176 - Big Winners...

So the Ryder Cup was eventually won by Europe. Well done Monty and the boys, you did the continent proud (well most of you – yeah I’m looking at you Molinari brothers – grrr). Not trying to sound too cheesy here but the big winner in my opinion was the game of golf itself.

When Celtic Manor was chosen as the venue for the 2010 Ryder Cup a lot of eyebrows were raised. Was Europe playing into the hands of the USA by selecting a course with a distinctly American feel to it? Surely it would have been more beneficial to select a gnarled Links course that the American’s would struggle with?

I hindsight Celtic Manor was a fantastic choice as it gave both teams the opportunity to win making it a contest worth watching…once the rain had stopped, obviously. It was a brilliant idea to hold a major sporting event in Britain in October, brilliant idea. The torrential rain on Friday meant that the competition finished on Monday – the first time this has happened in its history.

Some of the golf that was played was stunning, Luke Donald, Ian Poulter, Rickie Fowler and of course Tiger Woods played brilliant shots at various times throughout the weekend.

Woods produced a vintage round on Monday to remind us all why he has been the world number one for so long.

After all the games, all the drives, approach shots and putts the competition came down to the final game on the final day (but not quite the final hole). Graham McDowell (above) held his nerve, Hunter Mahan fluffed his lines and the trophy returned to Europe with a hole to spare.

Queue scenes of elation in South Wales echoed around Europe by golf fans and new converts alike. Twitter was throbbing with messages starting “I don’t usually like golf but…” as none golfers got caught up in the emotion and excitement of the spectacle taking place at Celtic Manor.

Colin Montgomerie was humble and reserved as the celebrations started; Corey Pavin looked on the verge of tears. The passion and excitement of the final day did so much good for the game, especially here in Europe, we love winners in Europe!!!

160 - The New Silver...

It seems that white is the new silver when it comes to putters. TaylorMade have produced a new family of ‘Ghost’ putters that are earning rave reviews in the golfing press and are being used to great effect by the tour pros, most noticeably Graeme McDowell and Justin Rose.

McDowell used the new putter to help him win both the Welsh Open at Celtic Manor and the US Open at Pebble Beach recently with Rose picking up his first PGA Tour win at the Memorial Tournament, which took place at the Muirfield Village Golf Club, Dublin, Ohio, USA.

The Rossa Corza Ghost (to give it its full name) is a stunning thing to behold, from its glorious white finish to its three alignment lines and innovative hole in the head it certainly stands out. Rumour is that TaylorMade have plans to extend the range to produce a Ghost for every player.

One player who obviously likes the idea of a white putter if not the design of the Corza Ghost is Sergio Garcia (right) who has had his usual putter ‘blancoed’.

The Ryder Cup star was spotted at the US Open using a white blade putter sparking rumours that TaylorMade were about to release a white Anser type wand.

According to the manufacturer that isn’t really the case. Garcia, as a TaylorMade/Adidas staff player, asked for a specially produced white version of his normal Rossa Daytona putter and the company duly obliged.

Golf Whine Monthly reviewed the Corza Ghost as part of a 42 club round up and it received a Gold Award, finishing third in the mallet section behind another of the company’s putters, the child scaringly ugly Spider Vicino and the pretty Nike Method 003 (incidentally, the TaylorMade Daytona favoured by Garcia was runner up in the blade review).

The reviewers were impressed by TMaG’s “outside the box” thinking when it came to design and who can argue? Both the Corza and the Spider Vicino are stunning looking creations that work in the real world which is what a lot of us want.

143 - The White Putter For You?

I was watching the Welsh Open at Celtic Manor over the weekend (great golf and great result for Graeme McDowell) and noticed one of the Pro’s using what looked like a white putter. After a bit of digging I found club being used, and what a club it is.

It turns out that it is called the Corza Ghost (cool name) and is made by TaylorMade. The white finish has been used to help golfers aim the club easier and comes as a result of experiments TaylorMade did with Dr. Steven A. Hitzeman, a professor at the Indiana School of Optometry.

Dr. Hitzeman said: ”The white putter head stands out so clearly against its background because of the high contrast between white and green. That high contrast maximizes stimulation to the retina and highlights the head's shape and features. The contrast would be lower if the putter was black or grey.

“Many golfers use the leading edge of the putter as part of their alignment strategy, so this high contrast for the leading edge gives the golfer the best chance of squaring up the putter face at address.”

But the help doesn’t just end with the delightful hue chosen by the engineers and the good doctor, there are three black alignment lines on the top and a circular hole in the back giving multiple options when lining up a shot.

"You can focus on the topline to aim Ghost, or you can focus on the alignment lines to visually connect the circular hole and your ball to lock in your aim. The point is that you've got options, each one highly effective." said Bret Wahl, senior director of iron, wedge and putter development

If you are interested in this stunning looking piece of kit then hurry to your favourite online emporium and part with a reasonable £129. If this style isn’t quite to your liking then TaylorMade have announced that more Ghost models are scheduled to become available later in the year.

Sometimes the best ideas are the most simple and that is certainly so with the Corza Ghost. Take a mallet putter, make it white and suddenly it becomes easier to use. It’ll be interesting to see how many other manufactures suddenly come up with the revolutionary idea of painting their putters…