Für unsere Gäste » at was ultimately the difference this season.

As 2016 rapidly comes to a close, lets take a look at a few highlights (and lowlights) of the year and then a peek at what the new year might have in store.1. Remembering The King. No look at 2016 should start without thanking Arnold Palmer for what he did, not only for the game of golf, but for putting golf on the map of sports business. Being in the ESPN studios on Sept. 26, the morning after Arnold passed, was one of the hardest, but also happiest times Ive had in TV.It was a morning of remembering the easy laughter of a friend while at the same time knowing golf would never be the same without that easy laughter. Arnie simply loved golf and loved people, and they loved him right back.2. The United States won the Ryder Cup against Europe, 17-11, for the first time since 2008. The Americans were buoyed by victories in seven of 12 Sunday singles matches. The win re-energized an event that was beginning to lose a bit of its luster due to the recent European domination.3. Four different major winners in mens golf. The year was highlighted by the battle between Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson at The Open, one that Jack Nicklaus deemed to be even better than the Duel in the Sun between him and Tom Watson at Turnberry in 77.The lowlight came with the controversial ruling involving Dustin Johnson, the eventual champion, during the final round of the U.S. Open at Oakmont. Thankfully, due to a local rule change issued earlier this month by the USGA and R&A, such accidental movement of a golf ball will no longer result in a penalty. It was a long overdue dose of common sense, especially when green speeds are crazy fast.4. Time to show some love for Bernhard Langer. The 59-year-old German is simply a golfing machine. For the third time in six years, he won the year-end race for the Charles Schwab Cup and also earned nearly twice as much money (more than $3 million) than his closest pursuer, Colin Montgomerie.5. Lets show some love for Thailands?Ariya Jutanugarn, too. A year ago she missed 10 straight cuts on the LPGA Tour and now is a five-time winner, including a major championship and is player of the year. Amazing what playing with joy instead of fear can do.6. Lydia Kos housecleaning. Caddie Jason Hamilton was the first to get a pink slip, but then about a month later, David Leadbetter and Sean Hogan were also dismissed. Im not going to judge the personalities involved, but I will always be critical of over-involved parents/spouses as well as students and teachers who dont arrive at tournaments with their preparation complete.Tournament time is when you put your work on auto pilot and play golf, not try to reinvent the wheel with a teacher stuck to you like cellophane. Leadbetter (and hes not alone in this) constantly shows up at the biggest events and is over-involved with the student, not just applying a bit of polish and a pop of confidence. I also found this particular case fascinating because Hogan was Lydias day-to-day coach, not Leadbetter. But when the biggest events rolled around, Leadbetter was the one present.Advice to Lydia: Take ownership of everything in your life and do your preparation in the quiet of your home, not in the public eye.As we are just under three weeks until the PGA Tour season resumes in Hawaii, lets look ahead to the New Year.1. Tiger returns. Although his first event back in more than a year wasnt exactly a home run, it did have many positives. Woods played four rounds without any apparent physical setbacks, got the competitive juices flowing again and into the routine of tournament golf, plus made 24 birdies, best in the field.On the flip side, he continued to show signs of the chipping/pitching yips that surfaced in 2015 and the two-way miss was still problematic. It was also an extremely limited field. Well see how that plays out when he is in full-field events, perhaps as soon as Torrey Pines in late January, where he has won eight times. He has committed to playing in February at Riviera in Los Angeles, where he made his first PGA Tour event as a 16-year-old, an event now benefiting his foundation.2. Jay Monahan takes over as PGA Tour commissioner. Tim Finchem did an incredible job in more than two decades as commissioner, but Im excited to see the influence and direction under Monahan. New ideas already seem to be flowing and coming to fruition with a big change at the New Orleans PGA Tour stop (a team format), talk of schedule changes that would see the season end closer to Labor Day and before football really gets cranking, as well as rumblings of a possible LPGA/PGA Tour mixed event.3. LPGA changes. Speaking of the LPGA, big things are happening in 2017, including Lorena Ochoas event moving earlier in the year with a match-play format and expanded field, this weeks announcement of the Senior LPGA Championship (81 players, no cut, Monday-Wednesday televised event) and the Solheim Cup in August in Des Moines, Iowa.The positive growth of the tour under Mike Whan continues, but he still needs a boost from Americans winning to grow the tour even more. Only two American victories in 2016 are not going to get it done.4. The return of injured players. That includes world No. 1 Jason Day, No. 15 Justin Rose and Masters champion Danny Willett. While Rose withdrew after one round of the Hero World Challenge, both he and Willett posted 72 hole scores last week in Hong Kong on the European Tour, with Willett finishing in the top 10. Good signs for sure.5. Equipment changes. Rumors are that the USGA will begin limiting the length of drivers, rolling back the maximum from 48 inches to 46.5 inches. Wouldnt it be easier to just admit the golf ball that has rendered so many classic courses around the world irrelevant is the biggest issue and roll that back instead of the length of the driver? There goes that uncommon common sense again.Thanks to all of you for spending your time with us on the golf page at ESPN.com again this year and best wishes for a happy, healthy and blessed holiday season.Josh Bell Jersey . The scientists believe the