The first of the Major Championships in 2012 was a classic, settled by a two-hole play-off when Bubba Watson beat South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen after an amazing approach shot found the green after a disastrous tee shot left him deep in the trees.

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy were the favourites going into the US Masters though I had a sneaky feeling the long fairways were going to be perfect for Lee Westwood to win his first Major Championship. Neither Tiger or Rory were contenders, and Lee Westwood left himself short with some poor putting throughout the whole tournament.

The next of the four Majors will be the 112th US Open Championship in June, followed by The British Open (known simply as ‘The Open’) in July and lastly, the PGA Championship in the United States.

While Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer continue to jostle to be ranked number 1 in the world, all eyes will be focussing on the US Open which this year will be held at The Olympic Club, Lake Course on 14-17 June.

Rory McIlroy and Tiger woods are once again favourites ahead of the US Open, with McIlroy looking to defend his title and Tiger Woods (2000, 2002, 2008) looking for a fourth victory to equal the current record held by Scotsman Willie Anderson (1901, 1903, 1904, 1905) and American legends Bobby Jones (1923, 1926, 1929, 1930), Ben Hogan (1948, 1950, 1951, 1953) and Jack Nicklaus (1962, 1967, 1972, 1980).

Current golf betting has Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods at 8/1 followed by Phil Mickelson 12/1, Lee Westwood 14/1 and Luke Donald 16/1 with Hunter Mahan, Martin Kaymer, Adam Scott, Matt Kuchar, Dustin Johnson, Louis Oosthuizen and Bubba Watson at 33/1.

I can’t help thinking, if only Lee Westwood could be step up with his short game, it would only be a matter of time before he wins his first Major.  But equally, you never know when the Tiger is going to return; and I am confident it is when and not if.

He replaces Luke Donald and in doing so, becomes the second youngest golfer ever to be ranked world #1 begind Tiger Woods; and it was Woods who Rory McIlroy had to beat on the final day’s play after he had finished on a fantastic 62, putting the pressure on the young Irishman.

But McIlroy pulled through finishing on 69 after parring the first seven holes and hitting a birdie on the eighth.

Rory McIlroy won the Honda Classic finishing on -12, two shots clear of Tom Gillis and Tiger Woods.  Englishman Lee Westwood acored an excellent 63 to finish fourth overall.

The expectation for the young Irishman to deliver now appears to be bearing fruit.  But this year will prove to be a tough test for Rory McIlroy as Tiger Woods begins to put in some good performances and Englishmen Lee Westwwod and Luke Donald will be looking to oust the young Irishman.

Estonian Golf & Country Club

National tourism boom and Tallinn’s status as a European Capital of Culture drives new visitors to one of the continent’s Top 100 Golf Courses

Estonian Golf & Country Club experienced a 10% increase in overseas visitors throughout 2011 on the back of a tourism boom in the Baltic State.

Tourism across the country was up 16% compared to 2010, with visitors drawn from across the continent by the capital Tallinn’s status as European Capital of Culture and the fact that low cost airlines increased the number of routes into the country.

Hanno Kross, Estonian Golf & Country Club Chief Executive, said:

“We are seeing more and more visitors from overseas,particularly from the UK. With Tallinn a mere 25 minutes away people are combining a visit to the stunning city with a round of golf at our first class European Tour Course.

“Our total number of rounds increased by 7% in 2011 compared to 2010 – the appetite for golf in Estonia is growing and it is testament to the quality of our facilities that people are choosing to visit.”

Estonian Golf & Country Club – featured in Golf World’s Top 100 Golf Courses in Europe – has two outstanding courses, both hewn from an ancient archaeological site: the championship 18-hole Sea Course – a challenging layout that winds its way through forests before opening out alongside the Gulf of Finland and the Jägala River – and the links style 9-hole Stone Course.

A single Sea Course green fee in 2012 will cost 70EUR (£62), while those wishing to stay on-site can enjoy one of the venue’s luxury Golf Villas, which can accommodate up to 12 people, with prices starting from 167EUR (£138) per person, including two rounds on the Sea Course.

Visitors to Estonia from the UK doubled over the course of 2011 according to statistics published in a report by Visit Estonia, which also showed a vast increase in the number of visitors from Russia, Germany, Finland, Sweden and Denmark as well as substantial growth in tourists from Spain, France and the Netherlands.

