It's been up
and down this
last month. I
had a week off
after the US Open
to prepare for
France, in which
I felt my game
was starting to
come together
nicely and I began
to see real signs
of improvement.
I went to France
and played nicely
on a golf course
that I've always
struggled with
in the past, which
is one of the
best courses we
play. I managed
to put together
a nice week and
almost got myself
into contention,
just on the fringes,
and finished sixth.
It was a week
I really needed
in the season
and I felt as
if I was getting
a bit of momentum
and direction
back so I was
very pleased.
The downside to
that was I got
ill during the
week and was just
ticking over,
which maybe helped
me achieve the
result I needed.
Unfortunately
I had to take
a few days off
and pull out of
the JP McManus
pro-am on the
Monday and Tuesday,
which I was really
disappointed about
as it's such a
great event.
So I had a few
days off before
travelling to
Loch Lomond where
I didn't really
get to prepare
how I wanted to
and ended up rushing
and doing a little
too much on Wednesday.
It was very tough
conditions with
the weather and
the greens not
being in great
shape as they'd
had a tough winter.
Putting all that
together, I was
going quite nicely
and then had a
couple of three
putts in my last
few holes which
turned a really
steady round from
a top ten to middle
of the pack. I
wasn't very happy
with the poor
finish and lack
of mental clarity.
I went out for
the second round
and struggled
a bit and then
made a triple
at the tenth which
really cost me
and I just couldn't
make any putts
the rest of the
day to make the
cut and continue
the momentum.
I was really disappointed
with that but
looking on the
bright side it
gave me a couple
of days to rest
and prepare for
The Open.
I travelled across
to St. Andrews
on Sunday. The
course was in
unbelievable shape-
I've never seen
it that good.
I was able to
do a bit of extra
practise and really
prepare for the
week as well as
I could. The downside
to playing France
and Loch Lomond
is the fact that
you don't get
into the links
mode. The rest
of the practise
days weren't that
windy so it was
awkward to get
into that links
mind frame and
hit such extreme
shots. I wasn't
really swinging
it brilliantly
and was lacking
ball control.
I was hitting
it relatively
straight but with
a cut all week
so I couldn't
really shape my
ball into the
wind and do what
I needed to do.
I got away with
it the first day
because it wasn't
very windy and
I played pretty
steady. I felt
like my putting
really improved
and was getting
back to where
it was last year
which was very
promising but
unfortunately
when the wind
came in on Friday
and we were in
with a seven hour
round in heavy
winds it was a
tough day and
I wasn't able
to drive the ball
as well as I could.
My irons weren't
as precise as
they needed to
be to get at the
pins. The Open
is all about dealing
with the weather
that you get and
I didn't deal
with it that well.
I putted really
well for the first
27 holes and then
left myself some
long putts on
the back nine
and three putted
a couple of them
and then missed
a chance on the
road hole (17)
which ended up
putting me outside
the cut. I was
very disappointed
to miss the cut
after having such
a good first round
and putting myself
in a good position
but you live and
learn- that's
what The Open
is all about.
In the media I
was quoted as
having a bit of
a dig at the R&A.
I felt as if my
words were taken
a bit out of context.
I said a few things
jokingly and they
obviously came
across not how
I intended them.
I didn't feel
the pin positions
were located in
the best positions
considering the
weather that had
been forecasted
for Friday. I
felt that if the
pin positions
had been more
central in the
greens, allowing
for the weather,
then the field
wouldn't have
been split as
much as it was
down the A.M.
and P.M. draw.
With that being
said, I would
like to apologise
to the R&A
for my comments
as they were over
the top. Even
though I was very
frustrated after
playing it wasn't
meant in that
light. I was immediately
interviewed after
walking off the
course and missing
the cut by one.
I was annoyed
and disappointed
with myself and
in the heat of
the moment said
a few things I
shouldn't have
that I felt were
taken out of context.
As far as I'm
concerned that's
over and The Open
was a fantastic
success. I'd like
to congratulate
Louis on one of
the most stunning
performances that
I've ever seen.
A few people have
said it was a
boring Open but
if Tiger Woods
had been eight
or nine ahead
everyone would
have been loving
it so I think
Louis deserves
every credit for
holding off such
in form players
and destroying
the field, so
to speak.
As I said, the
last few weeks
have been up and
down. I've had
a few different
caddies. Dean
worked for me
in France and
Loch Lomond; he
was only a short
term option and
was meant to finish
at The Open and
I was going to
move on to look
for someone else.
I decided to change
a week early and
get Paul Smith
on the bag who
is now hopefully
permanent- we're
still in a trial.
He used to work
for Miguel Angel
Jimenez and he
has a lot of experience
around the Old
Course and he's
won quite a few
tournaments with
Miguel. I feel
like we could
be a good match-
we got on well
last week and
things went reasonably
well in that regard.
I'm looking forward
to getting back
to playing but
as for now I'm
having two weeks
off so that I
can have a solid
week off away
from golf. At
the end of the
day you can analyse
why my form hasn't
been where I have
wanted and I think
a part of that
comes down to
scheduling. I've
tried to play
a little bit too
much, trying to
push for the Ryder
Cup and to improve
in the world rankings
but I know from
past experiences
that that's not
the thing to do.
I'm going to take
two weeks off
so I can have
a week off and
then a week to
properly prepare
for Bridgestone
and PGA which
are two huge events
where if I play
well I can really
get the season
back on track.
Thanks for all
the support!
