As 2010 comes to a close, we can reflect on what has been something of a roller-coaster ride in the world of golf. From the nail-biting excitement of the Ryder Cup and Tiger Woods' infamous personal shenanigans, to perhaps the most significant event of the year: the retirement of Lorena Ochoa in May – only 28 years old and she had been ranked world number 1 for over 3 years!
One thing that has been consistent, however, is that the power in golf has been steadily moving from America to Europe. First off, we saw the toppling of Tiger Woods from the number 1 spot, as Lee Westwood ended his 281-week streak to take the top spot for the first time.
Even more encouraging than this were the spectacular performances from Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell and Germany's Martin Kaymer: both claimed major championships and multiple titles, with McDowell becoming the first European to win the US Open for 40 years.
Of course, the icing on the cake came at Celtic Manor, where Europe wrested the Ryder Cup from America's mighty hands, with the glory falling on McDowell in the tense final moments. All of this suggests to that Europe is very much the new powerhouse in golf. How long this continues, remains to be seen.
Wishing you a merry Christmas, and here's to an equally exciting 2011!
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