Christmas presents for the golf buddies

Christmas is right around the corner and there are some people that are very hard to by presents for. I mean what do you buy the golfing buddy who has everything? Usually I try to find something a little wacky, but this year I have decided to go serious!

The LA police gear website stocks all the kinds of Tactical gear you can think of. They also have some great torches that caught my eye while browsing the website. So if you have someone that you want to buy an interesting present for, but can't quite find the right thing why not have a look through their website.

Lin Wen-tang wins Hong Kong Open

Taiwan's Lin Wen-tang won a nail-biting UBS Hong Kong Open on the second play-off hole on Sunday, becoming the first Asian champion here in 10 years.

Lin drilled an astonishing pitch to within a foot for a tap-in birdie as Northern Irish teenager Rory McIlroy found trees and missed a long putt to end a day of high drama.

Lin, from Taipei, seals the biggest victory of his career after three previous triumphs on the regional tour and becomes the first Asian Hong Kong Open winner since Kang Wook Soon in 1998.

The 34-year-old had missed a six-foot birdie on the last hole of regulation play to go into the play-off with McIlroy, 19, and Italy's Francesco Molinari, with all three locked at 15-under 265.

Lin then looked to have lost his chance when he drove into thick trees on the first play-off hole, the par-four 18th. But he made a miraculous escape to within four feet for birdie.

Molinari missed his 15-foot birdie putt to drop out of the play-off but there were no such problems for McIlroy, who lasered his pitch to within two feet to take them back to the 18th tee.

The teenager then found trees but kept his hopes alive with another breathtaking shot to the edge of the green. But he could not hole the putt, making Lin's victory a formality.

"Lin probably should have won it in regulation, and he made two threes in the play-offs. You can't beat that, to be honest," said McIlroy.

"I had an incredible shot for my second shot, but it just wasn't meant to be," he added.

The thrilling finish marked the first play-off here since 1994 and continues a tradition of excitement at the Hong Kong Open, which had been decided by a single stroke in each of the past five editions.

My Thoughts

Another great finish to the Hong Kong Open. If you are only going to watch one Asian tour event make sure it is this one!

Golf Christmas Cards

I don't usually send Christmas cards (my wife does), but I always give Christmas cards to my golf buddies at the end of the year. I am constantly on the lookout for golf themed Christmas cards and this year I came across on the ball greetings. They offer some of the best collection of Golf Christmas Cards I have seen! They also stock other great golf themed gifts which are well worth checking out!

If you are looking for a great golfing gift for your golfing buddies, husband, wife or someone else close to you then make sure you check out their website!

HSBC Champions

Sergio Garcia won the five-million-dollar HSBC Champions tournament in a play-off here on Monday over England's Oliver Wilson, a victory that will see him rise to number two in the world rankings.

Garcia sank a seven-foot birdie putt from the fringe of the 18th green on the second play-off hole, after the pair finished regulation play in the rain-delayed tournament at 14 under.

The win means Garcia will overtake American Phil Mickelson as the world number two. Mickelson, the defending champion in Shanghai, fired a disappointing 73 in the fourth round to finish five shots back tied for eighth.

"I feel great.... I'm just so proud to win and (reach) number two in the world, so very happy. Great week," said the 28-year-old shortly after his dramatic victory that gave him his second European Tour title in three weeks.

In the final round that began on Sunday afternoon and was completed on Monday due to heavy rain earlier in the tournament, Garcia carded a 68 while Wilson, leader after three rounds, fired a 70.

Garcia lifted himself to 14 under on the par-five 18th thanks to a brilliant approach to about eight feet followed by a nerveless putt.

Wilson, who was playing in the final group behind Garcia, was already at 14 under and made an equally brilliant put for par on the 18th from about 10 feet to force the play-off.

The players then returned to the 18th tee for the play-off.

On the first play-off hole, Garcia missed a 15-foot birdie putt but Wilson left his birdie effort from half that distance short and to the right.

On the second play-off hole, again the 18th, Wilson's approach shot almost hit the pin, before spinning back to rest 10 feet short of the hole.

Wilson's birdie effort just slipped past the hole and he slumped to his knees and rested his head on the end of his putter in frustration.

Garcia then stepped up to knock in his birdie putt and collect the winner's prize cheque of 833,000 dollars, giving him his 19th professional title and the perfect start in the European Tour's lucrative "Race to Dubai."

