In a poll published in their current issue, Golf magazine in the US have listed the top 10 shots of the century. As might be expected, they are concerned largely with American achievements, so, with the 1900s drawing rapidly to a close, I thought it might be appropriate to give the exercise an Irish perspective.

I give you two lists: an international one and an Irish one.

The international top 10 in order of preference are:

1, Gene Sarazen, 1935 US Masters

His four-wood second shot of 220 yards, later described as the shot which was heard all over the world, ended in the hole at the long 15th for an albatross two.

2, Bobby Jones, 1923 US Open

With a two-iron over water to six feet, Jones set up his first "major" win in a play-off at Inwood.

3, Arnold Palmer, 1961 British Open

From an impossible lie in deep rough at Royal Birkdale, Palmer played a typically audacious, six-iron recovery to preserve his lead en route to the title.

4, Jack Nicklaus, 1972 US Open

Nicklaus clinched victory with a one-iron which cut through the wind and hit the flagstick on the short 17th (his 72nd) at Pebble Beach.

5, Tom Watson, 1982 US Open

With a sandwedge chip-in on the short 17th (his 72nd) at Pebble Beach, Watson made a most improbable birdie to secure the title.

6, Byron Nelson, 1939 US Open

He holed a one-iron on the fourth hole to place one hand on the trophy during an 18-hole play-off at Philadelphia CC.

7, Seve Ballesteros, 1983 Ryder Cup

From a fairway bunker, he pulled off a miraculous, three-wood recovery shot which reached the 18th green at PGA National and earned him a half with Fuzzy Zoeller.

8, Larry Mize, 1987 US Masters

Stunned Greg Norman when holing an eight-iron chip-and-run shot from off the right of the 11th green in sudden-death at Augusta National.

9, Gary Player, 1972 USPGA Championship

With his lead in jeopardy, Player powered a nine-iron over a tree and a pond on the 16th at Oakland Hills.

10, Lew Worsham, 1953 World Championship

Not only did Worsham hole a 100-yard pitching wedge to win on the 72nd, he did it in the first tournament to be televised in the US.

Chronologically, my Irish top 10 are:

1, Rhona Adair: driver, on tour of US in 1903

American observers were astounded to see the long-hitting Irishwoman hit a drive which cleared a 170-yard carry across a river. Given normal run on the ball, this would have equated to a drive of over 200 yards, which was remarkable for a woman using hickory-shafted clubs.

2, Jimmy Bruen: seven-iron, 1939 Irish Open

Harry Bradshaw claimed in 1986 that he had witnessed Bruen, as a teenager, drive the first three greens at Portmarnock off the back tees. But Bruen matched power with splendid precision on the way to a course-record 66 in the first round of the Irish Open at Royal Co Down. Though he also birdied the 16th, the most difficult birdie, late in the round, came at the uphill, 407-yard 15th where he hit a seven-iron second shot to 15 feet.

3, Fred Daly: putter, 1947 British Open

After a dispiriting six at the 71st, Daly would need a birdie at the last if he were not to be caught by the American amateur Frank Stranahan for the coveted title. And the Ulster-man did it by holing a 30-footer which gave him a homeward journey of 34, despite a double-bogey.

4, Joe Carr: driver, 1958 British Amateur

The dream of capturing a second British Amateur at St Andrews had effectively become a reality for Carr with six holes still remaining. From a field of 488, he had won through to the 36-hole final against England's Alan Thirwell. One up at the halfway stage, he was two ahead playing the 12th (their 30th). There, Carr unleashed a huge drive of 360 yards to reach the green and then holed a 20-yard putt for an eagle two and an unassailable lead.

5, Harry Bradshaw: wedge, 1958 Canada Cup

There was general agreement in Mexico City that the shot of the tournament was produced by The Brad in the second round. It came at the short fifth, and while Harry may have gilded the lily somewhat in later recounting at the bar at Portmarnock, its difficulty was confirmed to me by his partner, Christy O'Connor. In fact O'Connor urged him to take a penalty drop after a four-wood tee-shot was pulled into a shallow, fast-running stream below the plateau green. But The Brad steadfastly refused. Then, amid flying spray and with water lapping over his shoes, he hit a perfect recovery to four feet.

6, Christy O'Connor Snr: three-iron, 1966 Carrolls International

Thirty-three years on, his eagle-birdie-eagle finish at Royal Dublin, for victory over a stunned Eric Brown, remains a highlight of European tournament golf. And it became possible largely through a glorious three-iron second shot over the dreaded Garden at what was then the par-five 18th. So precise was the shot that the ball narrowly missed the pin before coming to rest nine feet away. Two putts would have been enough for victory: O'Connor took only one.

7, Eamonn Darcy: putter, 1987 Ryder Cup

Down the 18th, Ben Crenshaw, who had earlier smashed his putter in anger, had to take a penalty drop after driving into water. Bunkered in three, he got up and down for a five, which meant that Darcy, who was also in a green-side trap, had to get up and down to win. Darcy's recovery came to rest five feet above the hole, presenting a treacherously fast, left-to-right breaking putt to the left lip. To his everlasting credit, Darcy holed it for an historic, European triumph.

8, Christy O'Connor Jnr: two-iron, 1989 Ryder Cup

Remarkably, an Irishman was again the focus of attention when the matches reached a climactic stage. This time it was Darcy's close friend who captured the headlines with a two-iron approach of 229 yards which finished only five feet below the 18th hole. O'Connor's majestic effort totally unnerved his opponent, Fred Couples, who ultimately conceded the match.

9, David Feherty: three-iron, 1990 Dunhill Cup

There can be no greater test in golf than an approach shot to the 17th hole at St Andrews, into a cross-wind and with everything hinging on the outcome. That was the challenge facing Feherty on the third hole of a sudden death play-off with England's Howard Clark to decide whether Ireland or England took the coveted trophy.

In the event, Feherty hit the most glorious three-iron shot of 199 yards to within 18 feet of the pin to set up a two-putt, winning par. And so, in the first play-off in the history of the event, the skipper led his country to victory.

10, Philip Walton: six-iron, 1995 Ryder Cup

From a position of two-up at the turn, Per-Ulrik Johansson, in the anchor position, was hit by a stunning recovery from Phil Mickelson on the final day of the matches at Oak Hill. So, Walton's tussle with Jay Haas took on added importance.

In the event, the Malahide man hit a six-iron of 184 yards to within four feet of the hole at the short 15th to go dormie three. Ultimately, it meant Europe would secure at least a tie. But, of course, Walton went on to beat Hass on the 18th, for victory overall.