Canadian girl leads Junior Orange Bowl golf

Brooke Henderson of Canada shot a 72 to tie for the second-round lead at the Junior Orange Bowl.

Canada is not tremendously noted for producing good golfers. Only a few come immediately to mind, such as Mike Weir, George Knudson and Dave Barr.

There’s a good reason for the sparseness: It’s cold and icy a decent chunk of the year in Canada. Not ideal conditions for golf.

Brooke Henderson, one of the world’s top juniors at age 16 and a Canadian, wants to break the trend and prove that her country can produce standout golfers.

She has taken a step toward that goal by shooting a 72 Saturday following her first-round 68 Friday for a 2-under 140 total that moved her into a tie for the lead in the Junior Orange Bowl International Championship at Biltmore Golf Course. Soyoung Lee of South Korea also was at 140 after rounds of 66 and 74, and one more stroke back was Megan Khang of Rockland, Mass.

“No, the weather is not ideal,” Henderson said of Canada, “but good golfers can come from there. It can be done.”

That said, she admitted, “I do quite a bit of traveling during the winter months.” That traveling would be in a southerly direction.

And that’s why she finds herself at the Junior OB, accompanied by her big sister and parents.

It was big sister Brittany that introduced Brooke to the golf world.

“She played on the Canadian National Team and played in college at Coastal Carolina,” Brooke said of Brittany.

Currently, the two are “very friendly competitors” on the golf course, according to Brooke. “It’s lots of fun playing her. We’re pretty close in ability. She teaches me a lot.”

Brooke, who started golf when she was 5 or 6, is now a high school junior and on the verge of visiting colleges. She’s not revealing where she might go but admitted with a smile it would be south of Canada.

After college, Brooke — who is 5-4 and 145 pounds and averages around 260 yards with her drives — would like to play professionally

“I love everything about golf,” she said. “It teaches you so much, particularly values.

“I never get tired of the game. If I ever need to take some time off from golf, I right away start missing it.”

Brooke has two holes-in-one to her credit, one in Ontario followed by another in Quebec. She was 12.

And she proudly added, “They came three days apart.”

In Saturday’s boys’ play, Italy remained atop the leaderboard. Renato Paratore shot his second 67 for an 8-under 134 and a four-stroke advantage over Belgium’s Alan De Bondt (69-69—138), Venezuela’s Jorge Garcia (69-69—138) and Chile’s Guillermo Pereira (67-71—138).

Although Garcia is representing Venezuela, he lives in South Florida and plays for Plantation American Heritage High in Broward County.

Of his two 67s, Paratore described the state of his game, “All of it is great. It’s all working — irons, putting, driving. Everything.”

Heading into the final two rounds on Sunday and Monday, does Paratore think he can win the championship?

“Sure,” he said confidently. “That’s why we came here. To play golf and try to win.”

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/12/29/3841658/canadian-girl-leads-junior-orange.html#storylink=cpy

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Our Favorite Viral Videos Of 2013

From commercials to unusual shots, we count down our favorite 25 viral videos from an eventful year in golf

Where did the epic Woods-Palmer EA Sports commercial, "The Rumble," rank in our list?

A lot happened during 2013 in golf, and fortunately, most of it was recorded on video. What clips stood out for you? We'd love to know -- not that it will change our minds. So, without further ado, here's our list of the 25 best viral golf videos of the year.

25. "Sammy The Squirrel"

Tiger Woods may have been the MVP of the U.S. squad at this year's Presidents Cup, but "Sammy the Squirrel" wasn't far behind. Here, the two meet, thanks to Woods' girlfriend, Lindsey Vonn. Something tells us Woods didn't take the little guy home with him afterward.

24. Rory McIlroy vs. the trash-talking robot

It wasn't McIlroy's best year of performances in tournaments, but he still managed to light up the screen with a handful of entertaining commercials. Here, he takes on a trash-talking robot.

23. Club pro makes SportsCenter

We tried to avoid great shots for this countdown, but when a club pro earns the No. 1 spot on ESPN's top plays, we'd say that's pretty viral. Congrats to Labritz on not only hitting the shot of his life to qualify for the PGA Championship, but being lucky enough to have it caught on video:

22. Phil Mickelson falls on his butt at Pebble Beach

We love Phil, but seeing him fall while looking for a ball in the Pacific Ocean was hysterical/amazing. Did he actually think he would hit a shot from down there? Oh, right, it's Phil. Of course he did.

21. Ben Crane makes fun of himself

Golf's surprising funnyman added to his collection of amusing videos by making fun of his reputation for being a slow player. In the video, Crane sees a therapist about being slow at other daily activities like driving and brushing his teeth. We'd still like to see him pick up the pace on the course, but we love that he's willing to poke fun of himself on this issue.

20. Euro Tour player strips down to hit shot

What a year for Henrik Stenson. Not only did he become the first golfer to win both the FedEx Cup and Race to Dubai in the same year, but he's also not the only golfer known for hitting a shot in his underwear anymore. We present Andreas Harto:

19. Golf Boys "2.Oh" music video

Many have been critical of this group's musical/dancing talents, but we enjoyed its second music video more than the first, thanks in part to a seemingly high budget. We also give these guys a lot of credit for being so comfortable in their own skin, especially considering none of them are what you would call physical specimens.

18. Jason Dufner's pep talk to Auburn football

This story just gets better and better. Dufner visited the Tigers before the college football season started to give a pep talk to his alma mater, which went just 3-9 the season prior. Two miracle wins and another victory in the SEC title game, and Auburn finds itself a surprising participant in the national title game. Dufsanity! What can't this man do?

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What they said about Woods in 2013

When it comes to Tiger Woods, everybody has an opinion. And this year, with his rules controversies and five wins, Woods provided plenty of opportunities for others to express opinions about him. Some, as you'll see, were more vocal than others. 

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Newsmaker of the Year No. 2: Tiger Woods

Let's face facts: From the moment that big golf ball in Times Square dropped at midnight to commemorate the beginning of 2013, Tiger Woods was a virtual lock to make GolfChannel.com's list of newsmakers of the year.

