Bernie’s Yearly Best, More Bizarre, Biggest Splash, Saddest & A New Year’s Wish

3 hours ago by 0

It’s that time of year for Bernie’s annual awards.

Bernie’s annual awards are not your run-of-mill awards, as you can go to any golfing website to find those.

This golf writer continues to be different in all the right ways, having hit the first golf shot on a golf course in 2000, played golf in near 50 different countries and has attended around 90 majors in the men’s professional game and again at year’s end, recognising some of the best, worst and more bizarre moments/incidents in season 2025.

And while there was no shortage of ‘best of’ categories there is a couple of firsts and also a sad tribute to a dear fellow Aussie colleague of mine who simply disappeared while on tour in Germany and has not been seen since.

Anyway, enjoy the read.

GOLFER OF THE YEAR ….

Rory McIlroy.

I was accredited to attend 2015 Masters. It was McIlroy’s third appearance at Augusta National and his 10th major championship showing. At the time I was writing for two Irish newspapers. McIlroy was a headline all week including post day one having become the youngest player at the time to hold the first-round Masters lead.

He then shot rounds of 69 and 70, giving him a four-stroke lead after 54 holes.

I had followed McIlroy around the famed ‘Golfing Cathedral in the Pines’ for those three days and thought as I got myself ready to walk a fourth round, what a sports story this promises to be.

Rory McIlroy – Bernie’s choice at GolfByTourMiss Golfer of the Year. (Image Channel 9)

Sadly, it was a story for all the wrong reasons with McIlroy posting an 8-over-par 80, including a triple bogey on the 10th and double bogey on the 12th hole. He ultimately finished in a tie for 15th, 10 strokes behind winner Charl Schwartzel.

I then journeyed some weeks on to the Congressional Golf Club in Maryland and a golf coure close to where my parents, along with my sister and younger brother had lived for three years while my father worked in Washington, DC.

It was the 2011 US Open and McIlroy was not to be denied leading from start-to-finish, winning a first major on Fathers Day thanks to a four-shot record-setting 72-hole scoring effort.

Forty-nine major appearances later and at this year’s 2025 Masters, McIlroy joined an elite club with a then membership of just five and with two of those, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, being two of the four he had surpassed 14-years earlier to capture his maiden major championship.

The jacket looks great on you, Rors.

BEST HANDFUL OF QUOTES OF THE YEAR …

Tiger Woods – As tournament host, Woods again was present at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.  He attended the media centre on the day prior to the commencement of the event and was cheekily asked by a member of the media, if he may be available to captain the 2027 USA Ryder Cup team.

“No-one has asked me about it”, Woods responded.

Tiger Woods at this year’s Hero World Challenge.  Image Golf Channel.

Rory McIlroy – After the greenside presentation formalities, McIlroy arrives at the Masters media centre proudly wearing his Augusta National green jacket.  He’s introduced to the gathered media as the 89th Masters champion and also as golf’s newest Grand Slam champion and firsts asked his thoughts at ‘this’ moment.

” I’d like to start this press conference with a question myself.  What are we all going to talk about next year? (Laughter).

“Look, it’s a dream come true. I have dreamt about that moment for as long as I can remember. I mentioned it out in the prize ceremony, but watching Tiger here in 1997 do what he did, and then winning his first green jacket, I think that inspired so many of my generation to want to emulate what he did.”

Shane Lowry –

Asked how he’s feeling immediately holing the winning putt on the 18th green for Europe to win the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Park (Black).

“I said to Darren (caddy) walking down 18. I said, ‘I have a chance to do the coolest thing of my life here’. And like, the Ryder Cup means everything to me, honestly. I’ve won The Open in Ireland. It’s amazing. It’s a dream come true.

“But the Ryder Cup for me is everything, like, and to do that there today on the 18th green in front of everyone, it was so hard out there.

“I mean, fair play to the U.S. lads. We knew they were going to come out fighting but yeah, I just hope one of the boys can get a half-point so we can get the win. Obviously we’ve retained the Cup but we want to win, as well,

Bryson DeChambeau – Asked post the Masters is it more frustrating knowing you felt like you did everything that you were supposed to do but it just didn’t work out?

“That’s why golf is the worst four-letter word in the world.”

Robert MacIntyre – Just a few weeks post being on the winning European Ryder Cup team and he wins the Alfred Dunhill Links at St. Andrews. He was asked does it get any better.

“I keep kind of shocking myself. I know the level that I can play and I know I can win certain golf tournaments but getting over the line and doing that is a different thing. It’s just so special to be able to play professional golf and win such big golf tournaments that as a kid, growing up, watching these events, you dream of playing them”.