Flights to Tallinn from the UK are available through Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) and EasyJet (www.easyjet.com) from Luton, Stansted, Liverpool, East Midlands, Edinburgh and a new route opening in April from Manchester.

For further details and a full list of stay and play deals visit www.egcc.ee.

Golfing holidays Europe is the most popular destination. Excellent facilities and pristine golf courses now litter Europe.  From France to Turkey, Bulgaria to the Spanish Islands. The choice has never been greater.

A quick day trip across the English Channel and you can be playing golf in France, enjoying some fantastic golf courses with beautiful views, enjoy some French cuisine and back home for supper.

France is large country that offers the golfer different options. A quick journey by train or ferry and you can drive to golf courses in Northern France in next to no time.  Or maybe you fancy a couple of days in or around the capital city of Paris.  The Alps offers probably the most beautiful backdrop of any golf course in France.  While southern France offers warmer climates and more time to relax.

If you are looking to getaway then you can be enjoying the Mediterranean Sea views within two-and-a-half hours.  Portugal, Spain and the Spanish Islands are cheap and easy to get to, especially this time of year.

Spain has always been the most popular resort for golf holidays in Europe; and with offers right now as little as £139 for three nights and three rounds, that’s not surprising.

Outstanding prices like these are currently available for Roda Golf and Beach Resort which is located in the Costa Calida’s Mar Menor.  It is on Spain’s south east Mediterranean coast and enjoys 300 days of sunshine a year it is the perfect location for a winter golf break.

Or maybe you fancy a golf holiday at the Hotel Almenara with its 27 holes of championship golf. The Almenara also offers no less than three 9 hole courses; Los Pinos, Alcornaques, and Los Lagos – each with their own unique challenges.

There are 1000s of great offers right now.  The best deal I could find was three nights and one round of golf at the Aroeira Resort.  The resort has two courses to choose from and is located 40 minutes east of Lisbon in a quite rural part of the Costa Azul. The Aroeira Resort apartments include wonderful views of the golf courses. Most apartments feature their own private garden with porch or balcony.

Golf holidays in Europe have never been so popular, and never been such good value.  Take a look and see just how cheap it really is.

I love a round of golf, but as much as I enjoy the game itself, I equally enjoy the relaxation, the fresh air, exercise, walk amongst countryside as an alternative to work and stress, the quiet over the madden crowd… and the sunshine and warmth on my skin. Equally, I prefer to play in a polo shirt, sunglasses and a cap rather than jumper, Gore-Tex waterproofs and a woollen hat.

Everyone agrees the perfect round of golf includes sunshine and a warm day.  But for me it’s more than an optional ingredient.  It’s as obligatory as several birdies, spectacular drives, and nothing more than 18 two-putts.  That’s a perfect round of golf as far as I’m concerned.

So relatively speaking, yes it is mild for this time of year, and this morning the sun was bright.  But the Mediterranean is where I want to be playing golf in Janaury, February and March.

Average temperature in The Algarve for this time of year is 15°C, increasing to 16°C in February, 18°C in March and steadily rising until a peak of 28°C in July and August. And though 15°C may not be overly appealing right now to some, it comes with more of a guarantee than the English weather.

The Algarve has been one of the most popular resorts for UK golfers for some time now; and due to the law of supply and demand, there are now more golf courses in this beautiful region of Portugal than ever before.  As well as choice, this also results in some great Algarve golf deals with offers for as little as £95 per person for a three nights, two rounds and bed & breakfast break.

Plenty of golf courses with a backdrop overlooking The Mediterranean, how can anyone not prefer to experience the sun, sea and relaxation on offer.

With flights only taking approximately two-and-a-half hours from London to The Algarve, gorgeous food, great accommodation, and top golf courses such as Parque Da Floresta, Tivoli Lagos, Penina, Tivoli Marina Portimao, Tivoli Carvoeiro, Pestana Carvoeiro and Val do Lobo, some with adjoining hotels.  What are you waiting for?

The winter months divide amateur British Golfers between those that play all year round, however cold or wet; and those who prefer to escape the winter with a holiday or golf break to warmer climates such as Turkey, Canary Islands and the Mediterranean.  Letting family and friends know your preference well in advance is a good idea when it comes to receiving Christmas presents.

Buying new golf clubs is an obvious choice for any keen golfer and in the main I am fortunate that most of my family know my clubs of choice.  Every golfer has particular fancies when it comes to which make and model he or she believes suits their ability and style.

