AMERICAN GOLF WRITERS VOTE FOR LUKE DONALD, YANI TSENG

The Golf Writers Association of America have followed the lead of their "brothers" on this side of the Atlantic by naming Luke Donald as its male player of the year.
Englishman Donald, who won four times around the world and became the first player to win the money titles on the US PGA Tour and the European Tour in the same season, won 88 percent of the American vote to easily beat Keegan Bradley, Webb Simpson and Rory McIlroy.
The Association of Golf Writers in Britain does not vote for a female player of the year but the Americans do and Taiwan's Yani Tseng received 94 percent of the vote as the female player of the year after winning 12 times worldwide, including two majors.
Tom Lehman was voted senior player of the year.
They will be honoured at the GWAA annual awards dinner April 4 - the eve of the Masters tournament - in Augusta, Georgia.

Sir Bob Charles and his big-hitting son win the money ... again!

E-mail from Jim Hardie
 in New Zealand

Hello Colin,
I can tell you it is great to be enjoying some awesome weather down here in Wanaka, after the turmoil of Christchurch!
As I am nearing the end of a very different New Zealand holiday, today, I guess, summed up how some things simply never change !
Played at the Hills Golf Course in Arrowtown with a friend of mine, Arthur Dovey, ex-Air New Zealand pilot, and a very handy nine-handicapper, against the mighty Sir Bob (Charles), pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, and his son David, who works for the US PGA!
I have never seen anyone hit a ball as far as David. It was simply obscene. He was giving his famous father 50 sometimes 75 yards off the tee!
Suffice to say that Arthur and myself were always first to fire at the greens.
Undaunted by the distance behind, and aided by a couple of birdies from yours truly, and Arthur having a few net birdies, we found ourselves with a two-hole lead with just three to play, at which point, even I could perhaps be forgiven for thinking, gotcha Sir Bob!
Suffice to say the opposition managed to finish 3 4 3 which anyone who has played the Hills will appreciate, happens not too often in one's lifetime.
Anyway simple arithmetic will now tell you that Arthur and I lost by one hole with Sir Bob, of course, birdieing the long par 4 18th (427 metres).
Upon holing the winning putt, he turns to me and says, "Geez, Jim. I do believe you just lost."
He of course broke his age, again, for the umpteenth time, and I simply marvel at his ability, charisma, call it whatever, this is a legend!
You know what, after Christchurch, I said to my partner, it matters not we lost, it was a pleasure to be in the great man's company once more, whereas in the blink of an eye, the earthquakes could so easily have decided otherwise.
I am reliably informed that Sir Bob wishes to visit Scotland again this coming summer with the Trump course and Castle Stuart high on the agenda.
I can only relish the thought.
Best Wishes for the New Year to all your readers.
Jim Hardie