He is about to face a selection dilemma, made all the more difficult by his own comments many weeks ago, that he would expect any European who were not in an automatic selection spot, to turn up at the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles to fight for their place. Well, four of the worlds best players, Padraig Harrington, Paul Casey, Justin Rose and Luke Donald are not in the top nine, but have decided to rely on a Captains pick! One of them is definitely going to be disappointed. However, if Colin sticks to his strongly held opinions, then perhaps all four will be getting bad news!

Indeed, it is not difficult to make a case for a number of other Ryder Cup hopefuls, just outside the automatic places. The hugely experienced Miguel Angel Jiminez was due to attend a family wedding, but as soon as he dropped below ninth place, changed his plans to tee up at Gleneagles. That’s exactly the sort of commitment Monty wanted!

How about the World Cup winning Molinari brothers; surely it would make sense to play these two together! Alvaro Quiros is one of the most exciting players in European golf, and a real crowd pleaser with his huge distance from the tee. The Welsh public , no doubt expect to see Rhys Davies, already a winner this year on the 2010 course, to feature.

The final selections promise to be fascinating; so too Monty’s explanation and justification of who and why!! Captain, my Captain!

However, what nobody seemed to mention was the absurdity of building a golf course with over 1200 ‘bunkers’. Perhaps this was due to the fact that the Pete Dye designed course is undoubtedly a great golf challenge with many spectacular and inspiring golf holes, but it did (on television at least) seem as if the vast majority of bunkers were entirely superfluous to the design of the course! St Andrews is well known for its bunkers, but there are only 90 odd around the Old Course, most very effective and strategically positioned.

Additionally, knowing that a uniform shape to a bunker is much easier for a Green keeper to attend to than an irregular shape, what on earth must the green keeping staff at Whistling Straits have to go through to keep hundreds of randomly shaped bunkers well groomed?

The television pictures from the ground based cameras made the course look wonderful and exciting, but as soon as the aerial shots came on, the course looked unnatural and unattractive, which became frustrating to see. The course has so much going for it in any case that the overdosing of bunkers was simply irritating, and how ironic that they were the centre of attention at the finale!

The explanation for Dustin Johnson’s penalty referred the unique nature of the golf course, and yes, it is certainly unique, but not very clever I am afraid!

Next up was Kingsbarns, which will be one of the best courses you have ever played. The course embraces the sea, and looks like it has been there for centuries, despite the fact that tons of earth were being shifted only 10 years ago. It has now received international aclaim, is the home of the Dunhill Links Championship, and is a new Scottish masterpiece. The beauty of the course is staggering, and holes such as the 3rd, 12th and 15th are unforgetable. Indeed, the whole Kingsbarns experience will live long in the memory, and words do not do the course justice.

Finally, a little way down the very same coast and in view from Kingsbarns is the Balcomie Links at Crail. Although in many ways providing a similar experience to its much younger neighbour, the contrast between this and the previous two courses is remarkable. The Balcomie Links has eight holes designed by Old Tom Morris, and now by modern standards is a bit short and a little quirky, but what a joy to play! Some outstanding Par 3’s and very tricky Par 4’s define the course, and provides a test of golf that is engaging, great fun and quite frankly, unmissable!!

It is always a privelege playing golf in Scotland, but this stretch of coastline has a series of dramatic, beautiful and inspiring golf courses which every golfer who loves the game should try and play if you get the chance!

The overriding memory of Oosthuizen’s superb victory will be is extraordinary calmness and control over the last 36 holes of the tournament.

Must be worth a try!

Just before the German footballers demonstrated their technical and mental superiority over the English, a young Englishman finished off another big European Tour event with two birdies in the last three holes to dramatically beat, a German, Alex Cejka!

David Horsey took a big step in his career to become yet another Englishman who has the confidence to step up win a big Tour event when he won the BMW International Open, and £333,030 to boot.

This really must be the year that Brits are all over the leader board at the Open, with any one of a possible ten genuine contenders taking the title! If that happens the World Cup in South Africa will be well and truly forgotten!

However, when it comes to achieving what has proved to be a task beyond even some of the greatest ever British players, winning the US Open, must surely rank as the most challenging test. Then add into the equation Pebble Beach, possibly America’s most celebrated golf course other than Augusta, where four of the best American golfers who have ever played the game, have been victorious in the past, and then the task is seemingly even greater. Add some not so encouraging facts; last Briton to win the US Open was Tony Jacklin at Hazeltine, and that was forty years ago; last Briton to win a Major was Paul Lawrie, and that was in 1999 at Carnoustie.

The man who has just managed this incredible feat is Graeme McDowell! He is the first Northern Irishman since Fred Daly in 1947 to win a Major. The Bug would like to congratulate him; we are particularly delighted because he has always supported us on www.golfbug.tv and is a charming easy going individual! His relaxed manner coming down the eighteenth last night, undoubtedly helped him conquer the pressure of history, and to elevate himself into the highest echelons of the sport.