small earthquake during a Marshawn Lynch touchdown was likely greater than Lynchs famous "beast quake" touchdown run three years ago, which also came against New Orleans during a playoff game. Dave Parker Pirates Jersey .Y. - New York City has been selected to host the NBA All-Star weekend in 2015, with the game played at Madison Square Garden and the slam dunk contest and other skills events held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. http://www.pittsburghpiratesprostore.us/Barry-Bonds-pirates-jersey/ . McPhee said that Ovechkins father Mikhail is in stable condition after having the surgery this week and is no longer in intensive care. "Weve told him to stay as long as necessary with your dad," he said. Ovechkin and his Russian national team were eliminated from the mens hockey tournament in Sochi on Wednesday with a 3-1 quarter-final loss to Finland. Chris Archer Jersey . How great will be revealed in the next couple of days at the board of governors meeting in Pebble Beach, Calif. Corey Dickerson Pirates Jersey . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night.After the end of the Superleague season, we asked our experts to pick the best seven players from the eight teams in the table.Surrey Storm retained the title after defeating Manchester Thunder in the Grand Final of the Vitality Netball Superleague on May 7, but who were the top performers over the 16 rounds of games during the campaign?Our Sky Sports pundits have picked out a player who impressed them in each position. Goal Keeper: Ama Agbeze, Loughborough Lightning Anita Navin: Ama has played with an incredible determination and a winning mentality.She has a renewed energy and her ability to read her opponents and disrupt their flow of play in and around the shooting circle has been incredible.She has limited shooting opportunities against the top-profile shooting opponents and uses a wide range of strategies to defend the shot and shooter in open play. Goal Defence: Layla Guscoth, Hertfordshire Mavericks Katharine Merry: Layla has done two things well this Superleague season - defending and studying. Doctor Layla Guscoth, now fully qualified, led the Mavs to a Superleague semi-final.It was an impressive year and for me she is one of the most dynamic and athletic defenders in the game. She has a high work-rate with the ability to intercept consistently. Any game that gets Pam Cookey and Guscoth head-to-head is a winner! Wing Defence: Amy Flanagan, Surrey Storm Camilla Buchanan: Amys Sniper-like ways have earned her a position in the Sky Sports Team of the Season!The silent assassin, with her slight frame, goes quietly through the game, picking off interceptions like paid hits!Her versatility in defence has been most impressive with the ability to limit her opponents movements whilst cleverly and cleanly winning ball. She has also proved just as dangerous with her attacking prowess, bringing the ball out of her defensive end. Centre: Sara Bayman, Manchester Thunder Tamsin Greenway - This is a tough call. Im torn between Sophia Candappa and Sara Bayman. Both have been superb, but Im going to go for the old and experienced player over the young, budding superstar.Sara is a winner - she has flair, passion and that old-fashioned grit that can drag a team back from the brink. Her leadership across the court, her feisty attitude and her confidence to attack the game is something all young Cs should aspire to be. Tamsin Greenway It is rare centres are both attacking and defensive in equal measure, but you can rely on her in both.Her leadership across the court, her feisty attitude and her confidence to attack the game is something all young Cs should aspire to.Wing Attack: Naatalie Haythornthwaite, Manchester Thunder Jess Thirlby: A former England U21 athlete and rising star within the national squad, Natalie has had a very consistent season for her new team Manchester Thunder.ddddddddddddHaving offered both the GA and WA positions earlier in the season it is the latter where she has enjoyed more court time and looked most comfortable. Its been great to see Natalie build on her performances of last year. Jess Thirlby Her work rate and tenacity are second to none, her commitment to take on defenders at the Centre pass and get free is a real strength. She transitions well into second phase and her speed of movement and change of direction are a handful for the quickest of defenders.Her ability to release the ball quickly, distribute the ball around the circle edge and feed her shooters with accuracy have been impressive. Its been great to see Natalie build on her performances of last year.Goal Attack: Pam Cookey, Surrey Storm Caroline Barker: There have been some standout performances at GA throughout the season, including Mavericks Ella Clark making a return to netball from basketball and Helen Housby again making the most of her speed and movement at Thunder.But for me the consistency of Pam Cookey just tips the rest as she helped Surrey Storm retain their title.Its not just the relationship with Rachel Dunn in the circle, but the confidence she gives the whole team that was ultimately the difference this season.Goal Shooter: Rachel Dunn, Surrey Storm Karen Atkinson: There have been some standout performances in the GS position this season, with Samantha Wallace making an impact on the league and rising star Ellie Cardwell showing her potential, but you cannot look beyond Rachel Dunn for someone that has delivered when it mattered.Rachel has the highest shooting volume in the league with 474 goals at 85 per cent shooting accuracy. She also has one of the most well-rounded games. She was instrumental in the success of Surrey Storm this season. Karen Atkinson on Rachel Dunn When she sticks to the task she has a phenomenal hold but she can also move, take ball outside the circle, offload and rotate with her GA.One of her strongest assets is her well-timed step-change of direction, either forward, to drop back or to pop along the baseline. She was instrumental in the success of Surrey Storm this season.Also See:Vitality Superleague fixturesTableLive on SkySportswomen ' ' '