Robert Lee reflects on another memorable European Tour season and looks forward to Matt Fitzpatrick and Tyrrell Hatton flying the flag for English golf in the future.The 2016 season is in the can, and we were treated to an entertaining finale in Dubai as Matt Fitzpatrick finished strongly to pip Tyrrell Hatton to the title, while Open champion Henrik Stenson regained the Race to Dubai crown. Henrik Stenson was crowned Race to Dubai champion for the second time Weve only got a 10-day break in between seasons, although most of the big-name players tend to take around six weeks off to recharge before coming back in January. But the guys that have just earned their cards cannot wait to get going. The last thing they want to do is have a long wait before having the chance to establish themselves on Tour. Sky Sports Black Friday sale Upgrade to Sky Sports now and get 12 months half price! The priority for the lesser-ranked players is to get into the stronger fields over the Desert Swing, so they will be looking for a strong performance over the next couple of weeks, or back in South Africa early in January. Thats why these early-season events are so important. Without them, a lot of players would not get the chance to tee it up until February. Matt Fitzpatrick produced a superb finish to clinch the season finale in Dubai But one of the guys that doesnt have to worry about that is Fitzpatrick, who ended the 2016 campaign with a classy win over a world-class field in Dubai. It was his second win of a season that has been a little inconsistent in terms of results, although I dont really see him as a streaky player.In 29 starts, Matt had five top-10 finishes including the two victories, but he is just 22 years of age and time is very much on his side. The way he plays, theres no doubt in my mind well see him in the top 10 on a far more regular basis, and his success in Dubai should be a catalyst for that. Matt Fitzpatrick reflects on claiming a narrow one-shot victory at the DP World Tour Championship Hes very solid from tee to green, doesnt make many mistakes and he is an excellent putter. With such a strong all-round game, Matt should be in contention most weeks and I think well see that as he matures. He has got a lot to look forward to.Stenson was crowned Race to Dubai champion for the second time, and his achievement was very special considering he made only 13 appearances on the European Tour over the season. Obviously, he played well in most of the big events, highlighted by his long-awaited maiden major title at The Open. Stensons final round 63 at The Open was one of the greatest rounds ever played But he is a worthy European No 1, and his astonishing performance to fend off Phil Mickelson at Royal Troon in July was surely the round of the year, if not one of the greatest rounds ever played. To shoot 63 in the final round of The Open and get your name on the Claret Jug, that is the mark of a Race to Dubai champion.Danny Willett finished second in the Race to Dubai for the second year running, and it was a shame he had only two top 10 finishes following his memorable win at the Masters - which was arguably the shock result of the year, even for Danny! Danny Willetts form dipped after his shock Masters victory To win at Augusta in only your second appearance is a very rare feat, and it seemed highly unlikely when Jordan Spieth opened up a huge lead by the turn. But Spieths amazing collapse opened the door for Danny, and he took his chance in some style.He knew he had the lead by the time he hit that stunner to six feet at 16 and popped in the putt for birdie, and he finished it off beautifully. Willett was the Race to Dubai runner-up for the second year in a row Making the adjustment to being a Masters champion can be tough to handle, and I think we saw that with Danny over the summer, and his ongoing back issues havent helped. Hes certainly not the only one with back problems, look at Jason Day over the second half of the season.Danny has already revealed he is working with his coaching team on a few swing changes to alleviate the pain in his back, and hopefully hell find something that works and allows him to practise and play as much as he needs to next year. Alex Noren claimed four European Tour wins, and his final-day performance in South Africa was astonishing As Willett struggled with his game during the summer, Alex Noren was at the opposite end of the spectrum and enjoyed the best season of his career by far. Four wins in his last 12 events kept him in with a shout in the Race to Dubai, and his remarkable Nedbank victory lifted the Swede to world No 9.I didnt think anyone could top Jeunghun Wangs 64 on the third day in South Africa when the greens were firm and fast, the wind was up and the pins were tucked away. But then Alex Noren fires a 63 on Sunday and turns a six-shot overnight deficit into a handsome six-shot win. Alex has played some amazing golf this year, and it was just a shame he didnt quite find enough in time to get himself into Europes Ryder Cup team Robert Lee He was nine under par after 11 holes, and that was something I just couldnt see, not on that golf course. Alex has played some amazing golf this year, and it was just a shame he didnt quite find enough in time to get himself into Europes Ryder Cup team.With the form he was in, he would have been a huge asset at Hazeltine, but he just left it a little too late unfortunately. Alex might not have made his Ryder Cup debut, but four wins since July is a magnificent season - a significant achievement for a man who had serious wrist and hand injuries in 2014 that looked likely to end his career. Tyrrell Hatton made his breakthrough at the Home of Golf He must have been so frustrated at being on the sidelines for so long, but hes made up for that in a big way. Alex is one of the nicest guys out there, and Im so pleased for him. Alex ended up third on the Race to Dubai, one place ahead of Tyrrell Hatton, who was one of the most exciting players to watch over the season.Tyrrells game is based around aggression and intensity and I really like his style. Hes a seriously good golfer, and to break through in the manner that he did at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship was superb. Hatton was one of the most exciting players to watch last season He couldnt quite close it out in Dubai after leading for so long, but hes had a fantastic year and I look forward to seeing him and Fitzpatrick flying the flag for English golf on the European Tour in 2017.Tyrrell also enjoyed two excellent major performances, fifth at The Open and 10th at the PGA Championship, and overall he had 10 top-10 finishes in his 24 starts during