Ryan Gerard  –  This past week and having already travelled some 10,000 miles to tee-up in the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, he was asked his thoughts should perform well what would it mean to compete in the Masters.  At tournament end, Gerard lost a play-off but the effort was good enough to see him jump from 57th in the world to 46th.  Good enough to earn a 2026 Masters invitation.

“It wasn’t on the Bingo card at the start of the season for sure, but it’s kind of a kick in the pants to come 10,000 miles from Florida and tee it up”.

Rory McIlroy – Hit a wild tee shot down the left side of the 14th hole on day three of the Austalian Open at Royal Melbourne, and finds his ball had come to rest on a banana skin that had been thrown into a large tuft of grass

“I mean, I shouldn’t have been there in the first place. It was in that little tuft of long grass, and then the banana skin over it”.

BEST HOLE-IN-ONE CELEBRATION OF THE YEAR … Alejandro Tosti

All golfers are thrilled to bits when they post a hole-in-one.

There’s the traditional reaction of both arms joyously stretched skywards, the high 5s, the celebratory jump into the air, the handshakes, the fist pumps, the slap on the back, the triumphant dance and so on.

However Argentinan pro golfer Alejandro Tosti earns our best hole-in-one celebration award for 2025 after his fantastic reaction to acing the infamous par-3 17th hole at the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass during his practive round ahead of this year’s Players Championship.

Of course, there was no flash-looking sports car or new house nor a cash prize for Tosti’s ace just the joy and, of course, the honour on the next tee, if the now ‘ shirtless and drenched to the skin’ golfer had chosen in playing the last hole.

BEST GOLF COURSE PLAYED … Kingsbarns Links

In nominating a golf course of the year, it is a golf course I was fortunte to play in 2025.

This year I delighted in playing some of the best known golf courses such as the Old Course at St. Andrews, Royal Liverpool, Wallasey and the Home of Stableford, Dumbarnie Links plus many, many rounds at my home club Crail Golfing Society while also the invitation to tee-up on the annual BMW International Open host course in Munich.

My golf course of the year celebrated it’s 25th anniversary in 2025.  I was proud to have been present in July to witness the handing over of a specially commissioned Graeme Baxter painting of Kingsbarns Links 15th hole to the club.

Twenty-five years earlier I had been also honoured to have attended the official opening of Kingsbarns Links on the Monday of the 2000 Open Championship being held that year at closeby St. Andrews.

The late Sir Michael Bonallack hit the opening Kingsbarns tee shot and seven days later Tiger Woods won his first Open Championship and a then fourth major title.  Daylight was second eight shots behind.

While a proud 25-year member at neighbouring Crail, Kingsbarns is my favourite so much so, even a struggling 15-handicapper like myself can manage a handful of pars.

The course and practice facilities are always in pristine condition while the staff from the owner Art Dunkley and CEO Alan Hogg and down to those who you meet upon arrival, the clubhouse and pro shop staff, and all those about the course and everyone was they are always so engaging and friendly.

Here’s to the next 25-years Kingsbarns Links.

A KARDASIAN LOOK ALIKE … Quail Hollow GC

So what does Hunter Mahan, Quail Hollow Golf Club and the Kardashian sisters have in common?

Simple answer – absolutely and categorially nothing.

Well, not till the week prior to last May’s PGA Championship when Mahan, who was not contesting the championship, was asked his opinon of the Quail Hollow host course that he was no stranger having teed-up many time in PGA Tour sanctioned Wells Fargo Championships.

Image Hunter Mahan – Getty

In his response to the Athletic the American delivered a brilliant gem of a reply.

“I guess I would say Quail Hollow is like a Kardashian. It’s very modern, beautiful and well-kept. But it lacks a soul or character.” 

Not sure if the any of the Kardashian sisters were approached for comment.

MOST BIZZARE MOMENT ON A GOLF COURSE …Bomb Disposal at Royal Liverpool

Now you could argue watching your author play golf can result in many bizarre moments.

Well, I had a few of those moments back in September when I teed-up at Royal Liverpool, and the famed course where the Open Championship has been played 13 times and more recently in 2023 when fellow lefty Brian Harman emerged the winner.

What was dangerously bizarre is what greeted Royal Liverpool Golf Club (RLGC) golfers a few weeks back when greens staff were undergoing course drainage work to the side of the eighth hole.

The greens staff unknowingly unearthed what turned out to be a World War 11 bomb, no doubt dropped by German bombers over 80-years ago during their relentless bombing of Liverpool in the early years of the war.

