The year that was

MANY congratulations to Laura Davies for winning her seventh European Tour Order of Merit title. After a miserable start to the season when she missed cut after cut on the LPGA Tour in America, and with her confidence so low she was talking of giving up the game altogether, Laura returned to play in Europe.

A stunning opening round of 66 in the Swiss Open led to a runners-up finish, and with that the belief came flooding back. Speaking to her after she had claimed this years Order of Merit title, Laura admitted that this opening round in Switzerland, and in particular her back nine of 30, was the turning point.

Before that, Laura said that she was striking the ball really well in practice, but just hadnt been able to convert it into good scoring.

Apart from her sheer consistency, it was great to see her back in the winners circle after a two-year absence.

Lauras bounce-back win in the SAS Masters in Norway was at the same venue as her last win two years ago at the Oslo Golf Club. I know a number of members there, and they were all absolutely thrilled with Lauras victory.

But this seventh Order of Merit title was by no means a foregone conclusion. In fact, Gwladys Nocera (right) named Players Player of the Year by way of consolation had a chance to overtake Laura by winning the final event.

Gwladys had a wonderful first half of the season with wins in Switzerland, Italy and Catalonia. I think her appearance in the last Solheim Cup and singles win over Cristie Kerr gave her extra belief and confidence.

Now it will be interesting to see if she can make the step up to the next level and win against a world-class field. Watching her at the Womens British Open, I have no doubt she has the game, but she needs that inner belief that not only does she deserved to be paired in groups alongside Annika Sorenstam and Karrie Webb, but that she is good enough to beat them.

I was also delighted to see Englands Rebecca Hudson do well. Her year got off to a good start when she won the South African Ladies Open and their Order of Merit. It seemed that was all she needed to start playing with confidence, and the 2006 version of Rebecca was much more like the one that made her Britains outstanding amateur at the turn of the century.

Rebeccas consistent form and a maiden victory in the Hungarian Ladies Open saw her leap to eighth in the Order of Merit. If she maintains this form into the new season she will qualify for the Solheim Cup team.

The season was also memorable for Lorena Ochoa, who finished top of the LPGA money list and collected the Vare Trophy for the lowest scoring average. She was unsurprisingly named the Player of the Year.

Watch out for her to start winning Major titles in 2007!

Someone who did just that and found herself back where she belongs was Karrie Webb, who won the Kraft Nabisco and two other tournaments.

Third-place finishes on both the European and American money lists will have the general golfing public asking what went wrong for Annika, but a season when you have five victories, including the US Womens Open, is only a quiet one when judged by her own incredibly lofty standards.

Without doubt the biggest disappointment was the form of Michelle Wie. She started the season well enough, but her play got steadily worse, resulting in her finishing last in the last three mens tournaments that she played in. She could also manage only a lowly tied-17th out of a field of 20 in the World Championship.

I believe her problems started after preparing for and playing in The Weetabix. Ever since then, Michelle seems to have perfected the punched, low-flighted irons that are essential to playing links courses but keeping the weight on your left side isnt conducive to driving the ball well, or getting a high-enough flight on your iron shots to hold approach shots on anything other than enormous greens.

Unlike a lot of people, I dont think its necessarily wrong for Michelle to play in mens tournaments if shes playing well, but when shes playing poorly, I think that shes doing herself and the womens game a lot of harm.

Michelle needs to get her swing and strategy sorted out before competing next season. Womens golf over the last five years has been enhanced by Michelles presence, so I sincerely hope that she gets her game back in shape soon. Happy New Year to you all.