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Hats off to Espen

Posted: 31st October 2012

It’s not often that this column starts with Challenge Tour news ahead of the main event, but it has to be given priority this week.

Hats off to Espen Kofstad for his fantastic performance in Italy, not only in winning the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final champion but also topping the Challenge Tour rankings for 2012.

I am sure Espen, the first Norwegian to achieve the honour, will continue to distinguish himself in the sport and firmly believe his talent is such that it will take him to wherever he wants it to in coming years.

Espen was projected to finish fifth in the rankings at the halfway stage of the deciding event, but did not drop one shot over the weekend – an unbelievable achievement given the pressure he was under.

Joining Espen on the full Tour next season from Challenge level will be Simon Wakefield and Alexandre Kaleka, so all three have plenty to look forward to.

Out in China where the BMW Masters was being played in Shanghai, Louis Oosthuizen and fellow South African George Coetzee finished tied sixth behind Peter Hanson, while Lee Westwood may be the one to watch this week in Shenzhen at the HSBC WGC event after finishing with a last round 66 despite having been under the weather for most of the week.

Lee finished top-20, as did Charl Schwartzel, who left the event for a well-earned rest in South Africa.

And elsewhere, Florentyna Parker continued her progress tied for third at the China Suzhou Taihu Open. Well done all of you and keep up the good work.

"I am sure Espen will continue to distinguish himself in the sport and firmly believe his talent is such that it will take him to wherever he wants it to in coming years." - Chubby Chandler

Let's hear it for Europe

Posted: 2nd October 2012

What can I say? It was perhaps the most dramatic, exciting and unbelievable final day in the history of the Ryder Cup.

It should be 33 not just three cheers for Europe after an amazing comeback in Chicago saw Jose Maria Olazabal’s side snatch victory when all around were predicting defeat.

Europe trailed by ten points to six after the USA dominated the first two days, but as anybody who was at Brookline in 1999 will testify, that is not an unassailable lead.

But it had never been done before by a visiting team so I have no doubt that it was the greatest comeback of all time in the Ryder Cup and possibly any other sport.

The spirit of Severiano Ballesteros definitely lived on at Medinah and what a great touch to have the team wearing Seve’s trademark colours during the last round. Jose Maria may have had trouble holding back the tears and he definitely wasn’t the only one.

From Luke Donald’s lead-off win to Francesco Molinari’s match-winning half against Tiger Woods, Europe had heroes all through the card and I was particularly delighted that Lee Westwood weighed in with another point in the singles after some, who should know better, were writing him off.

Nobody will be writing Europe off ever again.

Congratulations also to Branden Grace who held off the challenge of ISM stablemate Allan Versfeld to claim his fourth title of the season at the Vodacom Origins of Golf Final at Fancourt.

Now I’m in Scotland for one of my favourite weeks of the year. The Alfred Dunhill Links gives me the opportunity to get back into the swing of things again, but I’m not sure I’ll be pulling off anything quite like what Europe did at the weekend.

Whatever happens, it’s going to be another memorable week.

"I have no doubt that it was the greatest comeback of all time in the Ryder Cup and possibly any other sport." - Chubby Chandler

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