Not that we would ever rain on a winner's parade, there were a few raised eyebrows at the recent Dunhill Links as JP McManus stormed to victory in the prestigious pro-am.

Having a certain Padraig Harrington, who wrapped up the individual title by "ve shots, as a partner was no impediment to McManus, but some observers were surprised, given the quality of his golf, that the multi-millionaire's handicap was as high as 16.

McManus improved on Harrington's winning aggregate of 16 under par by no fewer than 19 shots over the four rounds as the Irish duo took the spoils for the second time with an impressive total of 35 under par to see off the challenge of the father and son partnership of Angel and Federico Cabrera.

In the end, maybe McManus simply had an inspired week, and Harrington had the last word. "I've played enough golf with JP to know that he's a genuine 16 handicapper."

EVANS MOUTHS OFF ABOUT MONTY AGAIN

Having a pop off Colin Montgomerie, one of the European Tour's institutions, might be regarded by some as sacrilegious, but Gary Evans, who was fiercely critical following the Scot's incorrect drop at last year's Indonesia Open, has come through unscathed.

"George O'Grady [the Tour's executive director] never said one word to me, he never asked me to apologise, " revealed Evans who was the one player to publicly take Montgomerie to task. When he arrived at the Wales Open the week after his incendiary remarks . . . "There has been smoke around Monty before" . . . he said that 15 players applauded him.

"When Montgomerie won his eighth Order of Merit title, Sky couldn't get one player to say what a great achievement it was, " added Evans who retires from tournament golf at the end of this season.

TECHNOLOGY CHANGING THE SHAPE OF GOLF

The technological revolution continues with Callaway and Nike both to launch square-headed drivers in the new year. Callaway's Fusion FT-i model was seen and heard at the Dunhill Links, while Nike's Sumo2 is ready for market.

By the way, Sumo stands for SUper MOment of Inertia. Go "gure.