The NCG Oscars

The Jean Van de Velde Award
For going swimming on the golf course - 2007 winner: Woody Austin

MENTION the name Woody Austin to golf fans and most will recall his comical tumble into a lake at last year's Presidents Cup, rather than his excellent golfing achievements in 2007.

The Texan journeyman became the latest lesser light of the PGA Tour to enjoy a hugely successful year by winning the St Jude Championship in June before doing his best to chase down Tiger Woods at the USPGA, eventually settling for second place.

But his antics in Canada raised his profile immeasurably and earned him the nicknames 'Aqua Man' and 'Jacques Costeau'. Austin ended up in water during a foursomes match as he and David Toms battled against South African duo Rory Sabbatini and Trevor Immelman.

Under pressure to match Sabbatini by driving the green at 14, Austin pulled his tee shot into the lake lining the hole. He then took off his shoes and socks before slipping on a rock and tumbling forwards into the water while trying to play his second shot. Austin failed to make any contact with the ball before getting totally drenched.

The Americans conceded the hole to go two down but Austin earned them a half with a storming birdie-birdie-birdie finish.
This impromptu dip almost made up for the fact he didn't bother travelling to Scotland for The Open at Carnoustie. Almost.

The David Beckham Award
For headline-grabbing - 2007 winner: Gary Player

IMAGINE you're a multiple Major winner who enjoys being the centre of attention. Now think about how terrible it would be if you hadn't had much press for a while - especially when you've got a new book coming out in the very near future.

That's the predicament South African Gary Player found himself in back in July as he prepared to take part in The Open at Carnoustie. So what did he do? He told the whole world that golf had a massive drugs problem and that the game was riddled with cheats.

Bingo! Player's remarks reverberated around the world in seconds and gained him ample space in thousands of newspapers and magazines. He said he knew which players were cheating but refused to name them and called for dope tests to be introduced immediately.

From most people's point of view, the sooner drug testing is introduced to golf, the better. Firstly, it will clean up the sport, if indeed, it needs cleaning up and, secondly, it will keep Player quiet. Well, at least until he's got another book to promote.

The Colin Montgomerie Award
For feeling hard done by - and letting everyone know about it - 2007 winner: Sergio Garcia

THE Spaniard could be forgiven for thinking that things had transpired against him in the Majors, but bleating about it to a packed pressroom after losing The Open doesn't always do you any favours. His record in the big four last year doesn't make pretty reading. He missed the cut at the Masters and the US Open, was DQ'd from the US PGA (see Boo Weekley) and lost The Open in a play-off.

He returned to Carnoustie and looked to have conquered his demons, but for the second time in eight years left with tears in his eyes. A long wait to play his tee shot on 18, a putt that refused to drop and an approach that hit the pin but finished 20 feet away were all the ammunition Garcia needed.

In the interviews afterwards he unloaded: "You know what's the saddest thing about it? It's not the first time. It's not the first time, unfortunately. So, I don't know, I'm playing against a lot of guys out there, more than the field."

Enough said.

The John Daly Award
For being John Daly - 2007 winner: John Daly

ANOTHER turbulent year has seen the Wild Thing make just nine cuts from 24 events, be plagued by a shoulder injury, finish 182nd on the money list meaning he will have to rely on sponsor invites again and allegedly get attacked by his wife with a steak knife.

Oh, and by the way, he has just written his first instruction book entitled Golf My Own Damn Way: The Real Man's Guide to Improving Your Game. That's right, Daly has turned instructor, but things not included in there are how to lead The Open before missing the cut and winning a pro-am playing bare-foot and letting your four-year-old son play shots for you.

What is included is some sensible advice interspersed with a plenty of anecdotes along the way and a big surprise - leave your driver in the boot of the car. An unbelievable suggestion from the King of Grip it and Rip it. But it seems that Daly is looking to get his game back on track and in preparation for the 2008 season has enlisted the help of Butch Harmon.

Perhaps you can teach an old dog new tricks.