If he returned to glory, winning five times and regaining his standing as the world's No. 1-ranked player, he'd make the list. If he failed to win a major for a fifth straight year, his pursuit of Jack Nicklaus continuing in a holding pattern, he'd make the list.

As it turns out, both scenarios came true.

It was more best of times than worst of times for Woods this year, but his not-so-Dickensian tale continued in the form of his most Woodsian performance in nearly a half-decade.

Woods competed 19 times around the globe in 2013, winning at a 26.3 percent clip that nearly mirrors his career number. That includes victories at old stomping grounds Torrey Pines, Bay Hill, Doral and Firestone, with a second career title at the pesky Players Championship serving as his coup de grace during a campaign that netted a record 11th PGA Tour Player of the Year award.

Following his final appearance of the year, a runner-up finish at his own Northwestern Mutual World Challenge during which he was uncharacteristically caught from behind by Zach Johnson and even more uncharacteristically missed a par putt in the playoff to lose, Woods was asked to assess his results.

“Pretty damn good year,” he said matter-of-factly. “Five wins and, you know, on some pretty good venues, so very pleased with the year.”

After a down period due to injury and personal scandal that saw him drop to as low as 58th in the world, Woods supplanted Rory McIlroy as the No. 1-ranked player with his third win of the season at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, his eighth career victory there, tying the all-time single-tournament PGA Tour record.

It wasn’t all glory for Woods, though. At the major championships – the four tournaments upon which he so often maintains that he measures himself – he finished T-4 (Masters), T-32 (U.S. Open), T-6 (Open Championship) and T-40 (PGA Championship), solid performances for most mere mortals, but further disappointment for one still chasing Nicklaus’ elusive mark.

While this year will be grouped in with the previous four as another failure to push closer to that record, it will be remembered more specifically as the year of the rules controversies.

In Abu Dhabi, he took an improper drop that was deemed a penalty and led to a missed cut. At the Masters, another bad drop after hitting the flagstick and seeing his ball carom into the creek guarding the 15th green led to a disputable penalty that kept him in the tournament based on a decision by the rules committee. At the Players, he drew further criticism when his tee shot on the fourth hole of the final round snapped left and some believed he gave himself a favorable drop. And at the BMW Championship, Woods maintained his ball only oscillated after moving debris from behind it, while slow-motion video evidence showed a slight movement; he was assessed a penalty prior to signing his scorecard.

There were even controversies over the controversies. Nick Faldo, working for CBS, was among those who suggested Woods should withdraw following the Masters ruling. Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee wrote in a Golf.com article that Woods was “a little cavalier with the rules.”

Conversely, it was also a year during which he opened up and showed more of his personal side for the first time since a widely publicized divorce. In March, he announced that he and world-class skier Lindsey Vonn were dating. While they didn’t exactly do the talk-show circuit together, they weren’t living in total private, either. From hanging on NFL sidelines together to Woods attending her skiing events to Vonn placing a squirrel on his shoulder at the Presidents Cup in the ultimate YouTube moment, the high-profile couple hardly kept a low profile. Hey, she even called him “dorky-goofy” in a live television appearance.

That wasn’t the only sign of transparency. Following his victory at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, with the cameras still rolling, Woods’ four-year-old son Charlie embraced him in celebration for the first time.

“This was the first win he’s ever been at,” Woods later explained. “That’s what makes it special for both of us. He’s never seen me win a golf tournament.”

Chances are, he’ll see him win again soon. Woods will enter 2014 still in pursuit of Nicklaus, and much closer to the all-time victory record of Sam Snead, needing two wins to tie and three to claim sole possession of the mark.

The smart money says it will happen early, with Woods prepared for another successful campaign. One thing is for certain: Whether it’s another Player of the Year type of season or he falters, he’ll find his name on this list of newsmakers once again next year.

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Tiger's year measured in world ranking points

(AP) -- Along with victories, money and scoring average, another way to measure the strength of a golf season is total world ranking points. Tiger Woods won that category, too, but just barely over Henrik Stenson. A closer look reveals it was not really that close.

Woods earned 488.75 points this year, only 3.65 points ahead of Stenson. Adam Scott was third, more than 100 points behind.

The difference, however, is that Woods played only 19 tournaments that awarded world ranking points. Stenson played 31 tournaments. Woods earned an average of 25.7 points for every tournament he played, compared with 15.6 points for Stenson.

This is nothing new for Woods. He tends to play the toughest courses against the strongest fields. He also helps to make the field strong as the No. 1 player in the world. And while he doesn't play often, he plays well when he does tee it up.

"Most of my events I play in the majority of my career have been on the more difficult venues, and against the better fields," Woods said this month. "And now that we have not just the majors and The Players, but we also have the World Golf Championships ... and also the playoffs at the end of the year, you're getting the top players to play together more often. And I'm very proud of my overall record, especially in the bigger events."

Here's another way to look at it - the 19 tournaments worldwide Woods played this year offered an average of 72.7 points to the winner.

All of this made perfect sense to Ian Poulter, a student of the world ranking.

"How many events has he played, 19?" Poulter said. "So he's got four majors, three World Golf Championships (Woods skipped the HSBC Champions), four FedEx playoff events. If you look where he plays, they are all the events where the top players are playing. You would theoretically say he's got a good chance to earn a lot of points. But he has to play well."

And that he did.

MORE ON THE RANKING: The top 28 players in the world ranking at the end of 2012 were PGA Tour members this year, which made the gap between the PGA Tour and the European Tour even wider in measuring strength of field.

The average reward for PGA Tour winners was 56.2 ranking points, compared with 43 points on the European Tour. That includes the majors and World Golf Championships for both tours. Remove those eight big events, and the average was 47.3 points for PGA Tour winners compared with 33.1 points on the European Tour.

Except for the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, which gets a bonus as the flagship event, the strongest field on the European Tour was in Abu Dhabi (54 points). The PGA Tour had nine events with a stronger field. The Barclays and Deutsche Bank Championship led the way, offering 74 points each. That's to be expected because they start off the FedEx Cup playoffs. Of regular events, the Memorial gave 70 points to the winner.

