Ewen Murray hails World No. 1 Lee Westwood - and looks forward to a wild time at Leopard Creek.
Westwood deserves to be top of the tree, says Ewen
Having known Lee Westwood for most of his professional career, I was privileged to see one of his greatest triumphs at Sun City last week.
It was a golfing masterclass over the four days at the Gary Player Country Club and his finest year ended on a high. Down the years, Cliff Richard and other stars have battled to hit the top of the charts, this year Lee is the Christmas number one.
He deserves all the credit for his diligence, his spirit and desire to reach the summit of the game and didn't he do it in style last Sunday?
His chip in at the 18th produced one of the loudest cheers I've heard on a golf course as 40,000 spectators shared his moment of joy.
Lee will of course have much competition to stay at the top of golf's rankings at the start of 2011, but since he hit the number one spot he has looked comfortable. He has embraced the lofty position and his golf over the four days at Sun City was quite simply superb. He can now enjoy a happy festive period with his family, get more rest in so that his leg injury can fully heal and concentrate on the start of the new season.
Much is talked about him winning a major to fulfill a career that spans close to 20 years. It's hard to win one of these as there are only four in a season. You have to be 100% fit, be at the top of your form and have things go your way.
Westwood's answer has always been consistent: "I will continue to try and improve and see where that takes me." Having witnessed the excellence of last week, it will happen.
He has remarkable patience and he has a long game that is suited to any major venue. His chip in at the 72nd hole last week will do much for his confidence because if there is a slight weakness in his armory, it is there. His improvement in that department will have much to do with confidence as opposed to technique.
Last week, he was in a class of his own, this year he has been the most consistent player in the game and he sits proudly at the end of the year where he belongs.
At this point I would pay tribute to his caddie and close friend, Billy Foster. I have known Billy since he started on tour and like his boss he is at the top of the tree, a lad who knows what to say at the right time and one who has gleaned as much information as he could throughout his career.
Like Lee, he is quiet and unassuming, yet nothing gets past him. He is aware, sharp and more than anything calm under pressure. No wonder when Tiger lost Steve Williams for a week, his first call was to Billy.
On the subject of caddies, Ernie Els has parted with long time bag man, Ricky Roberts. His South African caddie, Simon will have the bag in his national open next week in Durban and the three-time major winner will employ Zimbabwean, Mike Kerr from the start of next season. Mike is similar to Billy and I suspect he and Ernie will form a successful partnership starting in Hawaii in January.
Journey
I hope you enjoyed the Nedbank Challenge last week and I'm sure you were aware that myself and Ken Brown were part of an international commentary team.
It was good to be alongside Ken again after a gap of over 10 years. He works hard and has a wonderful knowledge of his sport. The course at Sun City is one of the world's best and when the pins are tucked away as they were on Sunday, it is a fearsome test.
This week, I have made the journey to Mpumalanga for the Alfred Dunhill Championship.
Having left Sun City after the close of play on Sunday, I travelled to Johannesburg and stayed with an old school pal from Edinburgh for an evening of reminiscing. On Tuesday, I left Joburg and headed east to the Kruger National Park and after a 45 minute journey from Nelspruit arrived at Leopard Creek, our venue for the first event of the 2011 European season.
This is a marvelous place to be, but it has its pitfalls unless you understand that this area belongs to the wild game of the Republic.
The Kruger is about the size of Wales stretching from the borders of the Kingdom of Swaziland all the way up to the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe.
As I write this column from the verandah of the Buhala game reserve, I see three lions drinking water from the banks of the Crocodile River. On the other side, there are buffalo, rhino hippo and giraffe grazing along with hyena and wild dogs. If you are lucky you will sight the mighty leopard despite their secrecy.
My co commentator this week was born to the north of here. Tony Johnstone began his life in the bush of Bulawayo and his heart remains here. I'm always embarrassed that when a bird, one of 10,000 species they have in Southern Africa comes on the screen, I have no idea what to say. I'm sure it annoys you at home.
But this week during our coverage we have a powerful high camera that will now and again focus on the park and Tony will not only tell you what it is, he will enlighten you on how it survives in the jungle.
Even if you are not a serious watcher of golf, tune in over the four days and see how this magical part of the world operates. I promise you will see the "big five" and much more. These are not animals in capture they are living in their natural habitat. This is their domain and that's something you must always remember.
Graduates
With the Challenge Tour finished for the year, we will see the successful graduates of the past 12 months begin their careers on the main tour.
This week and next in Durban is hugely important for them. A fast start is necessary for them to accumulate points before the spring re-rank and their goal is to ensure they retain their cards for the following year.
This is where Alvaro Quiros began his career four years ago and Spain's Pablo Martin defends the title he won, while on holiday last December.
Whereas the big boys take a well earned rest, this is an important exam for many.
The man who created Leopard Creek is rightly proud of what is an impressive lay out.
Johann Rupert is one of golf's great supporters both amateur and professional. He has a house by the fairways as does Jack Nicklaus and Ernie Els. There is no place like it, but if I'm honest, I never feel totally at peace here. Along with all the other magnificent creatures that survive in the Kruger are bloody snakes! Now I have a phobia of them and the spitting cobras along with the mambas are prevalent in the bush.
I love my job as you know, but I'm never happier than when I return to base and sit down to enjoy a glass of Meerlust Rubicon. I understand that, but not snakes. Last year, I had a lizard that stayed in my room for the six days. He was a nice reptile that never bothered me and he devoured the mosquitoes.
In fact I adopted him as a pal naming him Larry and I'm rather sad to see he's not here this year. The Kruger is unique and if you have the opportunity, you need to experience it.
Award
Congratulations to Matteo Manessero, our "rookie of the year" but what was the PGA Tour thinking of when they give their award to Rickie Fowler?
Rickie is a fine young player who is still looking for his maiden victory. Rory McIlroy set their tour alight and won at Quail Hollow with a final round of 62. Is it because Rory has committed himself more to the European Tour than the US next year? Surely not!
No wins for Tiger in 2010 but the signs are that he is on the way back. Well done to Graeme McDowell for his stellar season. Having started the year at 39th in the world rankings he now sits proudly inside the top 10.
2011 should be a wonderful year for golf, but before that, enjoy the natural beauty of Leopard Creek.
