christchurch to defend her Pegasus New Zealand Women’s Open crown at the Pegasus Golf Course next February.
The former world number one took her professional victories to 78 after adding four wins on the European Ladies Tour this year.
Davies said she is delighted to defend her title at a golf course she enjoys.
“There was no question about coming back. It was a country I wanted to visit. It was a thoroughly enjoyable tournament and it is played on a course I thought was excellent,” Davies said.
The par 72 Pegasus Golf Course provides four sets of tees at each hole to offer challenge, enjoyment and a memorable playing experience for all levels of golfers. The course plays approximately 6300m from the championship tees to 5000m from the forward tees.
Holes are varied in length and direction, and the playing options require an array of shots. Generous fairways encourage unconstrained and swift play.
The course presents bunkers, lakes, and areas of natural wetland at varying distances from the tee. Alternate lines of play, and greens of varying size and undulation provide opportunities to consider strategy as well as test skill and accuracy – with receptive contouring rewarding the successfully placed shot