2010 Golfer's Guide Year in Review Awards

One marriage and one man stole the soul of golf in 2010. Heartbreak of another sort descended upon Dustin Johnson - a local rule determined that a bunker is a in fact a bunker no matter the accumulation of debris. A season impetuously labeled as disappointing or dull was neither.

Phil Mickelson's win at Augusta and embrace of his wife Amy immediately afterward had Lefty headed for Sainthood, but his failure to snatch No. 1 from adulterous Tiger lessened his impact. If anything this year has been interesting in a most bizarre way and served as a nice bit of back story for what is sure to be a better 2011. Before we run toward a new crop of majors and moments like Louis Oosthuizen's bride toward her happy hubby on the 18th at St. Andrews, let's recognize the newsmakers and champions of the past 12 months.

Course of the Year: Pebble Beach Golf Links

Odd you say that in a year dominated by talk of austerity, pricey Pebble could top this list. Well sure you could play your local muny 100 times for the same amount of money that one stay on the Monterey Peninsula would run you, but you might just choose that one round. The Masters was magical and the PGA was thrilling, but no place contrasts the beauty and beast nature of golf better than Pebble. This was on display for four days at the U.S. Open. The course is practically a living infomerical for why people travel great lengths to play this game.

Cialis Player of the Year: Fred Couples

No player inspired a generation of men whose prostates are just now beginning to press down on their collective bladders more than Freddy "Boom Boom" Couples. His early season demolition of the Champions Tour and first round success at The Masters proved that life may in fact begin at 50. And he did it all while wearing very comfortable shoes with no socks.

Disappointment of the Year: Phil Mickelson

Mickelson was cast as the Colmes to Tiger's Hannity this season, and for the legion of women and hypocrites ready to string Woods up by his unfaithful man parts, the prospect of Lefty ascending to No. 1 in the world was divine. But the anti-Tiger peetered out post Augusta and now we're left with Lee Westwood and his Twitter account atop the OWGR (Official World Golf Rankings.)

Moment of the Year: Tiger Presser in Ponte Vedra

In his first media address since Tiger's fun bag of secrets spilled into the public arena, Mr. Woods spoke robotically about his mistakes and the way forward. The world stared in disbelief as if Tiger has been diagnosed with the first ever case of cleft lip. The only winners on this day - Buddhist bracelet salesmen.

Ruling of the Year: Sarah Brown's Disqualification

Eighteen-year-old Sarah Brown's abrupt disqualification from a Duramed Futures Tour event this summer spoke to the flummoxing nature of the rules introduced January 1 to regulate golf club grooves in the professional ranks. While the LPGA development Tour didn't even implement the groove changes until July, its officials still couldn't properly put them into practice. A rules official used a website set up by the USGA to determine that one of Brown's Ping Tour-W wedges was non-conforming. She was less than a dozen shots off the lead on Sunday, but was immediately pulled off the course as she made the turn for home with further examination or confirmation. Officials would learn their ruling was incorrect, and Brown was issued an apology. The damage was still done. Her father said of the incident, "It was like giving someone the death penalty on hearsay."

Breakthrough Performance: Paula Creamer (Women's U.S. Open), Rory McIlroy (Quail Hollow Championship)

Creamer's victory allowed to shed the label of best female golfer on the planet to have never won a major. It was also a sweet reward for the 23-year-old media darling whose recent physical ailments (mysterious stomach illness, ligament damage in her thumb) greatly hindered her play. Just 20 at the time, McIlroy crushed his competition in Charlotte on a course worthy of a major championship. His score of 62 was a record, and he was a remarkable 9-under for his final 12 holes.

Luckiest Bastard of the Year: Jim Furyk

Furyk rebounded from a winless season in 2009 to capture the FedEx Cup and the $10 million prize that goes with it. Unfortunately, his banishment from The Barclays (first playoff event) further discreditied the PGA's postseason system. Imagine sleeping through a section of the SAT, but being allowed to simply waive that portion and later gain admission to Harvard. The truth is that even the most diehard golf fans begin to grow weary of watching golf on telelvision come September. If the PGA Tour really needs the money, extend the regular season and give us a match play final. Take the four major champions and four top finishers in the FedEx Cup standings and put them in an 8-man bracket. Play out said bracket in mid-September at a top 15 course somewhere in the world. Give us something we'll be excited to watch.

World Player of the Year: Graeme McDowell

McDowell is a very likeable guy, and he's the one guy I think I'd actually enjoy getting snookered with in an Irish Pub even though I'm always being told "such and such is the kind of guy you'd like to grab a beer with." McDowell was magnificent at Pebble Beach in a very mundane way. He almost coasted as the waves and world's best players crashed around him. In Wales he clinched the Ryder Cup for Europe which was probably a bigger deal to him, and to put a nice big bow on the season he drained to clutch putts on the former Mr. Clutch at his own tournament.