No great surprise there. As poor a season as he has had by his own high standards, compared to the rest of the guys on tour, Woods has done not too shabbily in 2010. Plus, his divorce now finally official and public, and his relationship with his soon-to-be-new-coach Sean Foley blossoming, he seems to be finding some late-season form.

Leave the world No.1 at home? No way in God’s green earth was Pavin going to do that. And, even if he was, do you really think the PGA of America and all of its wealthy associates would have allowed him to?

No, Woods was a cast-iron certainty to be included on this team.

Not so certain a pick, however, was Rickie Fowler, the rookie who finished 20^th on the Ryder Cup standings.

The Californian turned professional less than a year ago, has yet to win and who lagged behind the likes of Nick Watney, Sean O’Hair, former US Open champion Lucas Glover and Anthony Kim in the ‘those in need of a wild card’ stakes.

No two ways about it, picking Fowler is a hugely gutsy decision by Pavin. It might also just be a masterstroke.

Fowler is a fast, aggressive player, who is a self-confessed adrenaline-junkie – his childhood pastimes included jumping motorcycles off 50-foot ramps.

He’s also flashy, has bags of star potential and has handled the pressure of being the PGA Tour’s youngest card-carrying player this year with consummate ease, doing just about enough to retain it by the time March rolled round.

In short? This little upstart will rock up at Celtic Manor with no fear and nothing to lose. Play well, he’s a hero. Play badly, well, he’s a kid, what did you expect, his time will come, blah blah blah.

It’ll also be interesting to see who he’ll be paired with. My guess? Mickelson. Not only are they both Californian, Fowler is also very good friends with Phil’s brother Tim from the Southern California amateur circuit and has used that friendship to play several practice rounds with the three-time Masters champ this season. Also, remember Valhalla in ’08? Mickelson was paired with Anthony Kim and that didn’t exactly turn out badly. Experience/youth; veteran/rookie; yin/yang – points on the board.

As a footnote, Fowler is also the third player from the 2007 Walker Cup to play a part in this Ryder Cup, Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy being the others.

Unlike them, Fowler stuck around for the 2009 Walker Cup, too, winning all four of his matches and improving his record for the biennial amateur Ryder Cup to won seven, lost one.

His star is on the rise. Look out for it over Newport in a fortnight’s time.

Martin Kaymer: A+

The German couldn’t have appeared more at peace ahead of the final round, an aura he attributed to ‘a little bath’ and a lengthy night’s sleep. His almost flawless final round of two-under-par consisted of three birdies, 14 pars and just a single bogey, keeping his nose in front as soon as Watney made his double bogey at the first.

Although the 25-year-old admitted later that he had been nervous throughout the first 18 holes, you would never have guessed, as he proceeded to extra holes with a clear head and seemingly unwavering confidence.

A calculated approach to the play-off saw the German unaffected by Watson’s birdie at the first extra hole, level things up at the next and, instead of taking unnecessary risks at the last, making the smart play to give him two shots at glory, which he duly took.

A muted reaction from the German was the only disappointment, but then, much like his compatriot Bernhard Langer, his inward smile told its own story.

Bubba Watson: A

Without doubt the best final round of the day, Bubba Watson launched himself up the leaderboard with a sensational display over the closing 18 holes, which included an eagle and four birdies to give himself a shot at victory.

However, the big-hitting American will have to learn to keep his head under-pressure, as his second shot from a comparably better lie to his opponent at the third extra hole beggared belief.

We can’t decide whether his delight at making the Ryder Cup team was masking his disappointment or if it really did mean more to him that winning the title, but either way, the American was well-deserving of his place at Celtic Manor.

Dustin Johnson: B

If you thought after his cataclysmic 83 in the US Open earlier this summer that the final round of a major championship couldn’t get any more devastating for Dustin Johnson, then think again.

Grounding your club in a bunker is, quite simply, a schoolboy error, but you’ve got to feel sorry for the guy given that 100,000 people had been standing, sitting, kicking and, more than likely, eating their lunch in that ‘bunker’ all week.

However, his conduct from the moment the rules official approached him on the 18^th green was nothing short of exemplary. He even found it within himself to speak to the media and resist the temptation to slag off the PGA of America in the process.

Let’s just thank God he didn’t hole that putt at 18 for victory… or not as the case may be.

Dustin Johnson’s caddie: D

Considering the bunker was clearly visible on the Whistling Straits strokesaver, surely Johnson’s caddie should have realised his player was in a hazard at 18?

And added to that, is it not his responsibility to keep his man in line when it comes to the rules – local or otherwise – when the adrenaline is pumping?

