Stuart Appleby won the Australian Open title for the first time in his career this week after he endured a thrilling head-to-head duel with Scott Laycock on the final day at the Grand Golf Club in Queensland. Stuart moves up 16 places and back into the World Top-50 at No.43 whilst Scott moves up 36 places and into the World Top-100 at No.84. The South-African Ernie Els finished in third position and Ernie remains at No.4 in the World.

In the first event of the 2002 European Tour International Schedule, Jarmo Sandelin returned to the winner's circle after a 2 year absence by winning the BMW Asian Open at

The Westin Resort, Ta Shee, in Taiwan. The 34-year-old Swede carded a final round 68 to take the victory and Jarmo moves up to No.144 in the world. Runner-up Thongchai Jaidee from Thailand progresses to No.166 in the world and Jose-Maria Olazabal edges closer to the World Top-50 as he moves to No.58 in the World.

On the Japan Golf Tour, Kiyoshi Murota leaps to No. 168 in the world after winning the Casio World Open at the Ibusuki Golf Club. Fresh from partnering Vijay Singh in the EMC World Cup of Golf, Fiji's Dinesh Chand finished up as runner-up and is now just outside the World Top-200 at No.217. World No.5 Sergio Garcia finished in 3rd position.

In the CABS/OLD Mutual Zimbabwe Open at Chapman Golf Club in Harare, Darren Fichardt capped a magnificent year by closing with a 69 to win his third tournament of 2001. Fichardt adds the Zimbabwe Open to his other victories in the Sunshine Tour's Tour Championship and the European Tour's Sao Paolo Brazil Open and now finds himself in the World Top-150 at No.149.