Golf: Money shot

Canadian Mike Weir was the answer to a pub quiz question when he won the US Masters at Augusta in 2003.

Wised-up punters knew he was either the first lefthander since Sir Bob Charles to win a golf major or one of the four relative unknowns to win the major tournaments in 2003.

Weir has been joined in the lefty hall of fame this season by Phil Mickelson, who took the green jacket off him at Augusta, and the diminutive Canadian is certainly no longer unknown.

His loss in a playoff to world No 1 Vijay Singh at the Canadian Open boosted his earnings in what has been another lucrative season. Earlier in the year he retained the Nissan Open title and he lies 14th on the US PGA money list with US$2,504,464 ($3,787,255).

The other major winners last year have not fared as well. Jim Furyk, who won the US Open with his original golf swing, has been out with injury and has earned US$555,675, a pittance compared with US$5,182,865 last season.

Shaun Micheel, winner of last year's PGA Championship, is 72nd on the money list this season with US$879,588.

Ben Curtis, who came from nowhere to win the British Open, is 134th with US$419,495, but he is also a member of the European tour and has won €129,232 ($239,117) there.

The majors this season produced only one surprise winner, Todd Hamilton, who thwarted Ernie Els in the British Open. He has won US$2,760,634 so far to be 10th on the money list.

Over the years there have been several surprise winners of major tournaments who have barely been heard of again. The great American Sam Snead was second four times but never won the US Open. Among those to beat him were Ralph Guldall and Lee Worsham, hardly household names these days.

One of New Zealand's best professionals, Frank Nobilo, has never won the New Zealand Open. He came very close at Remuera in 1996, only to be beaten by Queenslander Craig Jones, who hasn't won on the Australasian tour since.

Remuera golfer Matt Cormack has quickly made his mark in Auckland golf following his return from Central Connecticut State University in the US.

The 22-year-old former St Kentigern College pupil was runner-up in a very strong field in the Auckland strokeplay at Titirangi and last weekend was beaten by North Harbour No 1 Josh Carmichael in the final of the matchplay at Akarana.

In the semifinals Cormack showed his class by beating New Zealand Eisenhower representative Kevin Chun and he has quickly cemented a place in the Auckland senior team.

New Zealand's best under-18 golfers will take on their Australian counterparts in the Clare Higson contest at Titirangi next Tuesday and Wednesday.

Wellingtonian Aaron Leech is the only survivor from last year's side, who lost 11-7 in Hobart, Tasmania.

The very promising 14-year-old Sam Shin from Gulf Harbour, who was runner-up in the British Junior Open this year, joins the team with Kevin Sohn (Christchurch), Jae An (Rotorua), Kris Smith (Palmerston North) and Perry Hayman (Wellington).

The matchplay contest will see the teams play six singles and three foursomes each day.

On Friday the action moves a short distance to the Akarana Club, where the national under-19 championship will be held.