KERR BECOMES MOTHER: Two weeks after the LPGA Tour season ended, Cristie Kerr became a mother for the first time.

Mason Kerr Stevens was born Dec. 8. Kerr and her husband, Erik Stevens, had the child through surrogacy because of what Kerr said were "personal medical complications precluding us from traditional pregnancy."

"We would like to send out a special thanks to all the people who helped make this miracle happen," Kerr said.

POULTER THE PEACOCK: The putt turned out to be meaningless, though Ian Poulter didn't know that when he stood over a 15-foot par putt on the 18th hole at Royal Birkdale in the 2008 British Open.

In a final round of whipping wind at Royal Birkdale, he was two shots behind Padraig Harrington, who still was a couple of holes behind him. Poulter had reason to believe that a par for a 69 might be good enough to win. Alas, Harrington hit 5-wood into 4 feet for an eagle on the 17th to secure a four-shot win.

But it was Poulter's reaction to the moment that showed the peacock in all his glory.

Poulter was talking about his ability to make big putts - mostly in the Ryder Cup - a few weeks ago at Sherwood Country Club when he recalled that par putt. He was sizing up the situation when he called his caddie, Terry Mundy, over to him.

"I can remember calling Terry in from the other side," Poulter said. "He hadn't read a putt all week, and I've asked him to come in. He says, `What do you want?' I said, `Do you remember when you were a kid on the putting green and said I've got a putt to win the Open?' He says, `Yeah, all the time.'

"I said, `I've got it right here. Now bugger off.'"

Poulter said Mundy was shocked to be summoned, and even more to realize that Poulter called him over during such a big moment only to tell him that story.

"And then you go and hole it," Poulter said. "There's a number of instances in the mind when the hole gets bigger, and everyone around you doesn't affect you. You're not thinking of missing it. That's why people miss putts. They worry about, `What happens if I miss it?' Even if that's for a millisecond that's enough. They've sown the seed. I didn't even contemplate the consequences of missing it."

He didn't. But he still had to settle for the silver medal, which remains his best result in a major.

PICKING THE PAIRINGS: The PGA Tour already alters the pairings to create marquee groups for the opening two rounds. Now it is letting the fans get involved.

In voting that will end next Monday, fans can go to the tour's website to vote who should be paired with defending champion Dustin Johnson at Kapalua for the Tournament of Champions that starts Jan. 3. The choices are Masters champion Adam Scott, Matt Kuchar and Brandt Snedeker.

DIVOTS: Michael Kim, the NCAA player of the year from Cal, will make his pro debut at Torrey Pines. Kim grew up in Del Mar and attended Torrey Pines High School. He earned his Web.com Tour card at Q-school this month. ... The PGA Tour Latinoamerica has added tournaments in Panama, Guatemala and Mexico for the 2014 schedule, which will have 16 events in 10 countries. ... Darren Clarke has a three-year deal to be the pro and global ambassador at The Astbury. It's the first golf course designed by KK Downing, founding member of the British heavy metal band Judas Priest.

STAT OF THE WEEK: Four players have at least $11 million in career earnings on the PGA Tour without ever having won a tournament - Briny Baird, Brian Davis, Jeff Overton and Brett Quigley.

FINAL WORD: "I never said I'd beat Tiger every time. If you didn't believe you could beat somebody or win the golf tournament, then don't go out and play, it's as simple as that. Tiger believes every time he goes out there that he's going to beat you, right? And if you believe he's going to beat you, then he's going to beat you."

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Big names skip Hawaii

As has become customary, four of the top five players in the world will sit out next week's Tournament of Champions.

Historically the PGA Tour's season-opener, though now relegated from that position due to the new campaign having started immediately after the conclusion of the Fed-Ex Cup, the tournament is open to all golfers who won an event in the preceding year.

Top players like Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Henrik Stenson and Justin Rose are all eligible to play, but have opted to skip the event.

Woods last competed at Kapalua in 2005, while Mickelson last entered way back in 2001.

The field does still feature some big draws, including Masters champion Adam Scott and defending champion Dustin Johnson.

Tournament of Champions 30-man field

Woody Austin

Sang Moon Bae

Jonas Blixt

Scott Brown

Jason Dufner

Ken Duke

Harris English

Derek Ernst

Brian Gay

Bill Haas

Russell Henley

Billy Horschel

Dustin Johnson

Zach Johnson

Chris Kirk

Matt Kuchar

Martin Laird

John Merrick

Ryan Moore

DA Points

Patrick Reed

Adam Scott

Webb Simpson

Brandt Snedeker

Jordan Spieth

Kevin Streelman

Michael Thompson

Jimmy Walker

Boo Weekley

Gary Woodland

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Top 10: Couples in 2013

1. Tiger Woods and Lindsey Vonn

Tiger and Lindsey announced their relationship was official by posting photos to Facebook in March. For an obsessively private man, this represents a stark departure for Woods. Lindsey was seen at numerous events throughout the year supporting Tiger, and he was on-site to cheer her on at numerous ski competitions.

2. Dustin Johnson and Paulina Gretzky

The Great One's daughter was first seen following DJ around Kapalua. From there, there was hardly a day she wasn't seen with DJ either on the links or on social media. The two got engaged in August, but they have remained relatively mum about any wedding details. It's safe to say the wedding will certainly be, well, Great!

3. Rory McIlroy and Caroline Wozniacki

Are they or aren't they? Rumors ran rampant at numerous points throughout the year that the beloved Wozzilroy had called it quits. And everyone from Nick Faldo to Gary Player chimed in on the strain the relationship was undoubtedly putting on McIlroy's golf in 2013. For all these reasons, their love affair was front and center for most of the year.

4. Arnold Palmer and Kate Upton

The King was seen many times this year with supermodel Kate Upton. Should this really surprise us? From dinners to photoshoots, golf lessons and a staged smooch, the two were an unforgettable duo.

5. Jason and Amanda Dufner

With #Dufnering going viral and Jason winning the PGA Championship, he and wife Amanda were thrust into the limelight in a big way this year. And thank goodness for it.

