I started my Florida trip 2 weeks
ago at the Honda Classic around the
PGA National golf course. It is famous
for the Jack Nicolas re-design where
the 1983 Ryder Cup was played and
possibly the year that the European
team really threatened the US team
for the first time on US soil, setting
a precedent for things to come. It
also has the bear trap finish which
is the 15th, 16th and 17th holes -
they are very tricky in the wind with
lots of water everywhere and certainly
get you thinking and a little nervous
down the stretch.
I played really well tee to green,
possibly the best I have ever played
but unfortunately I didn't score that
well and got a few unlucky breaks
in the tournament which after being
in contention after the first round
I ended up finishing 17th which was
quite disappointing. Overall though
the week was really good, I played
solidly and it put me in a really
confident mood for the WGC at Doral
the following week. I had a good record
at WGC events and finished 5th in
Doral in 2009 so I was confident that
I could carry that record on.
I drove down from Tampa on Sunday
to Miami with my caddie Rich. We talked
over a few things and were both feeling
in confident, positive moods which
makes the result at Doral even more
disappointing. Overall my game was
in fairly good shape but I managed
to prepare poorly by clouding my mind
with technique and trying to improve
things where there was nothing to
improve, just a few tweaks here and
there would have been fine. I got
so technical and confused and that
showed in my first few rounds where
my short game was very poor and it
ended up costing me a good week.
All the lessons that I have learnt
over the last few years are the things
that you pick up in tournaments. I
realised that one of the main ones
that works for me is not having too
much going on at a tournament and
keeping my mind fresh and clear so
I'm able to concentrate on my golf.
All the stuff that I worked on at
the beginning of the week and a few
bits of media here and there, and
it got my head spinning a little bit
and showed in my golf. It was a timely
reminder that golf teaches you lessons
and whenever you get away from that
it shows up in your game and catches
you out. Although I did do the technical
work I started putting a lot better,
my putting stats don't really show
it as I didn't putt many holes at
all but technique wise I was starting
to hit much better putts so there
was at least some positives to take
out of the week and onto The Masters
which in my next tournament.
I have got 3 weeks off now until Augusta
and The Masters. I'm on holiday now
in Mexico this week and then I have
got a couple of weeks of practicing
and getting on with my next phase
in my work out plan. I will also be
preparing my short game for Augusta
because this area certainly needs
to be sharp for this tournament. So
that's when I am next in action, in
The Masters in 3 weeks time.
My dad is going to be caddying for
me on the par 3 tournament this year
which will be great and we are all
really looking forward to it. Fingers
crossed that I can redeem myself there
after this past week.
I just want to let everyone know that
we have finalised the details for
my DARE charity golf day which is
on June 24th at the Hollinwell Golf
Club in Nottinghamshire. There is
now a live link for a charity auction
where you can bid to bring yourself
and 2 friends to partner me in my
team at my own golf day. You can find
out more details HERE.
Tell all your friends about it as
the teams are going really fast so
this might be your only chance of
getting a team. Happy bidding!
