With the season all but over for most of the world’s top golfer it is again opportune to announce my much-awaited 2104 award winners.

GOLFER OF THE YEAR – Rory McIlroy.

Two Majors, a first WGC title and capturing the European Tour’s flagship event leaves no one in doubt who was the most outstanding golfer of 2014.

Rory McIlroy also returned to No. 1 in the world, competed on a third straight victorious European Ryder Cup winning team as well as ending the year as European No. 1 and was also named PGA Tour ‘Golfer of the Year’.

He also collected the prestigious AGW ‘Golfer of the Year’ for a second occasion in three years.

SHOT OF THE YEAR – Jamie Donaldson, Ryder Cup, Gleneagles.

Jamie Donaldson not only pulled off the ‘Shot of the Year’ but it was shot of his career.  Staring at 146-yards to the green at the 15^th hole in his Sunday Singles match against Keegan Bradley, Donaldson put his 9-iron shot to just 18 inches to deliver Europe victory in the Ryder Cup.

“I knew the crowd was gathering and I knew things were coming down to my game.  I was just trying to win a point, and it was the shot of my life,” said the proud Welshman.

PUTT OF THE YEAR – Paula Creamer, HSBC Women’s Champions, Singapore.

What a putt to sink to end a more than three-year winless drought.  That’s what Paula Creamer did in holing a 75-foot curling eagle putt at the second extra play-off hole to defeat Azahara Munoz and captured the HSBC Women’s Champions event on the Sentosa Course in Singapore.

Video footage of Creamer’s winning putt has enjoyed over 985,000 ‘hits’ on YouTube.com.

And it was not only the putt that won Creamer praise, and in sealing a first victory since capturing the 2010 U.S. Women’s Open but the popular American’s reaction when the putt dropped.

“It’s one of those putts where if you get it in the right spot, it’s going to fall but then I could stand there all day and put that and I don’t think I could get it to within six, seven feet.”

BEST HELICOPTER FLIGHT – Trump International Links Scotland, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

The 15-minute flight in one of Donald Trump’s private helicopters over the stunning Trump International Links Scotland course to the north of Aberdeen was my only helicopter flight this year.

And after having played the course for a first occasion two days earlier it was a great experience stepping aboard one of Trump’s own helicopters to enjoy a bird’s eye view of the Martin Hawtree designed layout.

BEST DECISION OF THE YEAR – R & A to allow Women members.

It was always going to happen but the decision by over 75% of the R & A membership to finally allow women members was widely applauded.

WELCOME BACK TO THE WINNER’S CIRCLE – Padraig Harrington & John Daly.

It was a welcome return to victory for fellow Major Champions Padraig Harrington and John Daly.  Harrington finally corrected a slide down the World Rankings and ending a four-year winning drought in capturing the Asian Tour’s Indonesian Open.  Daly won for a first time in 10 years in a mini Tour event in Turkey.

BEST NEW GOLF COURSE PLAYED – Lake of Isles, Connecticut, USA

We came across the Lake of Isles by chance in travelling from the Barclays Championship and north on the I-95 to the Deutsche Bank Championship.

And to tee off first around 7am on the North Course, and one of two courses at the Lake of Isles, was akin to one of those Mastercard ‘priceless’ TV commercials.

See my feature story on the Lake of Isles:-

http://www.golfbytourmiss.com/2014/10/lake-of-isles-connecticut-golf-at-its-best/

BEST GOLF COURSES PLAYED IN 2014

Some of the best golf courses played in 2014 include:  Scotland – Crail, Kingsbarns, Trump International Links Scotland, Cruden Bay;  South Africa – Royal Cape, Steenberg, Princes Grant;  Ireland – Old Head;  Portugal –Old Course (Vilamoura), Vila Sol;  Turkey – Maxx Royal Montgomerie;  China – Tianma; UAE – Els Club, Faldo Course (Emirates Club).

BIGGEST JOKE OF THE YEAR – BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards.

The BBC Sports Personality Awards are a complete farce and the joke of the year after World No. 1 Rory McIlroy was denied the top award in favour of double F1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton.

McIlroy didn’t lose the award by a whisker but a massive 86,175 votes to Hamilton and this is after Hamilton considered McIlroy favourite for the award.

The BBC needs to take a serious look at the awards judging process because there’s something drastically wrong.

And that is also mirrored in the England Women’s World Cup Rugby, yes the England Women’s Rugby Team, winning team finishing ahead of the victorious European Ryder Cup Team in capturing the ‘Team of the Year’ award.

Does it have anything to do with the fact the Ryder Cup was covered so brilliantly by SKY Sports.

SERVICES TO GOLF – George O’Grady.

Questions still linger following George O’Grady’s confirmation he will be retiring from the European Tour but there is no question under his leadership the European Tour has grown enormously.

www.golfbytourmiss.com has always enjoyed a strong relationship and rapport with George and for this we are very grateful.  The Tour will indeed be the poorer with George’s departure.

BEST RENT-A-CAR OF THE YEAR – Chevy Camaro.                   

