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Enough has already been written on the Tiger Woods incident; taking a drop two yards back from the ball’s original position and admitting to it later in his press conference. The Masters Rules Committee reviewed the incident shortly afterwards but determined nothing was untoward until an eagle-eyed HD TV viewer called Augusta later that evening.

The Rules Committee reviewed the PGA rules of golf once more and belatedly made the correct call in determining Woods had contravened Rule whatever and would be penalized two strokes which inadvertently meant that he had signed an incorrect score card which normally results in disqualification.

The Talking Heads spent most of Saturday morning debating the merits of allowing Tiger Woods to continue in the tournament. That paragon of virtue Sir Nick Faldo and former PGA journey man Branded Chamblee were in favor of disqualification.

However interpretation of the letter of the law (the recently amended PGA Rules of Golf) confirmed a two stroke penalty was sufficient. Nevertheless, Tiger Woods would have finally revealed some class and earned a host of new admirers (me included) if he owned up to his mistake and withdrew himself from the tournament.

Perhaps if he had withdrawn he could have spent his time wisely watching the playoff between Adam Scott and Angel Cabrera and learned what sportsmanship is all about and how to lose graciously without the need to curse, spit or throw clubs.

Scott handled his meltdown at last year’s Open with class and integrity. On this equally demanding stage he believed he had won the Masters with a twenty foot birdie putt on the 18^th Green. Playing in the final pairing, Cabrera needed a matching birdie to tie Scott and a place in the playoff.  His approach shot dropped three foot from the hole leaving a simple tap in to tie Scott. Cabrera had endured a roller coaster ride in the back nine of the final round of the Masters. He held the lead by two shots  around the 10^th but squandered it away over the next few holes with some indifferent shots.

He steadied the ship with a birdie at the daunting Par 3 16^th which ultimately set up his chance for a play-off berth.  The sporting gods were throwing everything at Cabrera during the homeward stretch, but with a few shrugs of those broad shoulders, endearing smiles and fatherly exchanges with his son who was carrying his bag, he appeared to be enjoying every moment.

As the two warriors from the Southern Hemisphere prepared to do battle for the Masters title in fading light and heavy rainfall the CBS talking heads held their own contest on who could come up with the worst cliché. Whispering Jim Nantz kept prattling on about Adam Scott’s destiny to be the first Australian to win the Masters and the whole population of the former penal colony had stayed up to watch the conclusion of the tournament.

Meanwhile Sir Nick was pontificating (no pun intended of course) on the fact that they had recently elected an Argentinian as Pope. And of course there was Lionel Messi. Well he is also Argentinian and arguably the greatest footballer in the world, and I was eating Fray Bentos corn beef five years ago.

Cabrera almost won the damn thing on the first play-off hole with an exquisite chip from the fringe. But my memorable moment of the weekend occurred on the second play-off hole. Both players hit great second shots onto the green, and Cabrera turned to Scott as they were walking down the fairway and give him thumbs up sign for e executing a great shot. Scott reciprocated with a similar gesture in the heat of battle which was a remarkable piece of mutual respect.

Cabrera was desperately unlucky to watch his putt brush the side of the hole. Scott stepped up to his putt and sunk a twenty footer to become the former Penal Colony’s first Masters Champion.  The 43 year old Cabrera with the heart and soul of an ageing lion was magnanimous in defeat and embraced Scott in a bear hug recognizing a great champion.

Footnote dripping with irony: When Tiger Woods was asked to comment on the one shot penalty awarded against the 14 year old boy from China he replied: “Rules are Rules.” But in the eyes of the Augusta Elitists rules are rules depending who you are.

This was the greatest comeback since Lazarus.  Europe’s win over the USA in the Ryder Cup by 141/2 -131/2 was truly remarkable.  Only one other team had ever come back from 6-10 down to win the Cup and that was achieved by USA at Brookline in 1999.

Arguably this win by Europe was even better.  It was achieved on foreign soil amid a hostile crowd and against a rampant American team who were dominant for the first two days. At one stage America led 10-4 with two four ball matches remaining on the course on Saturday evening.

Ian Poulter had been playing this competition like a man possessed since day one and Saturday evening he went into hyper mode. His partner Rory Mcilroy birdied the 13^th hole to leave his team one down, but then Poulter reeled off 5 birdies on the last five holes to snatch a much needed win to reduce the margin to 10-6. Donald and Garcia did their bit to snatch a win from Woods and Stricker.

On Saturday evening ESPN’s chief golf writer claimed that Europe had no chance in winning the Ryder Cup. He said: “Team Europe can still win if the following five things happen Sunday:

Keegan Bradley is abducted.

Team USA captain Davis Love 3rd inserts cup spectators Michael Jordan, President George W. Bush, Amy Mickelson and the Rev. Jesse Jackson into the singles lineup.

Lee Westwood: U.S. citizen.

Marty McFly shows Team Europe captain Jose Maria Olazabal how to go back in time. Last Friday will do.

Team Europe wins eight of the remaining 12 matches to retain the cup.”

Emboldened by America’s 10-6 lead going into the final day’s singles competition, he signed off by suggesting that the task the Europeans faced was “as close to insurmountable as trying to climb Everest wearing a T-shirt, cargo shorts and flip flops”.

I’m sure Jose Maria Olazabal shared the hack’s comments with his team before stacking the top of the order with his best players. Europe won the first five matches with Luke Donald and the incomparable Ian Poulter leading the way.

Golf is a strange game in many ways. There are players who excel in the majors. There are those who perform well in the majors and the Ryder Cup. Jack Nicklaus, Larry Nelson, Nick Faldo, Tom Watson and Sevy Ballesteros fall into the latter category.  Then there is the enigma of Tiger Woods with 14 majors, but has a dreadful record in the Ryder Cup. Woods in conjunction with veterans Jim Furyk and Steve Stricker won a meager 11/2 points between them.

Finally we have the category of golfers who have never won a major, but have an excellent record in Ryder Cup matches. Donald, Westwood, Garcia, Montgomerie and Poulter epitomize this phenomenon. Montgomerie was undefeated in singles matches and Poulter has the eye-catching record of 12-4 in his three Ryder Cups. The competition has reached such magnitude that a good Ryder Cup record can now define a golfer’s career.

Europe’s amazing start in the singles drew them level in terms of the overall score, but more work was required to retain the cup. By the time the middle matches were completed the score was level at 12-12. If Mickelson’s chip or Stricker’s putt on 17 had dropped, Martin Kaymer and the Europeans would have come up a point short in their quest to retain the cup. Instead Kymer sunk the putt and the rest is history.

Did we witness a miracle inspired by the spirit of the late and great Sevvy Ballesteros, or did the Americans have a meltdown in the home stretch? Neither assumption is probable but anything is possible. However there is one factor of which I’m sure: on the first two days most of Europe’s putts were lipping out, but on Sunday every European putt appeared to find the cup which made it possible to retain the Cup. Add the ensuing mayhem to miracle and meltdown, and there you have it in a tin cup.