The good thing about buying Christmas presents for a fellow golfer in the family is there are plenty of small inexpensive and useful presents such as golf gloves, socks, tees and of course golf balls.  But as for receiving golf clothing, well that might depend on your current plans as to whether you prefer a t-shirt and shorts or jumper and waterproofs.

Fortunately for golfers, we have had a mild winter in the south of England.  The north-east and Scotland have had snow but nothing on the scale of the last two winters where golf courses were closed over several weekends between December and February. Today is bright and dry, with nothing more than a breeze.  Perfect winter day conditions to play a round of golf; out in the fresh air, away from any family feuds and walking off any over indulgencies from the festive period.

For me, the worst thing about the winter months is not so much the cold, but the dark nights.  Like many golfers, it’s difficult to find the time during the day to play enough golf, so I have to play at the weekends with everyone else trying to book a tee time before mid-afternoon.  It’s not long before we will notice lighter evenings and the possibility of playing nine holes or even squeezing in a quick round in the evenings; and with it warmer weather.

Until then, you take your choice to play throughout the year through whatever weather, keep to the driving range, or book a mid-winter holiday break.

Donald added the European Order Of Merit, or Race to Dubai as it has become known, by finishing third in the Dubai World Championship yesterday.  The only player that was able to stop him was Rory McIlroy.  But he failed to win the event and finished 10 strokes off the lead following a poor final round. The event was won by Spaniard Alvaro Quiros, by two shots with an excellent 19 under.

The US PGA & the European PGA Tour Money List awards are given to the player who wins the most prize money over the course of a season. At his peak, Tiger Woods managed this feat in unofficially by winning European tour titles on an invitational capacity.

But for Luke Donald to achieve this twin award officially means he had to agree to play a minimum of 13 tournaments on the European tour and no less than 15 tournaments on the US PGA.

This massive achievement comes at the end of a great year for Luke Donald who, for the first time in his career was ranked world number 1. But without wishing to take the shine off what is truly a great achievement, I find it a little bit at odds that the number 1 ranked golf player and the winner of both the US PGA Money List & European Order Of Merit goes to someone who didn’t win a single Major in 2011.

There’s no doubting Luke Donald is one of the best golfers in the world right now.  But I want a number 1 ranked player to be the best in the world, someone who wins, a true champion, like Tiger Woods was in his prime.  Not a ‘steady Eddie’ who hardly ever three-putts.

While many pundits are still suggesting Rory McIlroy is the next Tiger Woods, It is Luke Donald that will celebrate Christmas after winning £4.19m in the US and £3,632,685 on the European Tour this year.

Rory McIlroy made an impressive comeback in the fourth and final round to win the Hong Kong Open today and with it keeps the pressure on Englishman Luke Donald for the coveted European Tour’s Race to Dubai championship.

Rory McIlroy won with a final round of 65 by two strokes with a 5 under score.  The 22 year old from Northern Ireland was delighted to seal the victory and told reporters:

“It is very special to win this. No matter how prestigious tournaments are, this is one of my favourites and I’m really happy to win it,” he said. “To be able to win a golf tournament when you are not at your best is something. Tiger Woods did this all the time. This is a great win, to come from behind and to be able to draw level and then close it out.”

There has been much pressure on the young Irishman’s shoulders since he turned professional in 2007 and eventually won his first major – the US Open – earlier this year.

McIlroy beat off challenges from France’s Gregory Havret who finished second, two strokes behind, and Sweden’s Peter Hanson on 9 under. Ian Poulter was looking to retain the title he won in 2010 and shot a good final round to finish joint fourth on 8 under with Scotland’s Richie Ramsay and Thailand’s Pariya Junhasavasdikul.

After failing to win the Hong Kong Open, Ian Poulter told reporters:

“It’s disappointing obviously. I came to defend and I’ve come up shy. I thought I had a chance when I got to 9 under, but I just flushed it on the 15th. It was a costly bogey at the wrong time,”

Last week Lee Westwood announced that he would be joining the US PGA Tour next year which I assume is to give him a better chance to win either the US Open or The Masters.  By doing so Westwood may forfeit the chance to win the Race to Dubai, based on the highest prize money on the European Tour in a given season, but the US is where the big money is.

If like Lee Westwood you are looking to win your share of prize money then why not check out the golf betting competition at BettingExperts.