All credit to club secretary Simon Newland and his team, first evacuating the course and leading.

RIP TO THOSE WE’VE LOST …

Just learning earlier today Japan’s winningest male golfer ‘Jumbo’ Ozaki has passed away at age 78.  ‘Jumbo’ won a 114 times in his pro career and 94 of those on home soil.

Also heading to that great fairway in the sky in 2025 was Masters Champion Fuzzy Zoeller, J C Snead, Judy Bell, Ed Fiori, Jay Sigel, a hugely acclaimed amateur player and Dave Pelz, a putting & short game guru who taught many major champions.

Apologies if I have missed anyone

SADDEST MOMENT OF THE YEAR … Losing Ted Koala

In attending the Madrid Masters many, many years ago I took an afternoon off to visit the centre of the Spanish capital and here in a large department store, sitting up as proud as punch in sports section was a koala bear golfing headcover.

Of all the places to see a Koala head cover, I never thought I would see one of Australia’s more endearing marsupials to be staring right at me in Spain.

“I’ve got to have him in my golf bag”, said this Aussie-born golf reporter.

I named him Ted Koala. He had his own X (Twitter) account … @Ted_Koala.

Ted had his photograph taken at golf tournaments, golf courses, beside some of the famed trophies in the world … the Claret Jug, PGA Championship trophy, the Stonehaven Cup (Australian Open) and even Tiger Woods own ‘Tiger’ trophy for the winner of the Hero World Challenge.

The leading headcovers in golf – Ted Koala and Rory’s St. Bernard. Image @TourMiss (Not too sure who the guy in the middle is)

Ted even was photographed along Rory McIroy’s Saint Bernard driver headcover, a headcover Rorys revealed a few years back he’d had since he was 14-years old.

I had taken Ted with me to this year’s Hero Dubai Desert Classic and also the BMW International Open in Munich, as I had been extended an invitation to play the host course on the Monday following the event.

It was only a year or so ago Ted underwent some ‘minor’ surgery (smiling).  He had new paws fitted while he had his nose and eyes repainted and also some stitchwork on his back.

So, Ted was looking good.

Unfortunately, Ted went missing that week in Germany. Where? I don’t know. I rang the hotel, rang the tournament organisers but sadly no Ted.  He was just missing with sadly no word from him. Oh, what a sad day on that Monday playing the course.

He’d been missing in the past but that was always the fault of airlines what with luggage not arriving but Ted would eventually turn-up albeit a day or two late.

There’s a happy ending to this tale as I got on-line and found myself a new Ted and what a great few month’s it’s been.

It’s like the old times with the new rookie Ted there in golf bag and, just like his older cousin ever obedient and attentive.

He’s been sighted at Wallasey Golf Club and nearby Royal Liverpool while also on the Swilcan Bridge at the Old Course in St. Andrews (see image) and nearby at Dumbarnie Links, Kingsbarns Links and also our home course at Crail.

Happy days. The new Ted Koala crosses the Swilcan Bridge for a first occasion in October this year and the day post the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. PS:  And we combined to walk off the 18th with a super par.  (Image – @TOURMISS)

GOLFING WISH FOR 2026 …

I’ve not been one to make wishes heading into a New Year but come this 1st January I will be making an excepetion,

I have currently played golf in 47 different countries and on the six continents (smallest to largest) – Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia.

However it’s been close to three years since I notched-up a 47th country and that when I ventured from the UAE to Oman on a first visit in early 2023 and what an adventure it was.

I was included in the pro-am for the Asian Tour’s International Series event on the stunning Al Mouj course laid-out along the Arabian Sea.  Our professional was Japan’s Takumi Kanaya who brilliantly captured the tournament, his first success outside of his homeland.

Click on:  https://www.golfbytourmiss.com/2020/09/how-many-countries-have-you-played-golf-in-i-count-42-looking-to-make-50/

Since then, I guess I’ve got a bit lazy as there is some many countries within easy direct airline access from Scotland to such countries where I have not played golf including: Denmark, Norway, Finland, Poland, Sicily and Greece to name a few.

Now there’s six.

So, I’ve set myself a goal in 2026 of reaching 50 golf courses, and despite having failed maths all through high school, I reckon I only need three more to reach my target.

Stay tuned to www.golfbytourmiss.com 

Finally, if you’ve persevered with me this far a big THANK YOU all our supporters and we do so much appreciate your continuing support.

Wishing you the best for the Christmas festive season.

Bernie 

 



Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *