As soon as the invitation came through for Lee Westwood to play in the season’s last grand slam event, I mentioned to the PGA that Paul was probably the only player from either the European or American sides who had not received an invitation. Three days later it arrived.
Receiving an invitation to any tournament is a big thing, but to get one to a major is massive for both of them. It will act as a huge boost for the remainder of the season and maybe beyond as they seek to extend and improve on recent encouraging performances.
Lee has already played well in America this season and now he has a nice little run there starting with the International and finishing with the NEC either side of the US PGA. It would not be in the least bit surprising if he returned with some more silverware to go with his 24 worldwide wins.
If Lee and Paul are both on the comeback trail, then what can I say about one of their stablemates, Charl Schwartzel. He just gets better and better… and it is easy to forget that he is still only 18 years old.
Charl is no longer playing average golf. He is something very good waiting to happen and I have every confidence that it will happen soon. It says much about the young man and his potential that his name drips freely from the lips of many of the world’s top coaches… and all I have heard is praise.
His season’s goals were achieved when he earned his playing privileges for next year and qualified for The Open. Now he has a new one and when he returns from a well-earned break in South Africa all his efforts will be concentrated on qualifying for the end-of-season Volvo Masters.
Congratulations must also go to Michael Vaughan, who has succeeded Nasser Hussain not only as England’s one-day captain but also that of the full Test side.
Vaughany has continued where he left off in The Ashes series last winter and his 156 at Edgbaston against South Africa was one of the great all-time knocks… and fascinating to watch. What a wonderful attitude he has to the game and his battle with Shaun Pollock made for riveting television.
Without doubt, he has the best mind-set of any sportsman I have come across.I am not the biggest reader, but I can’t wait for the end of the month because that’s when Vaughany’s book A Year In The Sun is being published by Hodder. It deals mainly with his wonderful knocks of 2002 and if he continues in this vein, the sequel will not be far off.
Special mention too to another of our cricketing stars. Freddie Flintoff is showing a growing sense of maturity in his cricket and a Test ton cannot be far away. It’s also a great feeling when the England team walks out that our guys are the mainstay of it.