They are offering a massive a £5,000 in a free to enter competition.  The competition covers all golf tips for major, minor tournaments including PGA and European Tour during the competition date. The top ten golf tipsters with the highest profit (measured in units) on golf shares the prize pool, which will be paid in free bets & prize giveaways. Tipster with the most overall gets the first prize.

Hanbury Manor Hotel & Country Club
A stately Jacobean mansion set in 200 acres of scenic Hertfordshire parkland, Hanbury Manor is the kind of place where the world stops a while and you can get your breath back. In situ there’s a Jack Nicklaus-designed 18-hole PGA Championship golf course which offers fairways fringed by ancient woodlands and picturesque water hazards. It looks beautiful and plays superbly and greens and tees are all to USGA specification – offering the best of putting surfaces and guaranteed great golfing all year round. As you’d expect, along with hosting keen amateurs on golf breaks, the course has also provided the setting for numerous major pro events including the European Tour Men’s English Open and the Women’s European Open. Once you’ve played your shots, unwind tired muscles with a massage or a steam in the hotel’s wonderful spa, relax in front of a log fire in the fine wood panelled library and dine on award-winning food in the Zodiac restaurant.

Meon Valley Hotel and country club
Meon Valley Hotel and country club is a modern style hotel close to Southampton. Surrounded by 225 wooded acres of rolling countryside on England’s southern coast, it enjoys a secluded environment near the motorway and is just over 1 hour from London. A plethora of streams, ponds and ancient oak trees offer an ideal setting for 27 championship holes of golf. Choose from the 18-hole Meon Course or the 9-hole Valley course. Both were designed by famous British golf course designer Hamilton J. Strutt. The hotel is also well located for exploring the history and culture of this corner of England; the historic old town of Winchester offers a glorious cathedral and ancient cobbled streets and the wild landscape of the New Forest is ideal for strolls and more strenuous hiking too. After all your exertions you can relax completely in the hotel’s top quality spa which offers scrubs, wraps, facials and more.

Sprowston Manor Hotel & Country Club
An attractive red brick country house hotel, Sprowston Manor combines historic Victorian charm with top quality modern conveniences. In its 170 acres of leafy grounds there’s one of Norfolk’s finest golf courses – 18 holes of challenging greens and fairways surrounded by rolling countryside. The club here also participates in Marriott’s family golf scheme which makes it ideal for all the family – offering free tuition, free clubs and free play for children under 16 when accompanied by a paying adult. Nearby Norwich is one of the UK’s best kept secrets for culture offering a stately Norman cathedral, ancient streets and surprisingly busy nightlife all wrapped around an atmospheric historic centre. But you may struggle to leave the hotel – fine dining to tempt the most discerning palate is on offer at The Restaurant 1559 whilst more relaxed contemporary drinking and eating is to be had within sight of the 18th hole at the ZEST Cafe Bar & Grill. The luxurious on-site Fontana spa completes the package.

If you fancy a golf break at one of these hotels visit the Marriott website for their best hotel deals.

Oakley You vs Rory McIlroy

After finishing joint third in today’s WGC Champions tournament in Shanghai, Rory McIlroy will be officially unveiled as golf’s world number 2 tomorrow.

Oakley are offering you the chance to play a round of golf against the current US Open golf champion, Rory McIlroy in the second of a series of great interactive video games.

The video sets scenarios as you play the famous Wentworth golf course. The set questions test your golfing prowess as you weave your way around the course making decisions as to which club to use and where you should be aiming your ball.

The answers you give affect the outcome of the video, which is shot in a realistic point-of-view style.

The video is the second in Oakley’s You Vs. series. The first, ealrier this year offered gamers the opportunity to race against the UK’s hottest cycling property, Mark Cavendish.

Rory McIlroy

Taking part in the game is fun enough, but by doing so you can enter Oakley’s exclusive competition too, simply by ‘liking’ the Oakley Facebook page. And if you are so good that you manage to beat Rory McIlroy over 18 holes, then you have the chance to be selected as the lucky winner who gets to meet Rory and have the honour of caddying for him, walking around the Wentworth golf course.

The You Vs. Rory McIlroy interactive video game is great fun and can be accessed from the dedicated Oakley microsite or the Oakley Europe Facebook page.

Firstly, Like the page, select some Oakley sunglasses to wear, and then start exercising your golf expertise for a chance to win a prize any golf-fan would go crazy for!

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