More’s the pity, because it cost them a shot at US PGA glory.

Rory McIlroy: B-

While we were hoping the young Northern Irishman would be the first of the A’s on our PGA report card, he failed to set Whistling Straits alight with the same unwavering confidence he demonstrated at Quail Hollow.

An edgy start and a series of missed opportunities were the 21-year-old’s downfall, effectively costing him his first major victory.

Par for the course might have been good enough to seal his compatriot Graeme McDowell his first major win at Pebble Beach earlier this year, but it just didn’t cut it for McIlroy in Wisconsin.

However, his second consecutive third place finish in a major championship does prove one thing: McIlroy has what it takes to win majors and it’s just a matter of time before he does.

Nick Watney: C

His final round of 81 couldn’t have been more comparable to that of his playing partner for the day Dustin Johnson’s meltdown at Pebble Beach.

The fact that a round of level par would have been enough to secure victory for the 29-year-old would only have added insult to injury.

And after a round that included two doubles, a triple and five bogeys, his wounds couldn’t have been saltier after having to sign his buddy Johnson’s amended scorecard ruling him out of contention.

No wonder he shed a tear in the scorer’s hut.

Whistling Straits: B

The term “stunning scenery” was coined for this very course, with some of the most magnificent waterfront views in golf. One of the most unusual golf course layouts, it can only be credited for its visual attributes, particularly its eye-catching and unusual bunkering.

However, those 1,200 bunkers, many of which are little more than trampled down sandy waste areas, cost a man a chance at the title, which is something that may have to be reviewed before the Ryder Cup arrives there in 2020.

To dispel any confusion over the way things are as far as European Team selection is concerned, here is a breakdown of the situation right now.

After the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles from August 26-29, the four top-ranked players in the World Points List and the leading five players from the European Points List (not already selected in the world list) will make up the nine.

European Captain Colin Montgomerie will fill the three remaining spots with his wildcard choices.

If things remain as they are at present, the team will consist of: Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell, Luke Donald, Ian Poulter, Martin Kaymer, Francesco Molinari, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Ross McGowan.

Still, with five events remaining, including the Bridgestone Invitational and the US PGA, there is still some room for manoeuvre should any of the challengers go on to claim victory.

Positions currently occupied at the lower end of the lists are by no means cemented, bringing players, such as Padraig Harrington, Paul Casey, Alvaro Quiros and Rhys Davies, into the mix for automatic selection.

It is most likely that Montgomerie will fill the remaining spots with three of the 13 names already mentioned. That, however, would mean having to ignore at least two proven Ryder Cup performers in Robert Karlsson and Sergio Garcia – something the Scot has indicated he is not necessarily willing to do.

Garcia will give Monty his biggest headache. The Spaniard may have as impressive a Ryder Cup record as anyone but – with only one top ten to his name this year – he has already indicated he may turn down the chance to play should Monty come calling.

With so much at stake, viewing over the next few weeks is bound to be enthralling, as the line up for one of the strongest European teams in memory is decided for the historic showdown at Celtic Manor.

Regardless of who’s in and who’s out, 2010 represents as good a chance as any to recapture the Ryder Cup from the grasp of the Americans, and it’s now only a matter of days until we could see Monty holding it aloft once more.

Louis Oosthuisen: A+

After Thursday’s opening round 65, everyone waited for the South African to drop away, assuming his first round fireworks were more fluke than flair. However, as stubborn as the Old Course itself, the South African refused to be downtrodden by his doubters, instead biting back with three sub-par rounds to leave his challengers in the shade. His Open record thus far might have comprised of three missed cuts, but this former Ernie Els Foundation player proved that when he does make it past halfway, he does so in style. This may have been the year of the World Cup in his homeland, but victory at the home of golf sees that and raises it one Claret Jug.

Lee Westwood: B

Once again the nearly-man of the majors, just when will Lee Westwood close out on that ever-elusive victory? That said, however, the Englishman near-enough stole second spot, after a far-from-sparkling final round, in which he benefited from fellow countryman Paul Casey’s mistakes as opposed to launching a challenge of his own. With a fourth place at Royal Troon in 2004, third at Turnberry in 2009 and second at St Andrews in 2010, you’ve got to think the Nottinghamshire golfer is just one away from sealing the deal in his home major and Royal St George’s next year could be just the place for him to take that final step up.

