World Golf News - 11 January 2012

The US PGA Tour and European Tour kicked off the 2012 season at the weekend with the Tournament of Champions and the Africa Open respectively.

In Hawaii, some of the best performers from last season got an early start to the season as they competed for the prestigious Tournament of Champions title. As the final round unfolded on Monday, overnight leader Steve Stricker of the United States held his nerve as he treated golf fans to a display of precision golf that has seen the American rise to world number five over the past three years.

As Scotland’s Martin Laird piled on the pressure during the final round, Stricker responded with his characteristic cool-headed approach to competitive golf. Despite a bogey at the sixth, which saw his five-stroke lead narrow to four as his rivals closed in, Stricker held his nerve and birdied two of the last three holes to card a successful back nine and won the tournament by a three stroke margin over Laird. Third place went to the Americans Webb Simpson and Jonathan Byrd.

As the highest-ranked American in world golf, Stricker will be keen to rise up the world rankings and make a play for the coveted world number one title. With a number of talented American players poised to make a comeback this season, golf fans can look forward to an exciting season as players from both sides of the Atlantic vie for the top spot in golf.

The European Tour’s co-sanctioned African leg kicked off at the weekend with the Africa Open, held in East London, South Africa. In sunny weather that is typical of the South African summer, reigning champion and former British Open winner Louis Oosthuizen was victorious on Sunday as he carded a final round score of 67 to beat compatriot Tjaart van der Walt. A strong contender for the title, whose 347th place in the world rankings did not deter him from attempting his first European Tour victory, van der Walt narrowly lost by two strokes as Oosthuizen lifted the trophy for the second year running.

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