By Ewan Murray /The Guardian
1. The recurring brilliance of Jordan Spieth
It would be impossible to begin without reference to the 22-year-old Texan, would it not? Spieth’s rocket-fuelled season included a record breaking performance at the Masters , a dramatic clinching of the US Open and a seriously close brush with history in the Open Championship . This was without doubt Spieth’s year. His character has proved as appealing as his play. Upcoming battles with Rory McIlroy may well define a golfing era; for now, Spieth is the man with the upper hand.
2. Lydia Ko’s justification of hype
When so young and yet surrounded by as much attention as Ko has been for years already, the challenges are obvious. It is to the 18-year-old’s immense credit that her professional focus has remained unwavering. Ko is the No 1 ranked player in the world. She is a major champion and the youngest player ever to win 10 tour events. Ko is special; golf is seriously fortunate to have her. With the Olympics firmly in her sights , 2016 promises to be equally epic.
3. Jason Day’s battering down of a major door
It had reached the stage where you worried what mental scarring would do to Jason Day, were a major not to come his way. Even Day’s 2015 threatened to be wrecked by a serious bout of vertigo.
At Whistling Straits, he was imperious on the march to the USPGA Championship , thereby removing all the woes that had undermined his hopes before.
Day’s story, from wayward teenager to the summit of golf, is a fascinating one. At still only 28, further chapters of success should be inevitable.
4. Rory McIlroy’s refusal to follow supposed convention
Given sportspeople are sometimes rightly castigated for being out of touch with reality, it was bizarre to hear criticism of McIlroy after a football match with friends interrupted his season.
McIlroy has admitted he will be a little more careful as to when these kickabouts take place but he isn’t about to take up gin rummy or deny himself the fun of a 20-something on the basis of how people perceive he should behave. “I like that normality in my life,” said McIlroy. And good on him.
5. Shane Lowry finally makes his big-time breakthrough
There is plenty to admire and learn from Lowry. He has a wonderfully simple golf swing. He plays at the kind of pace which would do wonders for golf, should others follow suit.
From the outside, all he had seemed to lack was a little belief. That all changed in August, when the Irishman’s biggest pay day arrived at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational . The calibre of those making up the numbers was tacit admission of the scale of Lowry’s triumph.
Sometimes the good guys do win. Lowry should press on and earn himself a Ryder Cup berth.
6. USA claim the Solheim Cup
Much like the Ryder Cup, one team’s domination probably isn’t good for the attraction of this event. More importantly, the dreadful sportsmanship displayed by Europe - and particularly Suzann Pettersen - ensured the neturals were fully behind the US team by the time the Solheim Cup concluded .
Pettersen wasn’t alone in emerging from this shambles with little credit. Had Europe claimed the trophy for a third time in succession, bad feeling would have lingered for two years.
7. English golf finds a new pulse
There are now five Englishmen ranked inside the world’s top 50. Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Luke Donald are no longer among them.
Justin Rose has been consistently excellent at the top of the game but the emergence of Andy Sullivan, Danny Willett and Matthew Fitzpatrick, together with Paul Casey’s return to prominence, should be more widely recognised.
You would struggle to find another sport with such English depth of talent which, for all the negativity which commonly surrounds golf, rather suggests someone, somewhere, is doing something right.
8.Keith Pelley re-energises the
European Tour.
If talking a good game is a crucial commodity then the European Tour could be in line for some exciting times. Pelley has taken bullish to new levels during his early months as the chief executive, a role he inherited from George O’Grady .
It shouldn’t be regarded as disrespectful to O’Grady to point out that change was needed. Now it has taken place, people within the game are lining up to laud this extroverted Canadian. Pelley of course has to deliver on his promises but he has the game’s most crucial components - players - firmly on side.
9. Russell Knox shrugging off amateur struggles
Knox didn’t have anything remotely approaching a stellar amateur career. He wasn’t selected for national teams and didn’t see his name in lights when progressing through junior ranks in the Highlands of Scotland.
Now? Knox is a WGC champion , Masters entrant and golfer in pursuit of a Ryder Cup berth. The decision to emigrate to an American college was most likely crucial in Knox’s development, even if it just removed him from a comfort zone. His progression, though, should offer incentive to every young player who otherwise believe team selection and amateur prizes are a necessity for later life.
10. Portrush returns to the Open circuit
It was the worst kept secret in golf but the re-appointment of Royal Portrush on the Open rota was still a seminal moment. That isn’t just for golf, which should be played by the best players on a stunning links, but Northern Ireland amid recovery from the scenario where a tournament such as this could never be held amid deep, long-standing security fears.
It reflects positively on the Irish golfers that they pushed so hard for this scenario. Portrush itself immediately embraced necessary course change. The now departed R&A chief executive, Peter Dawson, also has at least one wholly positive legacy.
American Jordan Spieth and New Zealander Lydia Ko (below) took golf by storm in 2015.