6. Graeme McDowell and Kristin Stape

A year after McDowell proposed atop the 656-foot-high helipad at the Burg Al Arab Hotel in Dubai, he and Stape wed in an intimate ceremony in the Bahamas. The couple remains low-key most of the time, which is unfortunate for us because we can't get enough of the duo. When they're not traveling the world for golf, the couple can likely be seen at the restaurant they opened earlier this year, Nona Blue, near their home in Lake Nona, Fla.

7. Patrick and Justine Reed

When Patrick Reed won the Wyndham Championship in August with sweetheart Justine on the bag, the duo became the first husband-and-wife team to win on the PGA Tour in more than 17 years. Justine (who stands 5-foot-1) began caddying for Patrick in the spring of 2012, and has no plans of stopping.

8. Davis Love III and Sammy the Squirrel

Their relationship was fleeting, but the memories will last forever. Love rescued the baby squirrel for fear he/she was going to get run over by a cart at the Presidents Cup. Sammy - named to be gender neutral - soon became the U.S. team mascot, and was touted around the course. Alas, all good things must end, and Love released Sammy back into the wild the following day.

9. Phil and Amy Mickelson

What golf couples list would be complete without America's sweethearts? Amy was by Phil's side in 2013 through the ups (see: British Open), the downs (see: U.S. Open) and everything in between.

10. Keegan Bradley and Jason Dufner

These two go way back - like all the way back to the 2011 PGA Championship. They've been bosom buddies ever since, and their budding bromance blossomed even more this year, from exchanging barbs on Twitter to Bradley hugging Dufner after winning this year's PGA at Oak Hill. While playing alongside Dufner in the final round of the Tour Championship, Bradley holed out from the fairway then dropped to the ground and Dufnered.

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Punch Shot: Returning unwanted moments from the past year

It's that time of the year again ... to return your unwanted Christmas gifts. So that got us thinking, what moments from the past season would some of the game's biggest names want to exchange. GolfChannel.com writers offer up their suggestions.

By RYAN LAVNER

If Tiger Woods could have a mulligan in 2013, it’s a good bet he’d use it on his wedge shot Friday at Augusta National – the one that clanked off the flagstick, trundled into the water, and, in retrospect, altered the trajectory of his season.

Give him a redo, and Woods would play that zeroed-in wedge just a touch to either side of the flag. He would make that kick-in birdie. He would avoid the biggest controversy of the year, or being labeled as “a little cavalier with the rules.” He would take the lead at the Masters on his way to capturing his 15th major title.

He would play more aggressively at both Opens, knowing his major burden had been lifted, and maybe he wins one there, too. He would be named the clear-cut player of the year, no matter what Phil and Adam and Hennie Stennie all did.

That shot was a bad break for Tiger, no doubt. But it made next year even more compelling.

By RANDALL MELL

Phil Mickelson gets to return his tee shot at the 13th at Merion Sunday in this year’s U.S. Open for something he’d like better.

Mickelson lamented hitting pitching wedge over the green there on his way to his most heartbreaking loss in the championship, his sixth runner-up finish.

“I had too much club,” he said later. “I needed a gap wedge. It would have been a better fit.”

Isn’t that what most of the returns are all about on the day after Christmas? Something that fits better?

Yes, Mickelson made two double bogeys on the front nine in the final round at Merion, losing the lead he built through 54 holes, but his eagle at the 10th put him back in the driver’s seat. In the end he left heartbroken, thinking about the misses with wedges at the 13th and 15th holes, shots that led to bogeys.

“The two bad shots of the day that I’ll look back on where I let it go,” Mickelson said.

By REX HOGGARD

Pick a major, almost any major will do, and chances are Lee Westwood has regrets and a distinct desire for a cosmic mulligan. There was the Masters in 2010 (second) and 2012 (third), the Open Championship in 2009 (third) and 2010 (second) and the U.S. Open in 2011 (third).

You get the idea, but if the affable Englishman had one chance to trade in tragedy for triumph it would likely have been at this year’s Open Championship.

Westwood began the final 18 holes looking like a man poised to end a confounding Grand Slam drought. He was two strokes clear of the field and cruising. Perhaps even more telling was his confident tone on the eve of the final round at Muirfield.

“I'm not in a high-pressure situation, because I'm going to go have dinner, and I'm so good with a knife and fork now that I don't feel any pressure at all,” he joked following the third round.

Whether it was pressure or simply fate that led to a closing-round 75 and a distant tie for third doesn’t really matter. Not when eventual champion Phil Mickelson carded perhaps the round of the year (66) on his way to victory.

There were birdies to be had on Sunday on the ancient links, just none for Westwood.

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Opinion: Park's place on 'Female Athlete of the Year' list baffles

It is as much a slap in the face to women’s professional golf as it is to Inbee Park.

Park just fashioned a history making year, becoming the first woman since Babe Zaharias in 1950 to win the first three major championships of the year, and yet Park didn’t even finish among the top three in the Associated Press voting for Female Athlete of the Year in 2013, as announced on Christmas Day.

Park is among just three women to win three majors in a single season in the history of golf. She joins Mickey Wright (1961) and Pat Bradley (1986) as the only players to do so. Park went to the Women’s British Open in August with a chance to become the first man or woman to win four professional majors in a single season. Though her historic march fell short at St. Andrews, it’s baffling that her efforts were not considered among the top three in women’s sports this year.

Tennis star Serena Williams easily won the voting among sports editors, claiming 55 of 96 votes. WNBA rookie Brittney Griner was second with 14 votes and swimmer Missy Franklin was third with 10.

Williams enjoyed a banner year, winning 11 titles, two of them Grand Slam titles (U.S. Women’s Open and French Open). Still, Park’s achievements were more historic, a major championship run that somehow didn’t register the way it should have outside golf’s niche. It’s not as if Park didn’t do anything beyond the majors. She won six times overall, became the first South Korean to win Rolex Player of the Year and won her second LPGA money title.