When Tour Miss returned to Augusta Airport to pick up a rent-a-car she phoned to say the only car they can offer is … ‘it’s something called a Chev, a Chevrolet um, um!’  I said: ‘A Chevy Camaro?  Take it, take it!’

We kept the car for five weeks driving from Augusta to Hilton Head and then onto New Orleans, Charlotte, TPC Sawgrass before returning it to Atlanta.

And I washed that car three times and I’ve never washed a rent-a-car.

BEST AIRLINE – Turkish Airlines.

Turkish Airlines again went overboard in first arranging travel to Belek to compete in the Home Internationals and then just under a month later in our coverage of the second Turkish Airlines Open.

The airlines sets new standards in attending to passenger needs and of course, it’s flying Business and First Class has its own rewards.

A very special thanks to Fusun Iklay from Turkish Airlines for her generous arrangements    

WORST AIRLINES – United Airlines.

We arrived too close to boarding for our scheduled 3pm flight from Houston to Atlanta and instead were put on a 7pm direct flight to Augusta.  It gave the airline some three to four hours to load our luggage on the new flight.  However when we got to Augusta there was no luggage.  One bag arrived a day later and it was then five weeks before I saw my suitcase.

BEST AND WORST SEAT AWARD – USS New Jersey & too many Media Centres.

The best seat all season was an easy choice – the Captain’s Seat on the USS New Jersey anchored on the Delaware River at Camden and just across the river from Philadelphia.

The worst seats … let’s just say that too many tournaments afford too little attention to seating in the media centre and including most recently the DP World Tour Championship and the Franklin Templeton Shootout.

BEST OTHER SPORTING EVENT ATTENDED – San Antonio Spurs –v- New Orleans Pelicans.

Nearly 20,000 fans, and probably 99% being Spurs fans judging by the noise, packed into the AT & T Arena in downtown San Antonio on the Saturday night of the Valero Texas Open to witness a one-sided match and with the Spurs easily winning 96 – 80.

Present at the match was five-time Major winning Phil Mickelson who was greeted by the Spurs coyote mascot wearing a green jacket.

The night was pure electricity from start to finish.

DUNCE OF THE YEAR AWARD – PGA of America.

The PGA of America wins the award as there is no other contenders after a decision to arrange an 11-man task force in the wake of the USA’s five point defeat at Gleneagles.

Jack Nicklaus called it ‘overkill’ while Billy Horschel, who should have been a member of the 2014 USA Team, referred to the task force as ‘political BS!’

Most others approached agreed it was ‘not rocket science’ why the American team have lost eight of the past 10 Ryder Cups.

The latest news is the PGA of America have drafted Fred Couples into the Task Force when the person to lead the 2016 USA Ryder Cup team is simple – Fred Couples.

BEST RESPONSE TO A QUESTION FROM THE MEDIA – Phil Mickelson, Ryder Cup.

It was a simple and straight forward question put to Phil Mickelson soon after the USA Team went down by five points the European Team at Gleneagles.

However the fallout from Mickelson’s response continue to reverberate across the length and breadth of the United States.

BEST HOTEL OF THE YEAR – Maxx Royal Hotel, Belek, Turkey.

For the second year running the Maxx Royal Hotel wins the award.

Everything about the hotel from the chocolate dipped strawberries and a glass of champers upon arrival to the expanse of the breakfast on offer along with the view out over the Mediterranean is wonderful.

MORE CONSIDERATION TO THOSE PROMOTING THE EVENT  – Hilton Head.

I’ve done away with a ‘worst tournament’ award for this year but if I have to single out one tournament and it is a message to those running the PGA Tour event at Hilton Head.

The officials need to lift their game when it comes to the needs of the media and starting by arranging buggy transport from the Media Center to the 18th green and not inform buggy drivers NOT to ban media from traveling in buggies.

As well, it is hoped that lessons will be learned after the tragic circumstances at this year’s Madeira Islands Open when affable Zimbabwean-born caddy Ian ‘Mac’ MacGregor passed away while caddying for Alastair Forsyth.

BEST HOLE-IN-ONE IN 2014 – Lee Westwood.

Lee Westwood won twice in Asia this season and he continued to show his fondness in pulling off the hole-in-one of the year.

Westwood found the bottom of the cup at the par three, 11^th hole on day two of the PGA Tour’s CIMB Classic in Kuala Lumpur.

Number of aces on 2014 Race to Dubai – 35.  Number of aces on 2014 PGA Tour – 19.

BEST HOLE-IN-ONE PRIZE – KLM Open.

England golfer Andy Sullivan won a trip into outer space when he aced the par three, 15^th hole on the final day of the KLM Open.

And being a new father, Sullivan was asked what his young son may now think of his father.

“He’s going to think I am the best dad in the world being a professional golfer and now being a spaceman, as well so it can’t get any better than that,” said Sullivan.

“I am going to have to pluck up some serious courage but I am thinking I am going to have to do it, as it’s a one in a lifetime opportunity.”

WORST MORNING GOLF RELATED TV SHOW – Morning Drive, the Golf Channel.

