Golf Central

How’s Vegas, then?: We’re in New Zealand, not Nevada.
Isn’t Queenstown nicknamed Vegas By The Lake?: You tell me.
I just did: Well, I haven’t seen any casinos, just Lake Wakatipu, some big, beautiful mountains and a stunning golf course, with bits of it seemingly carved out of rock.
I think the Vegas bit is a reference to the amount of money made, not from slot machines, but adventure tourism pursuits like bungee- jumping, skiing and mountain-biking: Right. Enough of all that palaver, do you want to know about the golf, or what?
If you must…: Rotund Aussie Craig Parry shares the lead after the first round with compatriot Paul Sheehan and Englishman Matthew Woods.
Any relation to Tiger?: What do you think…
Probably not: Correct. Nearly half the field is within four shots off the lead, but our favourite, Michael Campbell is a bit further adrift at 1-over.
Going to spend the afternoon water-skiing, then?: In Brighton Marina? No, you're alright thanks...

Spaceship or clubhouse? The Hills Golf Club, hosting this week's European Tour event, The New Zealand Open

On this day in 1987, the Merry Mex, Lee Trevino hit a 6-iron as purely as you can hit it, knocking a hole-in-one on the 167-yard 17th hole at the PGA West Stadium Course to win $175,000 en route to victory in the Skins Game.

Playing parner Jack Nicklaus told the Associated Press that there was a moment of stunned silence on the tee after Trevino's shot trickled into the cup. "''I think that's the first time in my life I've heard him shut up,'' Nicklaus said of the garrulous Trevino. ''He was speechless. For once, he was at a loss for words.''

''It looked like a Rembrandt,'' recalled Trevino, obviously confused by the similarities between a golf shot and a painting by a Dutch Master.

It remains the only hole-in-one in Skins Game history ...

So on to today's award with the help of our lovely assistant, Natalie Gulbis. So ... everybody loves trolling the internet and wasting time looking at funny videos. Tell us who gave us the absolute best, most unmissable YouTube golf moment in 2007 ... (drumroll) ... envelope, please, Natalie ...
Woody Austin!
Hooray! That's right Natalie, when Woody did this slapstick faceplant into the drink at the Presidents Cup while trying to play out of a pond, he earned new fame and a new nickname on Tour: Aquaman. Not bad for a guy who was seen as just a journeyman not long ago. If you had told us a year ago that Woody Austin would be on our awards podium twice, we would have thought you were mad, but then again, we didn't even think we'd have an awards podium a year ago!
Way to go Woody! ... He's so funny! ... Funny guy!
Yes, by taking the plunge Austin might have earned himself YouTube immortality, because it's hard to imagine a funnier video, erm, surfacing, any time soon. Check out the Woody Austin tombe à l'eau video with the French-Canadian broadcasting team, it's ever funnier in French ... Woody managed to stay dry for his acceptance speech: "I've always said if you're getting recognized, at least you're doing something right" ...

2007 Rusty Award Winners so far:
Worst Putter: Davis Love III
Best Clutch Shot: Boo Weekley
Silliest Name in Golf: Ben Bunny
Best Career Change: Rick Rhoden
Most Pretentious Broadcaster: Gary Lineker
Best Sand Player: Tim Clark
Coolest Shoes: Hunter Mahan
Marlboro Man Award: Angel Cabrera
Coolest Headwear: Jesper Parnevik
Best Second-Best: Ernie Els
Most Daft Quote: Woody Austin
Worst Dresser (Male): Sergio Garcia
Best Golfing Oddball: Camilo Villegas
Best YouTube Moment: Woody Austin

* We would invite all of our winners to our gala Awards Dinner in December, but we fear they might trip on the red carpet or a loose paving stone, or something ...  Our yearly awards are called the "Rusty Awards", instead of "Trusty Awards", because Natalie Gulbis thinks the name of our website is "In Golf Wet Rust". Gulbis is good at golf and glamour, but not so good at grammar.

The vast mystery that is China has been opening its eyes to golf, and opening the eyes of the rest of the world in the process. Two weeks ago, the HSBC Champions in Shanghai boasted the strongest field in Asian history. And Omega has a deal to stage the World Cup of Golf in Shenzhen for the next 12 years. What's up with all this golf in China? ...

Here is a brief guide - in great deal thanks to the tireless efforts of China-based golf tracker Dan Washburn, whose forthcoming book on the rise of our game in the world's most populous nation promises to be a must-read.