Our prediction is that he will go from strength to strength, and challenge regularly for major trophies. It is also a very exciting time for Northern Ireland, as this victory will undoubtedly encourage his countryman, Rory McIllroy.

However, one sport where England is performing to an outstanding level this year (and it is hardly getting a mention) is golf. English golfers, and there are many, are winning in Europe and in the US. Has there ever been a year, following Lee Westwood’s victory this weekend in the St. Jude Classic, where there have already been three English winners on the US Tour? Add the fact that Ian Poulter beat another Englishman, Paul Casey, in the final of the WGC Matchplay, then that, with Justin Rose, is a very impressive quartet of Englishmen performing to the highest level in the States.

It is no less impressive in Europe, with Luke Donald, Simon Khan, and James Morrison all early season winners.

Let’s also not forget about, Oliver Wilson, Nick Dougherty, Ross Fisher and Simon Dyson who are all proven winners! Chris Wood and Dan Willett are another two great talents, who look set to break through soon as well!!

With Chris Wood and Lee Westwood going so close last year, and so many others in such good form, an English victory at the Open, is a distinct possibility!

Perhaps it’s time to focus on a genuine success story, and give the English Golf Union some credit, for spotting and nurturing all this talent?

The Bug though is particularly happy that one Ernie Els managed to win for the first time in a couple of years at the CA Championship last night! Three majors is scant reward for a man of his talents, and a career without winning the Masters would not reflect his standing in the game!

Another point of note, was that Ernie beat off challenges from Charl Schwartzel, Padraig Harrington and Martin Kaymer; none of whom are Americans!

American golf seems to be reliant on one man for star quality at present, whilst the rest of the world has an abundance of talent and personalities.

Let’s forget about Tiger for a bit and focus on the great things happening with players who honed their skills on the European Tour!

Our hero, in the red corner, is a cigar smoking, wine drinking, pot bellied charmer from the Mediterranean, closer to his 50th birthday than his 40th landmark. His opponent is a man who by the end of the year may be considered the best in the world, a man on the verge of confirming his outstanding talent. He is focused, ripped with muscle, and looking every inch a major winner! He is Lee Westwood! After 72 holes and three sudden death holes, Lee could not shake off the amiable Spaniard.

Sure, Lee rode his luck, and was clearly not firing on all cylinders; perhaps his mind was a few weeks down the road. No matter, a competitor of Westwood’s calibre never lets a prestigious title slip away lightly.

Miguel Angel Jimenez has proven on many occasions (many since he turned forty) that he is an exceptionally gifted golfer, with an excellent temperament and attitude to the game.

The real joy of this victory though, was for the game of golf; what other sport can genuinely claim that it can be played at any any level by all shapes, sizes….and ages!?

It was suggested in some quarters at the end of an extraordinary Open Championship last year, that had Tom Watson won at his age, it would be a sad indictment of the state of the professional game. The Bug was brimming with indignation when reading this nonsense; what could be further from the truth? Tom’s, and Miguel’s, achievements, along with so many more, prove to us that golf is the ultimate test of mental and emotional strength, as well as physical prowess. It is perhaps those with the greatest experience, as long as they are seriously talented, that are best able to deal with the pressures of professional golf. As more ‘old’ boys win, then the more it will be become expected, and as we know, the mental side of the game is so, so crucial!

What is so encouraging to all of us amateurs, is that maybe we can still improve in our forties, fifties and even in our sixties! What a great game golf is!

This very morning the tabloid newspapers are suggesting that wife Elin has presented Tiger with an ultimatum, ‘golf or me’. Hardly surprisingly the lady is not thinking clearly; waking up every morning to a new revelation of Tiger’s antics must be disconcerting to say the least, but Tiger giving up golf!!..you must be joking.

He has not powered his way to 14 majors and only 4 short of equalling the Golden Bear’s record, to suddenly become a full time family man. No, when the dust settles, which may be a while yet, he will resume his assault on his one main driving force, to go down in the record books as the best ever golfer.

However, there must now be doubt whether what once seemed an inevitability will now actual materialise. Winning one major is a fantastic feat in itself…ask Colin, Sergio, and Lee, and many outstanding golfers, including proven Major winners have taken a whole career to accumalate less.

Tiger’s flawless image is gone for good; when he next steps out on the fairway he will be a very different man, and he will be perceived in an entirely different way by golf fans and fellow pros alike. How this will effect his mental approach to the game will be very interesting; will his rivals feel less intimidated?

Add this to the fact that he has not won a Major since his knee operation, and you have a situation which must surely make the previously imperious Tiger begin to have doubts. The drama may only just have begun!