What a way for Ernie Els to end the season with a magnificent victory in the 100th South African Open.

And how ironic because it was not until a couple of weeks before his national championship that he found room for it in a very busy schedule.

Ernie finished on 25 under par which would have totally eclipsed any other field, but it was only just good enough victory as Retief Goosen came with a late charge to finish just one shot behind.

It was Ernie’s third victory of the year following his WGC win in Doral and success in Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill event.   Do not back against him winning a major in 2011, he still wants it that much.

Ernie led home a quartet of South Africans because Open champion Louis Oosthuizen ended his year with an outstanding third place, one shot ahead of Charl Schwartzel.   I can see a very useful and friendly rivalry developing between these two.

Special mention must also go to France’s Romain Wattel, who joined us after helping his country win the Eisenhower Trophy.   A fifth place finish will have alerted a lot of people just how good this young man is.   Watch this space.

If four out of the top five wasn’t enough, Thomas Aiken and James Kingston also finished inside the top 15 to ensure our year ended on a real high.

Congratulations too to Darren Clarke – watch him go next year – and Graeme McDowell who finished just behind Ian Poulter and Dustin Johnson in the Shark Shootout. Darren has also had a great finish to the year as he has just announced his engagement to the lovely Alison Campbell and I wish them every happiness in their future together.

It’s been a great year and I hope you have enjoyed following our fortunes throughout it.

Let me wish you all the happiest of Christmases and the most prosperous of new years.

Until 2011....