Griner is a spectacular showcase for the WNBA. She set dunk records for the league and helped her Phoenix Mercury make the league finals. But nagging injuries slowed her progress as a rookie. A left knee sprain plagued her much of the season. She missed the All Star Game with it. She missed seven regular-season games in a 34-game season.

Franklin won four gold medals in the 2012 Olympics, but this isn’t even an Olympic year.

Griner and Franklin have larger profiles, more mainstream recognition than Park enjoys. Their names, their faces, their stories resonate more than Park’s. They're also all Americans. Still, that doesn't completely explain the voting. As recently as 2003 through 2007, women’s golf owned the AP award, with Sweden's Annika Sorenstam winning three times and Mexico's Lorena Ochoa twice.

This was a terrific year in women’s golf, with storylines galore in Park, Suzann Pettersen, Stacy Lewis, 16-year-old Lydia Ko, 18-year-old Lexi Thompson and a history-making European Solheim Cup team. Still, apparently, the stories aren’t resonating enough beyond the golf niche. The women in golf aren’t playing on a stage big enough to overshadow women’s tennis, the WNBA or the Olympics. Or they don't have the star power to illuminate the stage.

The talent’s definitely there in the LPGA ranks, but this year’s voting has to make you question the tour’s star power, or lack thereof.

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Jon Anderson looks at Australia's top 20 finest sporting performers in 2013

JON Anderson counts down the top performers from the sporting world. Who took out No.1 and have your say.

1: Adam Scott (golf)

He did what no other Australian has been able to do in winning the US Masters at Augusta. He then added another US PGA tour win by taking The Barclays and claimed the PGA Grand Slam of Golf played between the four winners of the majors in 2013. Returning home he won the Australian Masters, Australian PGA and teamed with Jason Day to claim the World Cup.

2: Mick Fanning (surfing)

The 32-year-old known as "White Lightning" added a third ASP World Championship in dramatic fashion at Pipeline to the titles he won in 2007 and 2009. It came through a run of extreme consistency that saw him place top five in eight events and keep the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) in Kelly Slater at bay.

3: Michael Clarke (cricket)

With 1077 runs (prior to the Boxing Day Test) and four centuries in 12 Tests at 48.95, he remains one of the finest batsmen in the game. More importantly two of those centuries were vital components in Australia regaining the Ashes.

4: Israel Folau (rugby union)

Went from a unremarkable AFL player to the most destructive back in World rugby. Big Izzy equalled Lote Tuqiri's record of 10 tries in a season for the Wallabies and added a further eight for the Waratahs. And at 24 it would seem the best is still to come.

5: Johnathan Thurston (rugby league)

Man of the match for Australia's in its World Cup victory over England (and man of the series) and a crucial component at five-eight for Queensland in beating NSW in the State of Origin. The one-time supermarket butcher's assistant is at the peak of his powers.

6: Gary Ablett (AFL)

In a career that keeps adding superlatives, Ablett won his second Brownlow medal, fifth club best and fairest, fifth AFLPA MVP, and seventh straight All-Australian selection. He is far and away the most consistently brilliant player of the past decade in the AFL.

7: Cate Campbell (swimming)

The 186cm Malawi-born Campbell was prolific at the 2013 World Swimming Championships in Barcelona, winning gold in the 100m freestyle and silvers in the 50m freestyle, 4x100m freestyle relay and 4x100m medley relay.

8: Jamie Whincup (V8 Supercars)

In winning his fifth his fifth title, Whincup propelled himself into legendary status. He won 11 of 34 races including three of four held for the first time in the US. And at just 30 there is no reason why Whincup won't surpass Ian Geoghegan, Dick Johnson and Mark Skaife by winning a sixth championship.

9: Mirinda Carfrae (ironman)

Carfrae set a course record when winning the gruelling World Ironman World Championship at Kona, Hawaii in 2013 with a time of 8:52:14. Additionally, at that race she set a women's record time for the run portion of the course at 2:50:38.

10: Tim Cahill (soccer)

At 34 it looked as if his best may be behind him but Cahill thought otherwise, going on a goalscoring spree for the New York Red Bulls in the competitive US league and scoring twice for the Socceroos to take his national tally to a record 29 goals from 64 matches.

11: Christian Sprenger (swimming)

At 28 is in the form of his life, winning gold in the 100m breathstroke at the World Swimming Championships and silver in the 50m breaststroke and 4x100m medley relay. The 196cm Sprenger is hoping to reach the 2016 Olympics.

12: Caroline Buchanan (BMX)

The 23-year-old known as "Cannonball" put the disappointment of the 2012 London Olympics behind her to dominate her chosen field, winning the UC World Four Cross Championships in Austria and the UCI BMX World Championships in New Zealand.

13: James Spithill (sailing)

At just 33, Sydney-born Jimmy Spithill is rapidly building a CV the equal of few. In 2010 he became the youngest ever skipper to win the America's Cup (BMW Oracle Racing). Defending the title in 2013 aboard Oracle Team USA, Spithill and his team came from 8-1 down to win 9-8 against Emirates Team New Zealand.

14: Andrew Bogut (basketball)

Helped take the Golden State Warriors to the NBA Western Conference semi-finals where they were narrow losers to eventual runners-up San Antonio. The Essendon Football Club fanatic produced 21 rebounds and 14 points in a game against the LA Lakers.

15: Anna Meares (cycling)

The 30-year-old from Blackwater in Queensland broke her own 500m time-trial world record at a World Cup meeting in the high altitude of Mexico. In doing so she became the first woman to go under 33 seconds.

16: Renae Hallinan (netball)

Dropped from the national team two seasons ago, the 180cm wing defence came storming back, winning the Liz Ellis Diamond (for best Australian player) and International Player of the Year. She played every game in the Adelaide Thunderbirds' premiership year and all 10 matches for the Diamonds.

17: Madonna Blyth (hockey)

Hockeyroos captain Blyth, 28, had a blinder of a season, being beaten by the great Luciana Aymar for the International Hockey Federation's Player of the Year. Blyth led the Hockeyroos to gold at both the Oceania Cup and Investec World League Semi-Final Tournament.

