As we fast approach the end of 2011, it is time to award this years’ RICOS’ for outstanding achievement in professional golf. \u00a0So after many long and grueling hours in a sweat lodge somewhere in Lackawanna, here goes:<\/p>\n
Golfer of the Year (PGA) – with all due respect and apologies to Luke Donald, my choice is Rory McIlroy. \u00a0Yes, Donald won a lot of money on both sides of the pond, but, Rory won a major, was second on the Euro money list and is currently dating tennis’ number one female player, Caroline Wozniacki. \u00a0The bottom line is that Rory creates buzz while Donald seems like a really nice guy.<\/p>\n
Golfer of the Year (LPGA) – Yani ‘The Machine’ Tseng. \u00a0No one else comes close to this Taiwanese professional who seems almost incapable of playing anything less than great golf.<\/p>\n
Newcomer of the Year – American teenage sensation, Lexi Thompson. \u00a0Right about now the LPGA must have a lot of sore arms from patting themselves on the back for allowing Lexi to circumvent the tour’s age requirements and become a full-time LPGA member in 2012.<\/p>\n
Everybody Crazy ’bout a Sharp Dressed Man Award – love his outfits or hate them, Ricky Fowler gets the nod for best dressed on tour. \u00a0While some traditionalists might be put off, I think Ricky’s appeal to the younger set only bodes well for the future of golf on all levels.<\/p>\n
Give me a Head with Hair Award\u00a0– Ricky Fowler, again. \u00a0Who else comes close?<\/p>\n
Hey Good Lookin’ Award\u00a0– with so many attractive people on both the men’s and women’s tour, this was a difficult choice, but, in the end, Germany’s Sandra Gal took home the prize. \u00a0Besides being incredibly attractive, Sandra proved she belonged on the tour by finishing in the top ten\u00a0five times and securing her first LPGA win.<\/p>\n
Tournament of the Year – for pure drama and one incredible comeback (five shots down with three holes to play), the award goes to Keegan Bradley’s win over Jason Dufner in the PGA Championship. \u00a0This tournament had spine-tingling drama and palpable pathos played out on a truly spectacular golf course.<\/p>\n
Shot of the Year – of course, it’s Bill Haas ‘water wedge’ to stay alive in the Tour Championship at East Lake in Atlanta. \u00a0Haas went on to win the tournament and the Fed Ex Championship. \u00a0Oh, by the way, he also pocketed $11.4 million dollars that day.<\/p>\n
Rockin’ Robin Award\u00a0– worst tweet of the year – @huntermahan – ‘Haas just hit his approach in the water, I better start preparing my victory speech’.<\/p>\n
Rockin’ Robin II Award\u00a0– @stevewilliams – ‘Good to be back in Aus. \u00a0Wrap up the Pres. Cup US doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell to win’.<\/p>\n
Breaking Up Is Hard to Do Award\u00a0– once again Tiger Woods was involved with a messy divorce, only this time it was with caddie Steve Williams. \u00a0Rumor on the street is that Williams is still kicking himself for not demanding a pre-nup.<\/p>\n
Best Golfer’s Name Award\u00a0– Dutchman pro Guido Van Der Valk. \u00a0Seriously folks, you can look it up.<\/p>\n
Looking back, 2011 was a truly great year in golf and here’s hoping for more of the same in 2012.<\/p>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As we fast approach the end of 2011, it is time to award this years’ RICOS’ for outstanding achievement in professional golf. \u00a0So after many long and grueling hours in a sweat lodge somewhere in Lackawanna, here goes:<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2798","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-mouth"],"yoast_head":"\n