Golf is the most global sport. It is played in nearly every country in the world; its professional tournaments are contended in every continent and, unlike soccer, the Americans are pretty darn good at it. This makes for the highest profile intercontinental competition of all – the Ryder cup – whose power over the emotions of millions of transatlantic spectators is so great that it constitutes the only fortnight in a two-and-a-half year cycle that all Britons are happy to call themselves ‘European’. Its so linked to a global view, in fact, that holidays are often built around it and even travel insurance is available which gives you a cash payout for a hole-in-one.

Which is why it is a shame that the USA hosts three of the world’s four golf majors. Only the dear old Open Championship (won so memorably last month by Padraig Harrington in Carnoustie) lies outside of the States. The USPGA, won by Tiger Woods this week, is the fourth in the cycle, but of the three American tournaments, I think it should be the one to swap continents.

The Masters, of course, must remain forever at Augusta: the beautiful course, so well etched into the imaginations of any amateur golfer, with its history and traditions (such as the Green Jacket), must forever host the year’s first major. And the US Open – historically set-up to be the toughest on the calendar with winning scores often above par – can keep rotating around America to provide the toughest test in Golf. But the USPGA hasn’t got the same history or reputation. So why not move it to another continent – or rotate it round two or three – to give this global game a global dimension at the very highest level? Europe has some of the best courses on the planet, but has never hosted a major. Asia boasts the fastest-growing golf industry in the world. And lets not overlook Africa, Australia or South America either, whose great players (Els, Goosen, Norman, Ogilvy, Cabrera) have graced our screens for decades.

I watched the denouement of the USPGA last week on telly; but I’d rather it had had Table mountain or the Med in the background shots.

The golf downswing is probably the most important, yet least understood part of a golf swing. People get mixed advice regarding how to improve their golf swing because of the way people usually analyze this phase of golf playing. Actually, the downswing is not really that complicated a matter if you know some few guidelines that could help you do this step right.

Here are some golf downswing tips:

1. Check your golf stance. When you do your downswing be sure to position your feet so that they are shoulder-width apart. Your shoulders should also be aligned with the target. A good guideline is to have your right foot point straight while your left foot is pointed slightly left. Be sure that your elbows are kept as naturally relaxed as possible.

2. The right downswing mechanics should result into a very powerful swing that is aligned with the intended direction of flight. To do this, you should keep your shoulders square during the impact, and for more power, keep it fractionally closed.

3. Remember to grip the golf club properly. If you are right handed, you should hold the club using the left hand, putting the thumb aligned with the club’s shaft. The line formed between your index finger and thumb should point towards your own right eye. Lastly, wrap your left hand with the right hand while resting the left thumb into the right palm.

4. Check you golf downswing mechanics. Your downswing should begin with the hips. Watch the ball closely and keep our head behind it with your follow through. Practice this both without the ball and check how it affects your performance.

5. It is very important to remember that the club-head and the shaft are to be kept behind your hands during your downswing. This position helps your hands to sense and anticipate the release of the entire movement.

6. Keep your right hand at bay. Using your right hand prematurely will destroy the timing of delivery as well as the line of the club down to the ball. This usually results into miss-hit and inaccurate shots.

7. You should hold the shoulders in that fully-turned stance while the left arm and hand starts swinging down. This makes certain a good line of the club through the golf ball. If you turn your shoulders even just for a little during the start of the downswing, you could destroy the line of the club down to the boll because the club would be looped out of the intended path. This can also damage the ability of the left hand and arm to swing.

8. When doing your downswing, your left arm and hand should not be propelled downward because of the body and shoulder action. Instead it should swing down freely and independently from your shoulders.

9. Practice all these tips – the stance, the grip, the mechanics – in the driving range before heading out to the course. Keep making adjustments until you are sure that you are feel right about your downswing. Have a buddy check out everything to make sure that you are not just guessing.

Improving your downswing is not as difficult as it seems. With patience and determination, plus having these guidelines in mind, you can develop a great downswing that will improve your performance.