the season. Englands Tyrell Hatton claimed his first European Tour title as he won the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship with a record-equalling score of 23-under par He struggled in the past for being a little too hot-headed, but hes learned to curb his natural, attacking instincts and hes become one of the best players in Europe. Hes still got that raw passion and you can see hes combustible, but Tyrrell can keep a lid on it now and hes been rewarded.As for Rory McIlroy, he has still had a pretty good year despite a couple of disappointing weeks in the majors. He won the FedExCup for the first time, and his late-season form has taken him back to second in the world rankings. No majors, but Rory McIlroy finished the year strongly and is close to reclaiming the world No 1 spot Rory remains one of a handful of players who can compete on both sides of the Atlantic, and although hes had a few downturns in 2016, he is currently on an upward curve and regaining that world No 1 spot cannot be too far away.Upgrade to Sky Sports now and get 12 months half price. Hurry, offer ends December 4!Also See:Special win for FitzpatrickStenson wins Race to DubaiGolf live on Sky Sports 4European Tour ScheduleWholesale Air Jordan 4 Nz . Already owning gold from competition in Vancouver in 2010, Loch posted a combined four-run time of 3:27.526. That included a track-record third run of 51. Authentic Jordans Shoes Wholesale . World champions Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov of Russia won the gold medal with 237.71 points, Moore-Towers and Moscovitch followed at 208.45 and Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov of Russia were third at 187. http://www.cheapairjordan4nz.com/ . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. Cheap Air Jordan 4 Nz Sale . One game after a miserable showing in Oklahoma City, Gay tied a career high with 41 points and the Sacramento Kings cruised to a 114-97 victory at the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. Cheap Air Jordan 4 Nz . Clarke was injured while practicing on the Doha Golf Club range after the pro-am on Tuesday. The Northern Irishman arrived at the course on Wednesday hoping to start, but after hitting a few balls on the practice putting green Clarke advised officials he was not fit to play.RIO DE JANEIRO -- The Paralympic Games opened Wednesday with 4,350 athletes demonstrating first-hand their creed: The heart knows no limits; everybody has a heart.Wheelchair daredevil Aaron Wheelz showed the spirit in the opening act.As a countdown from 10 reached its end, Wheelz raced down a giant ramp and somersaulted in the air through a giant 0 on the stadium floor. That finished the countdown and shattered more stereotypes about what athletes with disabilities can do.The president of the International Paralympic Committee, Philip Craven, made a similar point with his speech. Craven, who lost the use of his legs in a rock-climbing fall at the age of 16, reminded Brazilians they have their own problems to overcome.Craven suggested Brazilians follow the lead of Paralympians.In a country which has faced major challenges of late, Paralympians will switch your focus from perceived limitations -- to a world full of possibility and endless opportunity, Craven said. They will surprise you, inspire and excite you, but most of all they will change you.Brazil is mired in its worst recession in generations. The country just removed its elected president, and these Games needed a government bailout of almost $80 million to make it to the starting line.Craven also used the theme of inclusion, topical in a country often separated by the rich and poor, and black and white; a country with few provisions for wheelchairs or anyone with an impairment.Show the world that there is no them, there is only us, Craven told the capacity crowd at the opener. A world where people of all abilities, races, nationalities and sexualities can come together as one. We are all part of one world.The symbolic cauldron was lit by Brazilian swimmer and wheelchair user Clodoaldo Silva. The six-time gold medalist faced a flight of stairs and looked perplexed about what to do next. The staircase then opened, exposing a ramp leading to the cauldron. Problem solved.Silva received the torch after a number of athletes carried it in the stadium. Among them was former Brazilian Paralympic medalist Marcia Malsar, who wobbled and fell over backward as she carried the torch across the floor with the aid of a cane. Malsar got back up, with some assistance, and finished her roughly 30-meter section of the relay in an effort warmly acknowledged by the crowd.ddddddddddddThe show featured a tribute to the wheel, to Brazils swirling samba rhythms and to the beach -- a ritual gathering spot in Rio. And there was the cast applauding an imaginary sunset, another ritual in this beach town.The show also saluted Brazilian swimmer Daniel Dias, the countrys most decorated Paralympian with 10 gold medals -- and surely more to come in Rio.Organizers say tickets sales have been booming. Only 200,000 were sold a few weeks ago, but theyve now sold 1.6 million. The goal is 2.4 million. This is partly a result of the reasonable prices for many tickets, only 10 Brazilian reals ($3).A notable absentee was International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach.The IOC chief said he had to miss the ceremony to attend a state mourning ceremony in Germany for Walter Scheel, the former West Germany president.Craven told reporters its the first time since Salt Lake City in 2002 that an IOC president had missed a Paralympic opening.Patrick Hickey, a high-ranking IOC member from Ireland, was among 10 people charged by Brazilian prosecutors on Tuesday with ticket scalping, conspiracy and ambush marketing related to last months Olympics.Police investigators said they wanted to speak with Bach about email exchanges he had with Hickey related to ticket allocations for Ireland. Police had planned to summon Bach if he came for the opening ceremony, though there is no evidence he knew about the ticket scam.Also missing were 267 Russian athletes who were banned because of alleged state-sponsored doping. Officials say 159 nations were entered on Wednesday, and in addition a refugee team.Rio 2016 organizing committee chairman Carlos Arthur Nuzman, Craven and Brazil President Michel Temer were jeered.Temer opened the Games officially and, as he was in the Olympics when he was only the acting president, was jeered by fans chanting Fora Temer -- Out Temer.Temer took over as president after Dilma Rousseff was removed from office on impeachment charges a week ago by the federal senate. ' ' '