18: Damien Oliver (horse racing)

For much of 2013 he watched on from the sidelines after being banned for 10 months for betting on a rival horse. At 41 he came charging back, riding winners at will before claiming a third Melbourne Cup aboard Fiorente for his 98th Group 1 victory.

19: Kim Crow (rowing)

Following on from silver and bronze at the 2012 London Olympics, Crow, 28, took gold in the single sculls at the World Championships in Chungju, powering to the lead at the 300m mark and holding it to the line.

20: Will Tomlinson (boxing)

"Wild Will" successfully defended his IBO Super Featherweight against a skilled South African craftsman in Malcolm Klassen at the Melbourne Pavilion in May. It was a serious fight, the most testing of Bairnsdale-born Tomlinson's career and he came through it with a clear points win.

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Pro golfers in danger of sending us to sleep

Alvaro Quiros may have helped Europe reclaim the Royal Trophy last weekend, but he also turned a four-foot putt into a three-hour feature film.

That, at least, was how it felt during Saturday's fourballs as he arrived at the 18th green with partner Nicolas Colsaerts, needing to sink the putt to rescue a half.

Quiros walked up to his ball as if approaching an erect cobra, which was about as decisive as he was going to be.

Over and back he would march, consulting with Colsaerts, their two caddies, then Colsaerts again. To a man, they looked completely befuddled, as if that distance of four feet represented some kind of treacherous safari through terrain that was heavily mined.

The consultations lasted for maybe three minutes before, bizarrely,Europe's captain -- Jose Maria Olazabal -- accepted an invitation to participate. But he, too, found the challenge forbidding, gravely eyeing the ball from every angle as if convinced he could hear a hissing sound.

If a Sunday fourball played this slow, they'd have been frog-marched out the gate. But these men were professionals, the putt important. So Quiros stretched our wait to at least five minutes before, lo and behold, rolling the ball in.

Cue an outbreak of high fives and bear-hugs on a golf course somewhere in China; cue the sound of kettles boiling in every viewer's home.

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TOC field at Kapalua announced

Masters champion Adam Scott headlines the field for next week's Hyundai Tournament of Champions, the first PGA Tour event of 2014 -- although no longer the first event of the season.

The PGA Tour went to a wraparound schedule in October, which means the Tournament of Champions at the Kapalua Resort on Maui will be the seventh event of the 2013-14 season.

The format for the 72-hole tournament that begins on Jan. 3 remains the same -- only winners of official PGA Tour events during 2013 are eligible. There were 35 such winners, and 30 of them have signed up for the $5.7 million tournament.

As expected, both Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson will skip the event. Neither has played it in years, with Woods last competing in 2005 and Mickelson in '01.

Woods is expected to make his season debut next month at the Farmers Insurance Open. Mickelson already has committed to that event, as well as the week prior at a European Tour stop in Abu Dhabi.

FedEx Cup and Tour Championship winner Henrik Stenson is also taking a pass at Kapalua, as is U.S. Open champion Justin Rose and RBC Heritage winner Graeme McDowell. The latter three all had hectic schedules on the European Tour at the end of 2013.

The tournament boasts 13 first-time winners, including 2013 rookie of the year Jordan Spieth. Others competing are PGA champion Jason Dufner, Webb Simpson, Matt Kuchar, defending champion Dustin Johnson, Zach Johnson and Brandt Snedeker.

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Woods, Mickelson skipping Hyundai Tournament of Champions

It no longer marks the beginning of the PGA Tour schedule, but some things haven't changed at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions.

Once again, the event will be without its two biggest drawing cards, as Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson will each skip the festivities despite gaining eligibility as winners during the 2013 season.

When the field list was made official at 5 p.m. ET Friday, it also failed to include the names of Graeme McDowell, Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson, each of whom had already divulged he would begin the 2014 campaign at a later date.

The field includes 30 winners from both the 2013 season and the beginning of 2013-14, including defending champion Dustin Johnson and Masters champion Adam Scott, who will make his first appearance at Kapalua since 2011.

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Woods tops, Rory goes down

Tiger Woods regained the world number one ranking after an absence of two-and-a-half years.

But former world No. 1 Rory McIlroy struggled through an up-and-down in the year, save for a late-season resurgence that saw him hold off Masters champion Adam Scott to win the Australian Open.

Woods owes his return to the top spot to his wins in five tournaments, but crucially he came up short once again in the four majors, failing to end a drought that dates back to June 2008 when he won his 14th major title at the US Open.

Instead, four players shared the honours in the tournaments that are the crown jewels of golf.

Scott finally smashed the Aussie jinx at the Masters, Justin Rose became the first Englishman to win the US Open in 43 years at Merion, Phil Mickelson took the British Open at his 20th attempt and Jason Dufner was a popular winner of the PGA Championship.

With his 38th birthday coming up on December 30, Woods can hardly be called a veteran just yet, but he admits that the golfing landscape around him is changing fast.

“It’s a whole different generation of guys,” he was quoted by AFP as saying during the week.

“I’ve played probably more head-to-head matches against Ernie (Els) than anybody because we played around the world; and Vijay (Singh) would probably be the second and Phil (Mickelson) would probably be third.

“But along the way … I had Goose (Retief Goosen) in there and (David) Duval in there as well for a number of years.

“It’s a different crop of guys. All those guys are in their 40s and 50s. So we got a whole new crew, and I think the youngest probably being Rory (McIlroy).

“But there’s a lot of guys who are in their late 20s, early 30s that are right in their prime.”

McIlroy, in fact, started the year as the world number one but, after a change of golfing equipment, his year went rapidly downhill as he became distracted by business affairs and a clear loss of form.

Still there were some signs that he can put all that behind him and he has plenty of career time left to significantly add to his majors haul of two.

“Golf’s a long career and I’m 24 years old,” McIlroy said in Sydney earlier this month after overhauling Scott to win the Australian Open — his first and only tournament victory of the year.

“I get a little impatient at times and if I actually just took a step back and looked at the bigger picture, it hasn’t been too bad a year.

“It’s obviously been made a lot better with the win. You know you have to go through the lows and I’m not saying it was a low this year. It’s not like I plummeted off the face of the earth.

