Christmas round-up 2004: Golf

TEETHING TROUBLES

In a poor year for New Zealand golf, unfortunately the most memorable accomplishment of the year was the infamous toothbrush incident involving an unusual application of said utensil and involving Ricky Kauika, Brad Iles and the unfortunate Kevin Chun. That, and a rash of other disciplinary snafus involving young golfers, led to New Zealand Golf getting it where the ball gets the No 1 Wood.

BOBBING BACK AGAIN

A man who has long put a slice of his considerable earnings into the pot for young New Zealand golfers, 68-year-old Sir Bob Charles, came through on a "farewell tour" designed to raise funds for melanoma. But he revealed that he has no intention of hanging up his clubs and gave a big smack to the march of technology and its effect on the modern game of golf - it's just not golf, he says.

RYDERING ALL OVER THE AMERICANS

For the seventh time in 10, the European team rode off with the Ryder Cup - and this year in record, crushing style. Their 18.5 to 9.5 win over the Americans - the biggest margin ever by a Europe team - shows that the Europeans are the undisputed leaders in team golf. Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia led the scoring with 4.5 points each - nearly equalling the entire score of the US team by themselves. Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Davis Love and Jim Furyk - all majors winners - couldn't cope with the determined and ice cool play of the Europeans, with Colin Montgomerie, Paul McGinley and Darren Clarke also showing out strongly.

VIJAY V-DAY

Tiger's tail-off was Vijay's victory. Woods, the man who couldn't be beaten and who would overcome all Jack Nicklaus's achievements in major tournaments, did not win a single regulation PGA strokeplay tournament. So Vijay took over and out Woods-ed Woods. At the end of the season, the Fijian-born golfer with the unbelievable work ethic became the first player in history to earn more than $US10 million in a season, won nine times on the PGA Tour (including the US PGA major) and, out of the eight tournaments he played between August and October, he won six of them and finished second in another. He also took Woods' world No 1 slot and lost his fear of playing against him. Their showdown next year will be fascinating.

PHIL'S LEAP

A leap out of the ranks of "best golfers never to win a major" and a joyous leap in the air approaching Olympic high jump levels marked Phil Mickelson's win at the Masters and his ascent from dorky, talented but headstrong loser to distinguished major winner. His form then dropped off noticeably. Retief Goosen won the US Open and Todd Hamilton became the second US unknown in two years to burgle the British Open.