Paul Casey: B-

The closest man to Oosthuizen going into the final round, Paul Casey knew that if he emulated his jaw-dropping 31 from Friday and Saturday’s front nines he would be in with more than just a chance of catching his playing partner. However, that challenge failed to materialise, going out in 35 and returning in 40 – his worst two nines of the week. His triple-bogey on 12 ended adrenaline junkies’ hopes of an exciting run-in, flattening the atmosphere like a steam-roller. He emerged from the ‘Brit Pack’ as the favourite to end England’s 20-year Open Championship drought but, in the end, could muster only a share of third place.

Rory McIlroy: B+

An opening round of 63 had the bookies worried on day one, as the curly-haired youngster from Northern Ireland had never shot worse than a 69 around the Old Course. However, a second round 80 killed both his excellent Old Course scoring record and his championship chances. Rounds of 69 and 68 helped him recover enough to claim third place, which is proof, perhaps, that he is destined to win around the hallowed home of golf. Until then, though, young McIlroy will no doubt reflect on this as an opportunity wasted.

Tiger Woods: D

They say a bad craftsman always blames his tools and, though it is not a phrase we ever thought would be used in the context of the once-canonised world No.1, it is one that just about sums up his week. Having changed from his trusty Scotty Cameron for the first time in 11 years, the short stick that helped him to 13 of his 14 major victories, his new Nike Method putter saw him take 99 putts in the opening three rounds. His lowly putting stats prompted him to make the switch back to his Scotty for round four but by then it was too late. Cursing, swearing, banging clubs and spitting were, once again, the order of the four days for the world No.1. He might claim he is striving to become ‘a better man’ but we’re left waiting to see how and when a more saintly Woods will rock up at a major.

The Old Course: B

When Rory McIlroy ripped up the Old Course with an Open Championship and course record of 63, audiences the world over drew breath. Was this going to be the lowest-scoring Open ever? With birdies and eagles filling up the scoreboard, you couldn’t help but wonder if the time had come to put the Old Lady out of her misery and into retirement. However, in typical style she bit right back. The wind that howled around the loop on Friday set the tone for the weekend, with scores failing to get anywhere in the region of McIlroy’s 63. The controversial changes to the infamous Road Hole were vindicated, with all the drama of previous years injected back into the 17th. All in all, a successful week that proved the home of golf is not prepared to relinquish its crown jewel.

A 12-stroke victory in the LPGA Championship at Locust Hill Country Club in New York with a record-breaking 19-under-par total earned Kerr the world No.1 spot she has craved since joining the LPGA in 1997.

And not only that, but she became the first American woman to do so – proving, perhaps, that the US aren’t quite ready to relinquish their tour to the invasion of Asian players with whom it has been bombarded with over the last five years.

And though her rise to No.1 involved whipping the top spot from right under the nose of Japan’s Ai Miyazato, the American, if she is to be held by the words she uttered after winning the 2009 Michelob Ultra, has no intention of giving it back any time soon.

“I’ve always said I wanted to get there once in my career,” she said of the world No.1 spot just 12 months ago. “Who knows, if you look at Annika, she got there and then stayed there for like ten years.”

Just weeks ago, after winning the State Farm Classic at Panther Creek, Kerr’s relief was not just to have won an event for herself, but to have won one for her country, saying: “I’m just happy not to have to answer, ‘why are there no American winners anymore,’” but I am sure her latest victory, her second major and biggest winning margin, will define, not only her career – but her country’s success for years to come.

Graeme McDowell: A+

And to think everyone thought that Rory McIlroy was Northern Ireland’s best chance of a major winner. G-Mac played solid golf from start to finish at Pebble Beach and, whilst all around him were losing their heads in the final round, he just about kept his to emerge a deserved winner. With all the froth generated over the past few years by the likes of McIlroy, Lee Westood, Ian Poulter and Paul Casey, McDowell has flown on the edge of the British golf’s press radar. He’ll need to get used to that changing from here on in.

Dustin Johnson: D

What can you say save for this: it took the 25-year-old 16 more shots to play his fourth round compared with his third. He got nervous, got fast, got slack and, ultimately, got found out. For three rounds, he was a major champion in the making. But that last round? Like watching a motoway pile-up. In slow-mo. Clearly talented, Johnson will be back. But as to when that will be is anybody’s guess because, let’s face it, those are an awful lot of wounds that he’ll have to lick.

Tiger Woods: C

How do you think the world No.1 played at Pebble? Not particularly great? A bit inconsistent? Not like you would expect the world’s best player to play? Well, according to the man himself, whilst disappointed not to win, he “didn’t hit too many bad shots.” Which is a bit like Michael Schumacher telling you that he doesn’t drive that fast. Listen up, Tiger: you are either hopelessly in denial about the state of your game or are determined to keep on spouting the kind of BS you pledged, hand-on-heart and tears in your eyes, to cut out when we discovered just what a naughty boy you’ve been. Either way, you’re in the wrong. Deal with it. Fast.