The Forrest Gump Award
For a simple approach to life - 2007 winner: Boo Weekley

THE tobacco-chewing, camouflage-wearing, good ol' boy from the Florida panhandle lit up the PGA Tour and The Open with his innocence and ignorance, as well as some sparkling golf, this year.

While he won his first ever PGA Tour event in the Verizon Heritage, it is his mouth that has attracted almost as much attention. Putting his scorecard-marking error aside that contributed to Sergio Garcia being DQ'd at the USPGA, this lovable yokel comes out with some real nuggets of wisdom.

Top of the pile must be: "I don't watch golf - if it ain't hunting or fishing it don't interest me." Then he showed his knowledge of St Andrews: "I didn't know it was the Home of Golf. I thought the home of golf was where I was from."

His name derives from Yogi Bear's sidekick Boo Boo, but as you can see, he quite literally is 'smarter than the average bear'. The pick of the bunch, though, surely came at Loch Lomond (Boo's first-ever trip abroad) when he casually asked playing partner Paul Lawrie if he would be having to pre-qualify for the following week's Open at Carnoustie and what he knew about the course. Lawrie had to point out he had won The Open at Carnoustie eight years earlier.

The Ron Atkinson Award
For commentary gaffes - 2007 winner: Dottie Pepper

INNOCENT gaffes hail from commentary booths around the world and are, generally, an accepted part of sport's rich tapestry. John Motson, Murray Walker and David Coleman are just three who have experienced their fair share of ridicule over the years due to regular cock-ups.

Some commentators though, such as American Dottie Pepper, don't do regular-type gaffes. They deal in more offensive terms, usually when they think their microphones have been switched off. Pepper didn't she was still in earshot of the American viewing public when she described two of her own country's players as "choking freaking dogs" at the Solheim Cup in September.

The girls in question, Sherri Steinhauer and Laura Diaz, had just thrown away a commanding lead against Maria Hjorth and Gwladys Nocera, so Pepper displayed her none-too tactful response.

Who needs enemies when that's what your own think of you?

The Ian Baker Finch Award
For the inexplicable disappearance of god-given talent - 2007 winner: Michelle Wie

AS a sweet 16-year-old she was a PR dream, but two years on things have turned sour. Her insistence, or should that be her father's insistence, to play men's events and bomb out with rounds in the 80s, the merry-go-round of caddies and agents who are fired or resign, a wrist injury and a controversial withdrawal have all tarnished what was once touted as one of the most
promising golf careers on the planet.

Even Wie's priorities seem to have shifted and a college degree has taken precedence over the pursuit of titles on the LPGA Tour. Should she be allowed to escape the confines of Team Wie and the overbearing protection of her parents, she may come out of this smelling of roses with a qualification, a well-rounded, more mature outlook and a hunger to win majors.

However, it could also be just as easy for the wheels to come off and the 18-year-old do a Brittany Spears. Now we're not suggesting that she will shave her head or team up with Paris Hilton, but with all those frat parties going on, the temptation to rebel could be hard to resist...

The Vijay Singh Award
For playing your best golf after turning 40 - 2007 winner: Steve Stricker

COMEBACK kid Steve Stricker has never had it so good. He claimed over .5m in 2007, won for the first time on American soil in 11 years and soared up the world rankings. Gasps aplenty could be heard in the NCG offices when news of Stricker's
ascent to the world's top five filtered through. That said, the rankings don't lie and Stricker's consistently excellent form throughout the year means he deserves his time in the sun.

The man from Wisconsin, who turned 40 last February, also finished second to Tiger Woods in the inaugural FedEx Cup. In all, Stricker grabbed nine top-10s in 2007, including a tied-eighth finish at the Open Championship - not bad for a man who went almost four years without making a cut at a Major.

After finishing joint 59th at the 2002 Open, Stricker either didn't qualify or failed to play the weekend at every Major until the 2006 US Open. Since then, though, he's bagged three top 10s at the big ones.

Look out for Stricker at this year's Majors and the Ryder Cup.