Eyeglasses

Unfortunately I am one of the many people who need glasses for many of my daily tasks like reading and using a computer. While this isn't a huge affliction to have I often have the problem of leaving my glasses somewhere and forgetting where I put them, or I forget to take them with me where I go! For this reason it pays to have a spare pair (or two) of glasses in places you are likely to need them such as in your desk at work, in the car glove box and even in less common laces like your golf bag. Unfortunately, in the past, this could be an expensive task, but with online glasses store Zenni Optical cheap spare glasses are now a reality.

Zenni Optical have been selling cheap eyeglasses online now for quite a while and have established a strong reputation for quality and low price! They were even featured in the Chicago Tribune see this link for the story! If you are looking for a cheap pair of prescription glasses or sunglasses then check out Zenni Optical.

Oh and don't forget, if you are purchasing a new pair of glasses and don't need your old ones then donate them to a charity in your area so someone else can make use of them!

Chinese golf becomes a major force

By Nick Mulvenney

SHANGHAI, Nov 8 (Reuters) - China's golf chief Zhang Xiaoning said extending the rain-disrupted HSBC Champions to Monday signified the world's most populous country had arrived as a major force in international golf.

Wet weather washed out play on Friday and delayed the start of the second round by three hours on Saturday, forcing organisers of the $5 million tournament to schedule a fifth day.

"Monday play is an honour reserved for only the most important tournaments," said Zhang, secretary-general of the China Golf Association (CGA).

"It has proved we have one of the world's most important tournaments and it has proved Chinese golf has truly arrived on the world stage."

The 2005 Asian Open in Shanghai was also rain-disrupted and extended to Monday but China's golfing trailblazer Zhang Liangwei said the decision to extend this week's event was a "significant moment".

"I'm very proud for Chinese golf," said the 43-year-old, who was the first man from his country to play at one of golf's four majors, the 2004 U.S. Masters.

"At the start of my career there were almost no tournaments in China. Now we have an event that is treated with the respect normally given to the majors."

My thoughts

I keep hearing China is the future and this step shows that they are serious about their golf. What will the golfing world look like in 50 years? I am not sure, but I am convinced China will be involved!

Report that call

I am sure most of us can say we have received an annoying call or prank at some stage. Sometimes these are harmless fun, but at other times these calls can becoming quite annoying or even a little threatening. There is a new website that is trying to fight back by allowing users to report harassing calls. You can submit the details to their Harassing Caller Report and have it listed for others to watch out for.

I am not a lawyer and do not know the legal implications of this service. Make sure you know where you stand in your jurisdiction.

This week in golf

CHINA GOLF ASSOCIATION

HSBC Champions

Site: Shanghai, China.

Schedule: Thursday-Sunday.

Course: Sheshan International Golf Club (7,199 yards, par 72).

Purse: US$5 million. Winner's share: $833,300.

PGA TOUR

Children's Miracle Network Classic

Site: Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

NATIONWIDE TOUR

Nationwide Tour Championship

Site: McKinney, Texas.

Don't forget the binoculars

Recently one of my golfing buddies was telling me he scored tickets to one of the major golfing events next year. My first reaction was to see if he had another ticket for me (or at least if he could get me one). Secondly I told him to remember his binoculars. I had once gone to a top tournament and while I had a great time I wished I had taken my binoculars.

If you don't have any binoculars then you are in luck. Nikon (one of the best manufacturers) are offering a $25 or $50 gift card with a purchase of certain models of their binoculars. This Nikon ATB Promotion is valid until the end of the year (2008) so there is still time to act. They would even make a great Christmas present!

Volvo Masters comes to a close

Soren Kjeldsen only needed an even-par 71 in Sunday's final round to win the season-ending Volvo Masters.

Kjeldsen finished the tournament at eight-under 276 and won the championship by two strokes over Martin Kaymer (68) and Anthony Wall (69) at a soggy Valderrama.

The third round was completed Sunday morning and then the players went back out for the final round. There was some rain on Sunday, but the final round was contested under mostly sunny skies.

It was certainly a sunny day on Sunday for Robert Karlsson.

The Swede, who only tied for 32nd place, won the Order of Merit title.

Padraig Harrington, winner of two majors this year, had the best chance to catch Karlsson before the tournament, but it was Lee Westwood who had the opportunity on Sunday.

If Westwood would have won the event, he would have gone past Karlsson for the money title, but it didn't happen.

My thoughts
Karlsson is a great golfer with a great future and one to watch out for in the majors next year. Also congratulations to Soren Kjeldsen who played very solidly to win the last Volvo masters.