“I’m still sixth in the world so it’s not too bad. It’s not the level that I feel like I can play to but I feel I’m getting back there, so it’s very pleasing.”

McIlroy’s win in Sydney prevented Scott from becoming just the second player to achieve the Down Under “Grand Slam” of Australian PGA, Australian Masters and Australian Open which would have brought down the curtain splendidly on a breakthrough year for him.

Long touted as set to become a dominant figure in the game, Scott had — until April — flattered to deceive. But all that changed at Augusta National — where he beat Angel Cabrera in a drama-filled playoff.

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Woodcock: Lydia Ko's switch proves PR disaster

Whether or not you agree with Team Ko's decision to axe the only coach she's ever had, Aucklander Guy Wilson, for American-based Brit David Leadbetter, the timing is off, it was poorly handled, and we can only hope this is not how Ko is going to operate under the management of IMG.

There are so many unanswered questions surrounding this coaching switch – Why now? Who made the call? Is IMG behind this? (to pose just a few) – but nobody is willing to answer them.

Ko conducted one television interview and, let's be honest, TV news clips are more about getting grabs than getting to the bottom of stories. It's led to a whole lot of speculation and some quite emotional responses from fans on social media and talkback radio.

IMG reportedly claim the story has been blown out of proportion and dramatised. Well, whose fault is that? They have a reputation for being the biggest and best management company when it comes to golf but judging by this, it's hard to agree.

As far as informed comment goes, Kiwi men's No 1 Mike Hendry, caddie Steve Williams and former PGA Tour pro, now commentator, Craig Perks are among those who have voiced concerns over Ko's call.

Rightly or wrongly, Wilson has essentially been pushed off Hillary Step with the summit to Mt Everest in clear sight.

He coached Ko for 11 years, ever since her family moved to the North Shore from South Korea and Ko took up the sport, during which time she became the world No 1 amateur for three consecutive years, and rose to No 4 in the world rankings.

She won five professional titles while under Wilson's guidance, four of them as an amateur. Her record, as an amateur, is second-to-none and she's the hottest property in women's golf.

It seems only a matter of time before she wins majors and reaches No 1.

Wilson and Ko became incredibly tight; they were almost like big brother-little sister. Wilson was always mindful of keeping golf fun for his charge, and the results spoke for themselves. Technically Ko is a brilliant golfer and she has the mentality to match.

As her record suggests the duo seemed to work well as a partnership and you wonder why Ko and/or her team felt the need to change at this stage in her career.

They've managed pretty well with a "long-distance relationship" so far and with technology the way it is, being separated for long periods of time is not a deal breaker.

Had Wilson taken her as far as he could? Did she need fresh ideas and opinions?

If Ko doesn't continue to rise at the same rapid pace during the coming months, questions will be asked, much as they were when Rory McIlroy switched club manufacturers at the very height of his game a year ago.

Leadbetter is the only person that seems happy to talk about the move.

He and Sean Hogan, a Leadbetter staff instructor and swing specialist, won't be afraid to make changes but they aren't exactly looking to overhaul Ko's swing, he told the Golf Channel's website this week.

Ko, in fact, visited him in Orlando for three days last month, expressing her concern that she would sometimes hit a hook when under pressure.

According to Leadbetter, they addressed the issue and Ko then went out and won the Swinging Skirts World Ladies Masters in Taiwan. He also told the website Ko had no weaknesses and his team's job would be about guidance and keeping her on track.

Perhaps his most astute comment, however, was when he acknowledged: "If she plays well, it will be because she's a great player. If she doesn't, we will be the bad guys."

Truer words were never spoken.

WHO IS DAVID LEADBETTER?

- Born in England, he wasn't much of a player but he moved to the United States and has become one of the leading golf coaches in the world. He now runs a chain of international academies.

- Shot to prominence in the 1980s when he rebuilt the swing of Nick Faldo, who went on to win six majors and become the world No 1.

- He's also worked with, at various times, Greg Norman and Ernie Els, as well as former teen prodigy Michelle Wie.

- He was ranked second to Butch Harmon on the 2005-2006 edition of Golf Digest's list of the "50 Greatest Teachers" in the United States.

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Quality-wise, Tiger Wood's year was far better than his rivals

Along with victories, money and scoring average, another way to measure the strength of a golf season is total world ranking points. Tiger Woods won that category, too, but just barely over Henrik Stenson. A closer look reveals it was not really that close.

Woods earned 488.75 points this year, only 3.65 points ahead of Stenson. Adam Scott was third, more than 100 points behind.

The difference, however, is that Woods played only 19 tournaments that awarded world ranking points. Stenson played 31 tournaments.

Woods earned an average of 25.7 points for every tournament he played, compared with 15.6 points for Stenson.

This is nothing new for Woods. He tends to play the toughest courses against the strongest fields. He also helps to make the field strong as the No 1 player in the world. And while he doesn't play often, he plays well when he does tee it up.

"Most of my events I play in the majority of my career have been on the more difficult venues, and against the better fields," Woods said this month.

"And now that we have not just the majors and The Players, but we also have the World Golf Championships ... and also the play-offs at the end of the year, you're getting the top players to play together more often. And I'm very proud of my overall record, especially in the bigger events."

Here's another way to look at it - the 19 tournaments worldwide Woods played this year offered an average of 72.7 points to the winner.

All of this made perfect sense to Ian Poulter, a student of the world ranking.

"How many events has he played, 19?" Poulter said. "So he's got four majors, three World Golf Championships [Woods skipped the HSBC Champions], four FedEx play-off events.

"If you look where he plays, they are all the events where the top players are playing. You would theoretically say he's got a good chance to earn a lot of points. But he has to play well."

And that he did.

The top 28 players in the world ranking at the end of 2012 were PGA Tour members this year, which made the gap between the PGA Tour and the European Tour even wider in measuring strength of field.

The average reward for PGA Tour winners was 56.2 ranking points, compared with 43 points on the European Tour.

That includes the majors and World Golf Championships for both tours.

