Here we are in Miami, one of my favourite stops on the calendar, for a World Golf Championship event which will see Ernie Els defending the crown he claimed 12 months ago.

As the build-up to Augusta gathers pace, the Cadillac Championship promises to be one of the best tournaments of the season as all the world’s best players gather together for the second time this year.

The Blue Monster looks like living up to its name because the wind is threatening to blow consistently throughout the week. Several of our players were given a feeling of what to expect last week when West Palm Beach played host to the Honda Classic.  The conditions were very tricky although all our representatives made the cut and gained valuable play time, particularly Ernie, who had had one of the longest winter breaks of his career before returning in Tucson.

Charl Schwartzel was our top finisher in 14th place and I expect him to go well again this week in his bid to go one better than last year when he finished runner up to his fellow South African. This is Charl’s debut season as a US Tour member and I would not be in the least bit surprised if he wins somewhere down the line, even as early as this week.

Now I’m off to South Beach which really is a mecca for people watchers.  There are some amazing sights to behold. One thing I haven’t seen yet is photographic evidence of all the  bonefish Darren Clarke keeps tweeting that he’s caught in The Bahamas.