The worst aspect of travelling to report on golf in the US is being stuck in a media centre and having to put up with ‘Morning Drive’, the Golf Channel’s excuse at keeping abreast of matters in the world of golf.

The show, hosted by Gary ‘Motor Mouth’ Williams, is pure verbal diarrhoea.

And I so much want to stick a ‘shoe box’ over the head of Martin Hall.

WORST PHRASE  USED BY TV GOLF COMMENTATORS – ‘Outright leader’.

It’s what you get when you employ former professional golfers as TV commentators.

When will these so-called ‘experts’ do away with the phrase – ‘Outright leader’.  You are either ‘leading’ a golf tournament or you sharing the lead or you are lying second.

SOME OF THE BEST QUOTES OF 2014

“Hell no!” – Tiger Woods joking in response when Bernie asked during the course of the Hero World Challenge Pro-Am if the golf media will be offered a discount when Woods Jupiter restaurant opens early in 2015.

“I am not going to sit here and say that all the stuff going on off the golf course wasn’t a distraction and say that it didn’t affect me.”  Rory McIlroy on the eve of his first event of 2014.

“I’d be disappointed if I ended my career and wasn’t able to go up and have breakfast in the champions locker room”.   Rory McIlroy ahead of 2014 Masters.

“It looked like Martin Laird Airport there was so much posters and then to see my ugly mug on the JW Marriott room cards is incredible” – Martin Laird and the defending Valero Texas Open with his picture on some 5000 Marriott Hotel room cards.

“There’s no words to describe what it means to me, you need to be into my skin but I’m not going to let you!”  Miguel Angel Jiménez after capturing the Spanish Open and his 21^st European Tour victory.

“I do believe that’s I’ll win a U.S. Open.  I don’t know if it will be at Pinehurst this year.  Very well could be, or in the future”.  Phil Mickelson on the one Major he so desires to win.

“Mrs Doak is out here with me as this is our honeymoon, three weeks of golfing.”  Newly-married Chris Doak starting his season in Abu Dhabi.

“If you get engaged, you plan on spending the rest of your life with that person, so it’s a big decision but I feel like she’s definitely the right girl for me.” – Rory McIlroy two months after getting engaged.  Four months later the wedding was off.

“For years I’ve seen all the biggest trophies in the game sit proudly on the first tee during this championship. So, yeah, it’s an amazing feeling for that to be my turn now.”  Justin Rose on seeing his US Open sitting on the first tee at the BMW PGA Championship.

“If I hadn’t said anything and Rory won the tournament by a shot, that wouldn’t have been right and I couldn’t have lived with myself.”  Caddy Dave Renwick after citing Rory McIlroy for a breach of the rules on day three of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

“I got back home and didn’t play golf for about three days and just didn’t practice.  I must have been an impulsive teenager going through some hormonal issues.”  Rory McIlroy confessing at the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational he had considered giving up the game at a 16-year old.

“I’ve been taking pictures of it beside the TV and on top of the toilet and wherever it’s been.”  Rory McIlroy and his photographs with the Claret Jug.

“Hey Rory?  Do you mind if we can play through.”  Phil Mickelson during the Barclays Championship Pro-Am and first sighting of Rory McIlroy since the controversial final hole of the PGA Championship.

“I am under no illusions whatsoever so too are the players in my team but we are ‘gun ho’ and ready for this Ryder Cup.”  European Ryder Cup Captain Paul McGinley a week prior to the Ryder Cup.

“We nailed it.  We nailed it.  We nailed it as a team, that sense of bonding that the players had for each other”.  Paul McGinley three days after leading Europe to victory in the Ryder Cup.

“You can question my decisions. That’s fine.  But I made the best decisions I possibly could at the time I was making them.”  Tom Watson after USA Team loses 2014 Ryder Cup.

“So we then all piled into the US Team room and had a good time, and I can’t remember much after that other than I ended up in the kilt.”  Rory McIlroy in the aftermath of the Ryder Cup.

“I’m not try to be unkind but Stephen Gallacher looks a bit iffy sometimes, as he’s not sure.” Tony Jacklin left with egg on his face in making these comments at the BMW PGA.

“I was really better off when I was fat as I never got injured.”   Daren Clarke on the eve of the Valspar Championship and referring to his dramatic weight loss.

“So we went up and broke into room, and I got to try on some of his clothes and then I grabbed his shoes.”  Actor Bill Murray after Padraig Harrington headed to Carnoustie without his golf shoes on day one of the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

“I’ve got Rory McIlroy on my left and I am shaking the hand of Phil Mickelson on my right.  It’s very special for me.” Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal in winning the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

“This is April Fool’s Day and you’re joking aren’t you and you’re telling me the truth?” Steve Stricker smiling when advised Tiger Woods would not be contesting the Masters for a first time since turning pro.

“When I got there they really didn’t know who I was but they were excited about the green jacket, and also the free pizza.”  Double Masters champion Bubba Watson returns to his former high school in Bagdad, Florida to present a cheque for $35,000.

…. and on that note I wish everyone a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and good golfing in 2015.