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LPGA roundtable: Big 3, Ko, Pinehurst, more

After a memorable 2013 LPGA season, our Beth Ann Baldry (@golfweek_baldry on Twitter) and Julie Williams (@golfweekjules) look ahead to a promising 2014 in this roundtable discussion:

Which of the Big Three (Stacy Lewis, Suzann Pettersen and Inbee Park) will have the biggest 2014?

Baldry: Stacy Lewis. The pressure that comes with trying to defend at the first three majors will be too much for Inbee Park to overcome. She’ll be mentally exhausted from the run-ups and the high expectations. Lewis didn’t win Rolex Player of the Year, but that Vare Trophy award tells us she played some of the best golf of her life. She’ll be confident heading into ’14 and ready to pounce. Still not convinced Suzann Pettersen will allow herself to play to her potential. It’s a head game for her.

Williams: Among that contingent, Inbee Park seems the most steady -- or maybe the most unconscious (a good quality in golf!). Park has the perfect temperament for the game, and I think her three major victories this season did wonders for her confidence. She may not chase another Grand Slam next season (or maybe ever again -- winning the first three majors in a season is a very big deal), but I believe she’ll be the player to beat again in 2014. It will all depend on her putting, and whether it remains as solid as it was in 2013.

Will the Pinehurst experiment be good for the women’s game?

Baldry: LPGA players have many legitimate concerns and the overriding sentiment among the big names on tour is that the USGA should’ve let the ladies go first. The traffic from the men’s Open and the toll the course will take puts the women at a disadvantage from the start. For example, the divots taken by PGA Tour players are significantly larger than those taken by the women. Will the media stay on a second week for the women? Will the fans? Too bad they can’t take a mulligan on this one.

Williams: For the sake of the sport, I’d like to see this one go off without a hitch, but there are probably too many variables. Hard to imagine Pinehurst won’t be completely trampled by the time the women arrive, and weather delays (read: Monday finish) could present a major scheduling problem. It was a good idea in theory, but in practice, the women get the short end of the stick on this one.

Lydia Ko won her first professional title in her second pro start. What can we expect from the 16-year-old in her rookie season?

Baldry: Is it too much to say she might end the year at No. 1? She’s 16 and already has five professional titles to her credit and is ranked No. 4. She will have to make some adjustments playing a bigger schedule, but the adrenaline and the freshness of it all will push her through the season. While Ko isn’t likely to end the year on top, there’s sure to be a great highlight reel along the way. 2014 worldwide victory total: 2.

Williams: The little “a” won’t appear beside Ko’s name anymore, but I don’t see much reason to think anything else will change for Ko’s first professional season. At 16, Ko is carefree, competitive, and really talented. She figured out how to win in a professional field almost immediately. And what kid wouldn’t want to play for thousands of dollars? The money is just a bonus for her at this point, not her livelihood. There’s no pressure there.

Who is on the verge of a monster year in 2014?

Baldry: Shanshan Feng. Watching Feng play down the stretch one can’t help but wonder if she even knows she’s leading the tournament. There’s an effortlessness about Feng that suggests she has the kind of mindset needed to win scores of titles. Feng hated to see the season come to an end after going 1-2-T8-1 in her last four events. And who can blame her?

Williams: Lexi Thompson seemed to grow up a lot this year after two LPGA victories. She carried herself well at the Solheim Cup, and a partnership with Stacy Lewis there was good for her. At 18, Thompson is coming into her own, and could be a much bigger factor in 2014. That would be a good thing, considering the number of followers Thompson has attracted with her youth, bright wardrobe and big smile.

Why should fans tune in to watch the LPGA’s new International Crown?

Williams: Because it’s a team format, and that’s something not often seen in professional golf. The tournament allows for eight teams to go head-to-head instead of just two, like at the Solheim Cup. It certainly is cause to be patriotic. Cue the face paint.

Baldry: Because countries will be going head to head, which means America’s best can take on South Korea’s best for ultimate bragging rights. With no captains! The points system will likely confuse players, fans and media. But there could be great drama as players decide amongst themselves who to put out for a playoff or the order of their lineups. While the eight countries have qualified, the actual teams won’t be finalized until the week of the Kraft Nabisco Championship. Countries that are in: South Korea, Japan, Australia, Taiwan, Spain, Sweden, Thailand and the United States. Let’s hope there’s great drama this first time around and that fans show up to see it.

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Rory McIlroy is a big hit with the birdies

Rory McIlroy has made millions from his prowess on the course - and it seems the golfing superstar is also proving a big hit off it.

Just over 10% of Northern Ireland women surveyed said they would like to pucker up with the Holywood player under the mistletoe this festive season.

And that made him much more popular than noted One Direction heartthrob Harry Styles, who only polled 7% of the votes. Top billing went to Hollywood A-lister Bradley Cooper, best known for his roles in the Hangover trilogy, who had one-in-five women saying they would like to have a Christmas kiss with him.

In second place was the 2013 Billboard Artist of the Year, Bruno Mars, who polled 15%.

The survey of 500 women on celebrity looks, mistletoe favourites and their partners' dress sense and grooming was conducted by Jay's Male Grooming in east Belfast.

Cooper was also said to have the coolest look of 2013, followed by Irish rocker and The Voice mentor Danny O'Donoghue from The Script, and singer Justin Timberlake in third place.

Jay Millar, owner of Jay's Male Grooming in Bloomfield, decided to conduct the survey to find out which celeb look was the most appealing this year, which celebs have timeless appeal and how influential women are in terms of their partner's dress sense and grooming habits.

"Since opening just over a year ago, thousands of men have visited Jay's Male Grooming and we often have clients asking for a certain celeb look.

"We also have clients who refer to the celebrity looks that their wife or girlfriend prefers, so I wanted to find out just who is making the decisions!" he said.

"When asked 'which male look is your all-time favourite,' almost 25% of women said David Beckham."

Other high responses for 'all-time' favourite looks include the free-spirited Johnny Depp (18%), the fittest 50-year-old, Brad Pitt (15%), and the all-action hero, Tom Cruise (15%).

A whopping 62% of women admitted to trying to change their partner's look when they first met.

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