Subject: © Waterford News & Star, 2004.

Friday, January 09, 2004

A Glorious Golfing Year
By Ray Scott

AS THE curtain comes down on another year in golf, it is safe to say that 2003 has been one of the defining years for the game.

It was a year where equipment came to the fore like never before and the dramatic impact new technology has made to the sport has, perhaps, changed it forever.

There have been calls for limits of new technology as players drive the ball farther, using new clubs made of spacelike materials, balls that explode off the club face and take off like a rocket. The spring effect of new drivers looks set to be marshalled for the first time but advances in technology are rendering great courses obsolete as venues for professional events. One only has to think of the lengthening of Augusta National to see what is happening. This was never more evident with Ernie Els, who came out of the blocks like a train in January and February as he unleashed the new Pro V1x to the world. What followed was a dominance that brought the South African back to back wins in the opening events on the PGA Tour and before February was closed out, The Big Easy had added the Heineken Classic and the Johnnie Walker Classic titles to his sideboard as well.

He was attributing this success to the astounding increase in length brought about by the new ball - he claimed he was thirty yards longer, meaning he was two clubs better off for his approaches and suddenly the world was sitting and taking notice of this new ball. Titleist were quick to expound the merits of their latest masterpiece and by year end, the figures speak for themselves! 141 wins worldwide, over 15,000 professionals now play the ball and across all the tours, prize money totalled $254 million. The Pro V1x has revolutionised the game so much that there have been many calls for limits on ball technology. But is this the answer? So what if there are 15,000 players worldwide using the Pro V ball and getting the extra 20 yards or so. So what if the 150 best players each week on Tour make mincemeat of a great course. Because there are millions of ordinary golfers for whom the Pro V doesn't make a blind bit of difference except to their pockets when they lose them!

CARDS SECURED

Wexford's Damien McGrane enjoyed his first full year on Tour thanks to securing the last card at Tour school last season. His first cheque came at Qatar and he enjoyed a top four finish at St Omer in June as the big boys played the US Open. His biggest cheque of the season came at the Lancome Trophy where a top ten finish saw him pick up30,000 for his efforts. In the end, Damien ended up 140th on the money list and 22nd on the Challenge Tour and had to make the trip back to tour school. However a magnificent performance at Emporda saw him finish in third spot and he will be back on the main tour again this season.

Having claimed his maiden victory in only his fourth professional start back in 2002, much was expected of Graeme McDowell. His two-year exemption meant he was relieved of the stress of trying to earn enough to keep his card but he struggled for much of the season. His best finish was joint fifth at TPC of Europe in Hamburg where he earned just under100,000 for his four days. He had just two other top twenty finishes in Portugal and at the French Open and ended the season at 96th on the Order of Merit.