Every year around this time I look forward to “The Huggys”
John Huggan’s “…annual descent into the sack of goodies – and baddies – that have entertained and, dare one say it, appalled us all over the last 12 months.”

This year his "Huggys" in The Scotsman are a bit tame when it comes to giving the baddies a hard time. Except for; 'NEANDERTHALS OF THE YEAR'

“Another joint award, this time for services to the 19th century, goes to the "gentlemen" of the Portmarnock Golf Club outside Dublin and the dopes populating the Irish Supreme Court.

Given the chance to banish forever the blind prejudice that alienates so many right-thinking people from golf, their lordships voted to allow the misogynists to continue their wallowing in their all-maleness. Given the chance to do so much good for the oh-so stuffy image of the greatest game, they blew it. Given the chance to forever bring sanity instead of madness to one of the Emerald Isle's best courses, they opted out. And for all of that they get a Huggy.”

“The Huggy” for the 'Most Memorable Performance' was a tough decision and Tom Watson (A favourite 'son' among us Scots) just missed out to; ‘Catriona Matthew at the Women's British Open. Only a few weeks after giving birth to second daughter Sophie, North Berwick's finest romped to victory at Royal Lytham and in so doing became the first Scot to win a major title. "Supermum" indeed.’

Tom Ramsey of  Australia’s The Daily Telegraph also writes his own form of  “Huggy” and it ails me to say, does a better job than Huggy.
Tom makes mention of John Huggan in ‘He said it, part one’

‘John Huggan in The Scotsman: "Go on (Tiger) make us all, journalists, spectators and, most of all photographers happy. Get rid of golf's biggest boor (caddie Steve Williams). Banish him forever to New Zealand. Anywhere will do, though; even if nowhere will ever be far enough.’

Geez Steve must've majorly upset Huggy somewhere along the way, ‘cause he can’t seem to get over it.

In ‘Limp-wristed Aussies’, Tom writes; ‘We had the numbers in the four majors but only Mathew Goggin scored a top-10 finish in the British Open. Rod Pampling and Aaron Baddeley had holes punched in their egos. Peter Lonard had another year to forget, missing his Tour card.’

In ‘Bad business decision’ Tom tells of, ‘Greg Norman divorcing Laura Andrassy to marry Chris Evert. It cost him $US226,000 a day for the time he was married to the tennis legend. But Sharks cannot swim against the tide of recession.’
$US226,000 a day is for sure, some memorable kind of shark attack.

Tom has some kind words for a Kiwi of the commentating kind.
'Best TV commentator'; 'Brett Ogle at the Presidents Cup and Frank Nobilo at the Aussie Open. Leigh Diffey on One and Channel 10 is such a blabbermouth. He ought to listen to Richie Benaud and learn that the picture tells the story and only have something to say if it is meaningful.’
 

You’ve just got to love how Tom in typical Aussie fashion, tells it like it is for him. Don’t give up your Aussie day job, Tom!
The Kiwi media doesn't do caustic commentaries.

And in closing, since relationship matters are getting more headlines than forthcoming Majors
‘He said it, part two’

Greg Norman (on daughter Morgan-Leigh's split with Sergio Garcia): "I'm a parent like everyone else and the last thing you want is to see your children suffer. They're both adults, they came to an adult decision and moved on."
Just like dad and Chrissie.’

Thought for the day-The 84 degree secret

The fourth chapter in Andrew Rice’s recently released book, “It’s all about Impact” is called
"The 84° Secret," and Andrew writes.

‘In researching the golfers on The List, it quickly became apparent to me that there was something eerily similar about the manner in which they all pivoted or rotated their bodies to the top of the backswing.
The result was uncanny. Not only were the majority of the back side lines I drew at exactly 84 degrees – almost every player stayed not only inside that line, but flush up against it just prior to initiating the downswing. A few players were at 83 degrees, and a few at 85, but for the most part 84 was the prime position number.’

Makes me think there could be at least one common denominator in the myriad of ways good golfers swing a club.

Slainte
Stan