Next stop on the European Tour Calendar for 2010 is:

Abu Dhabi Golf Championship 2010
Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Abu Dhabi,
United Arab Emirates
21 Jan 2010 – 24 Jan 2010

Defending champion Paul Casey will play the tournament. It will be his fans, and his peers, first opportunity to see if he has managed to finally put a prolonged rib injury to bed. Paul was fighting fitness in 2009 and the injury affected his intended tournament schedule with sporadic flare ups culminating in him missing some of the events that he had planned to play.

The prize fund is healthy yet again, which attracts the cream of the tour to the event year after year. The winner in 2010 will receive 250,000 that’ll do nicely’s (Euros). Casey has won the event twice previously, also picking up the big coupon in 2007.

With a field comprising of Lee Westwood, Geoff Ogilvy, Rory McIlroy, to name but a few of the golfing elite, Paul Casey will surely have his work cut-out in his defence of the title this year. Good luck to him in his challenge. I like Paul Casey a lot, his game, personality and professionalism are top drawer – he’s definitely a good ‘un.

Meanwhile we will be able to see if my favourite player Lee Westwood kicks his year into gear the way he left off last year. I am so glad that he is back in the points regularly. If he tops 2009 as a season then me and everyone else that follows Westy will be in for a fine year of sporting entertainment. A perfect year, and a deserved one too, would be a series of tour wins and a major championship to boot. With you know who out of the frame this year it could be a rocket ride between the stars of Europe for the majors this year and I’m sure Mr Harrington will be eager to land another trophy in the absence of  you know who.

I have heard reports in the last couple of days that the man could be back in the Spring time though, so best not start counting Chicks just yet! (no pun intended). Ssshh! IT.

Darren Clarke (NIR) finished second overall in the Joburg Open, South Africa with a glorious final round 68 including a dazzling Eagle on the 18th hole to secure his second place tie with Keith Horne (RSA). The champion was Charl Schwartzel (RSA) who shot an even better final round 66 to clinch the victory, setting an early target for his peers with his second consecutive win in two weeks.

It’s great to see Clarkey putting out and producing magical shot making again, after the obstacle course that life has thrown his way in recent years nobody deserves it more, the man is an inspiration to all comers in all walks of life. Apart from being a firm favourite with golfing fraternity within Europe, he is also a local favourite of ours and we hope that his rise back to success continues throughout the season and long into the future.

Nothing would be more pleasing than to see him battling it out in the Ryder Cup again at some point, whether he makes it there on points or as a wild card pick, well who cares, he’s a top performer and entertainer and we love it when he does well.