The USGA: B-

Their obsession with par is well documented but the men at the USGA went about getting it totally the wrong way with some shambolic pin positions. The 14^th, for example, didn’t play fair the whole week, with players like Ian Poulter and Paul Casey carding, doubles and triples there without once hitting a bad shot. All that that particular hole was missing was a windmill. Thank heavens the conditions were relatively benign most of the week because, when the wind picked up on Sunday afternoon, the scores went skywards. The USGA need to remember that there’s a difference between deliberately tricking up a golf hole and deliberately tripping up those who play it.

Pebble Beach: A+

Apologies to Pinehurst No.2, Oakmont, Winged Foot, Bethpage Black etc but Pebble is the best course on the US Open rota. Bar none. Beautiful and challenging, how good would it be if the tournament was played there every year?

Tom Watson: A

First Turnberry. Then Augusta. Now Pebble. Three notoriously difficult courses mastered by a 60-year-old. Makes you wonder if the only thing he cannot get the better of is Kryptonite. This was most likely Watson’s last appearance in a US Open and how fitting that it should be at the scene of one of his greatest-ever triumphs. The tears he shed at the end will, one suspects, have been simultaneously repeated in the eyes of countless golf fans the world over. A legitimate, bone fide class act. Take note, Tiger.

While the away side took a slim lead into day two of the event at Essex Country Club in Massachusetts, the US girls turned up armed with a tin of white paint on Saturday to wash away any hopes the GB&I girls had of victory – with a 6-0 drubbing on day two.

Meanwhile, in those 14 years since GB&I’s last victory at Killarney Golf Club, stars of the European scene have passed through the amateur game with bundles of accolades, before bursting onto the professional stage with victories galore.

Anna Nordqvist is the prime example. Just 23-years-old, the Swede already has a major championship victory to her name, having won the McDonald’s LPGA Championship by four strokes in 2009, as well as being the reigning LPGA Tour Champion.

Her professional accolades aside, Nordqvist won the British Amateur Championship in 2008, having already made it to two finals in the event, was a member of the victorious Swedish team at the World Amateur Team Championships, before making the cut at both the 2007 and 2008 Ricoh Women’s British Open, earning the Smyth Salver for low amateur honours in 2008.

Why then, are players such as Nordqvist not being given the chance to shine on the transatlantic stage?

With the US winning every Curtis Cup for 14 years, time is running out for tradition. The format needs to be changed before someone puts Great Britain and Ireland out of its misery by ending the event altogether.

How do you put value on another win for the Americans – they practically expect to win it now.

And, how do you gee up GB&I, when it would appear that the GB&I captains are running out of ways to motivate their players having felt the sharp end of defeat for more than a decade.

The answer is simple. Add Europeans to the mix. After all, it didn’t do any harm to the Ryder Cup…in fact, some would say it did quite the opposite.

But for Phil Mickelson it seems that when it comes to getting himself psyched up for run-of-the-mill PGA Tour events – none of the above can get his gearbox roaring.

Even the prospect of overtaking Tiger Woods at the top, finally reaching No.1 in the world – the best player in golf – was not enough to motivate Lefty to victory at a Tigerless Colonial.

So what does it for him? What does it take to inspire Mickelson to those jaw-dropping, fist pumping victories that see him pull off superman-style heroics from pine needles and drop eagles and birdies like there’s no tomorrow?

Tiger Woods.

It seems Mickelson saves the best of his performances for the events in which he will go head-to-head with Woods. Of the last five tournaments in which they both featured, Mickelson has come out on top in all five – winning the Tour Championship, WGC HSBC Champions and, of course, the Masters. He was then second at Quail Hollow – where Woods missed the cut – and tied for 17^th at the Players, where Mickelson slumped to a final round 74 just hours after Woods withdrew with a neck injury.

Coincidence? Maybe. However, on those results, paired with the fact that Mickelson missed the cut at Colonial – another Tigerless event – it would appear that for Lefty, the biggest motivation is getting the better of Woods.

Like all good rivalries, winning isn’t quite so fun unless you can boast getting one over on your nemesis. For the Old Firm a league title victory isn’t quite so sweet without at least one drubbing of their Glasgow rivals, for Lewis Hamilton, a podium finish doesn’t merit a champagne spray unless Jenson Button is a few inches down the rostrum and for Tyson Gay, winning gold isn’t winning gold unless he beats Usain Bolt.

