What an exciting last few hours Webb Simpson gave us all on Sunday!  He won the 112th Open held at the Olympic Club in San Francisco with a 13-hole surge that deprived, amongst others, three former U.S. Open champions — Jim Furyk, Graeme McDowell and Ernie Els.

Simpson birdied the toughest hole on an incredibly tough course — the par-4 sixth — to start a three-hole run of birdies that put him into contention. He made just one more birdie the rest of the way, at the 10th, but ran out eight straight pars and then waited nearly 45 minutes watching on TV with his wife for the players behind him to falter.

“I was just as nervous watching the telecast as I was out there playing,” Simpson said.

But one by one, his more experienced challengers fell away.  McDowell, the 2010 Open winner at Pebble Beach, stroked the potential tying putt well left of the hole, and Simpson, a 26-year-old fifth-year pro out from Charlotte, N.C., was suddenly the 15th straight different winner of a major and the ninth first-time champion in a row. His four-day total of 1-over 281 was a shot better than McDowell and first-round leader Michael Thompson.

Once it was over, Simpson couldn’t believe that he had emerged the winner.

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Alex Noren kept his overnight lead to capture the Saab Welsh Open at the Celtic Manor Resort yesterday by shooting a final round 70.

The Swede finished two shots clear of the chasing pack of France’s Gregory Boudry and Former Volvo PGA Champion Anders Hansen.

Two solid rounds of 67 in the opening two days set the Swede on his way to the crown as he held his nerve over the weekend however the Stockholm born winner did admit to feeling nervous, he said: “”The pressure was all on the front nine and I said to myself if I can get through 14 a few ahead it would be easier coming home.”

Noren’s only blemish came at the 15thwhen he found the water hazard off the tee at the driveable Par 4. He stated he was trying to: “seal the deal” by looking to put it on the green and give himself an eagle putt to increase his lead.

He said: “My caddy told me to hit my rescue club and just play short of the green, but my three-wood went the perfect distance the first two days.” Luckily for the 28 year-old it did not prove to cost him going down the last three holes.

Noren also commented on his change in practice regime that he believes has helped him gain this success, he stated: “When you look at the big guys they don’t spend as much time as I do practising at tournaments.” He added: “It makes me feel much more fresh coming down especially today on 18.”

Noren had always been known to work tirelessly on his game since turning pro in 2005 and it now seems that he is reaping the rewards for his hard work after his second victory on the European Tour.

Now based in Monte Carlo, Noren played four years of golf at Oklahoma State University before turning pro and also has a degree in Economic Studies.

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Wish you could play as well as the Pros? Find local golf lessons near you today and choose from a wide selection of golf coaches.

Congratulations go to Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy who were both honoured at the Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony in London on Monday night. The two men from Ulster were acknowledged for their major-winning feats in 2011.

Rory McIlroy’s amazing win at the US Open resulted in him being awarded the statuette for sporting breakthrough of the year.  Meanwhile Darren Clarke was given a wonderful ovation from the sporting audience at the Central Hall, Westminster, as he collected the Comeback of the Year award from Gary Player for his emotional victory at the Open in Sandwich on the 20th attempt at the age of 42.

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England’s Robert Rock played the game of his life holding off Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods to win Abu Dhabi Championship on Sunday. It was a nail-biting last round and only his second victory in 227 European Tour events.

When interviewed Robert said “I really can’t believe I have done that today,” after an anxious six on the last hole had given him a one-stroke victory over McIlroy.

“I was just very happy to be playing with Tiger. That’s a special honour in itself.”

While he shot a two-under-par 70 to finish 13 under, Woods scrambled his way to a 72 and instead of recording a second successive victory on the comeback trail had to settle for a share of third place with Graeme McDowell and Thomas Bjorn.

For years Rock worked in the Swingers Golf Centre in Tamworth, “selling Mars bars and watching Tiger win majors”.  He was 26 before he made it onto the European Tour and 31 when he finally tasted success at last year’s Italian Open. “It’s been a steady progression and I’ve worked hard, but I didn’t think this would happen,” he said.

So many people are also talking about Kyle Stanley. Stanley started round four on the US Tour event at Torrey Pines in California with a five shot lead.  Kyle Stanley led by seven shots early in the final round, and he still had a four-shot lead as he stood on the 18th tee.

Brandt Snedeker, who was playing ahead of him, had a birdie on the 18th and finished the round with a 67 as runner up.  He then watched Stanley spin a wedge into the water, then three-putt from 45 feet for a triple-bogey eight and a 74. Two play-off holes later and Snedeker had snatched the win from Kyle’s hands.

“It’s just crazy,” Snedeker said. “To get my mind around what happened in the last 30 minutes is pretty hard to do right now. My heart is out to Kyle. I feel bad for him to have to go through this.”

Our last person everyone is talking about is Lydia Ko a New Zealand Amateur who has just become one of the youngest winners of a professional tour event after winning the New South Wales Open. South Korean-born Ko shot a three-under-par final round of 69 to finish 14 under beating some fantastic golfers including Laura Davies.

As an amateur, Ko had to forfeit the £12,600 prize money which went to runner-up Becky Morgan who comes from Wales.

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