The same goes for Tiger and Phil, after all, it wouldn’t be much fun for Mickelson to snatch the world No.1 spot from Woods if the 14-time major winner wasn’t there to see it for himself.

But there’s a reason people like Trump are billionaires – a proven track record of delivering on their word.

Having secured a world exclusive interview with the man himself (published in issue 98 of bunkered), I was privileged to be invited to Menie for a reception hosted by Trump, his son and business associates as they checked in on the progress being made to the course.

And take it from me: it’s shaping up to be every bit as good as he claims.

The dune system around which it will be built – he has named them the ‘Great Dunes of Scotland’ in honour of his late Scottish mother – is simply spectacular.

The infrastructure is outstanding, with Aberdeen city centre a ten-minute drive away.

And, above all, the team working on the course are, and please excuse the football parlance for a second, ‘galacticos’ in their field.

Martin Hawtree, the course designer, is one of the world’s foremost golf designers. Trump said that he asked Peter Dawson, the chief executive of the R&A, for a recommendation of a designer for the course. Dawson told him Martin Hawtree. “What if I can’t get him?” said Trump. “Who would be your second recommendation?” To which Dawson replied: “My second recommendation would also be Martin Hawtree.” That’s how highly he is thought of.

The contractor that will carry out the actual build of the course, SOL Golf Course Construction, has a resumé that speaks for itself, having worked on over 40 world-class links courses across the UK and Ireland, amongst them four Open courses in Royal Liverpool, Royal Lytham & St Annes, Muirfield and Royal Birkdale.

And that’s just for starters. The whole team, across the board, have been specifically hand-chosen to help deliver a product that golfers all across Scotland and, indeed, the world can (and will) enjoy.

“This will be a masterpiece when it’s completed,” said Trump today. “As with many of my projects, when it’s completed I think that everybody in this room and more importantly all of Aberdeen and all of Scotland will say thank you.”

Oh, don’t believe the hype about the protestors. Far from making life difficult for Trump, they decided instead to extend him a warm welcome when he arrived in Scotland on Wednesday.

He said: “I figured I’d have thousands of people [protesting at the airport]. There were two people and a dog, and the dog was more vicious than the people.

“They were nice people, they waved to me. I said, ‘Are they on my side?’”

Trump also plans to return to the course in 18 months’ time to cut the ribbon and officially declare it open – before playing the first round on it in the company of Sean Connery and Colin Montgomerie.

The “greatest course the world has ever seen” is on its way, ladies and gentlemen. And I, for one, can hardly wait to play it

To describe Jack Nicklaus’ lack of commitment to the event scheduled for the eve of the 150^th anniversary Open Championship as a disappointment is an understatement to say the least.

For a man who had his swansong at St Andrews in 2005, an all-singing, all-dancing affair with his face emblazoned on five pound notes and emotional scenes over the Swilken Bridge, not to take part in the commemorative tribute to both the Open and its champions is sad, but to claim he has ‘no real desire to go there’, as he did at the Masters in April, is downright disrespectful.

Having waited as long as possible to contact R&A chief Peter Dawson with his decision, it shocked many to discover that Nicklaus had snubbed his beloved St Andrews’ special event, but equally, if not more, shocking was his decision to fly cross-continent for a sponsorship event in the UK this week.

Citing sentimental reasons for declining his invitation to the Champions Challenge – which will feature the likes of his old playing partners Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and Gary Player – Nicklaus says he doesn’t want to ruin the memories he has of saying goodbye there in 2005.

And when Dawson, on hearing Nicklaus decline the invitation, asked him to at least come for the Champions dinner, Nicklaus’ response merited yet another inward gasp.

“It’s a long way to go for dinner.”

A long way to go for dinner with his fellow Open champions, a long way to go to celebrate the 150^th anniversary of the event which helped launch his career on the global stage – but not a long way to go for a kids coaching day at the request of his sponsors.

Could it be that Nicklaus, a player who enjoyed his biggest successes at a time where the prize funds and sponsorship deals bore little resemblance to those big-bucks agreements and purses on tour today, is simply in it for the money?

It’s hard to say, and there could be another reason – Seve Ballesteros.

With Ballesteros, a man Nicklaus counts as his close companion, saying his last goodbye at St Andrews in July, perhaps the Golden Bear can’t contemplate being at St Andrews again without being the centre of attention.

Who knows, but while Dawson empathised with Nicklaus’ reasoning, it is doubtful the fans will be quite so accommodating.