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That's
it for the 2010 season. Another one has come and gone.
I've just gotten back from Dubai to the cold, icy weather
of England. It's been a shame to leave the sunshine
of the last three weeks. Those three weeks weren't overly
successful which was quite a disappointing end to the
year with some big tournaments and good opportunities
to finish strong, but unfortunately it didn't happen.
It's felt like quite a long season which is probably
due somewhat to a lack of momentum and lack of quality
results that I wanted. I felt it's been a frustrating
season which is a shame because it started out very
promising in the Middle East and the WGC Matchplay but
it fizzled out mainly due to my putting on the greens.
I feel like it started in Doral where I really struggled
and it continued on for a while before creeping into
other areas which was disappointing because I had put
some really hard work in over the off season and my
swing was as good as it had every been, which was maybe
the problem - I was expecting my game to be much better
since my swing had improved. It just highlights how
important the putting is at the end of the day. I was
pushing very hard to win and improve and it felt like
that should have happened easily when I'm hitting it
so well but you have to hole the putts for it to happen.
During the season I still managed to get myself in contention
a few times although I wasn't able make the most of
them as well as past years. Obviously I haven't managed
to win but I was able to turn opportunities into seconds
and thirds which is a big deal. It's all about taking
advantage of your good weeks and I didn't do that well
enough this year. I think I fell foul of trying a few
different things whilst in contention instead of trusting
what I'd done in the past and the processes that had
gotten me there. I think I started questioning why I
hadn't won and why it was taking so long so I think
I tried new things, trying to figure out what I needed
to do to win. In hindsight I wish I would have not done
that; I haven't done that in the past but that's the
way golf is, always testing you. I think I now know
I was doing the right things before. I just have to
stick to my process and keep improving. If I can keep
getting into contention then wins will happen. I have
no doubt about that.
A lot of the frustration this year made me question
things and that has to change. I've had a chance to
reflect over the last few weeks and on the flight back
home. I feel like I have a clarity now that probably
came about in Dubai. Even though I had no momentum and
didn't feel like anything was happening I managed to
almost put a really good round together on Saturday
and I felt like that was quite an important round, to
know that the slightest of sparks, holing a few four-footers
for birdie early on gave me some momentum and I managed
to fall right into the flow of what I've done in the
past. I've felt it's been so far away but it only really
took a few putts falling for things to fall into place.
I feel pretty good about the whole thing and my putting
is finally starting to improve. Unfortunately, it's
a little too late in the season but I'm already looking
forward to 2011 where I'll be starting in Abu Dhabi
for a month stretch in the Middle East.
Everything is feeling pretty good and it's been an up
and down season but at the end everything has all come
together knowing my game is in much better shape than
it's ever been even though the results haven't panned
out. I'm excited and looking forward doing a lot of
work in the off season. There's a lot to work on, mainly
gym work and physical stuff that will help improve my
swing even more. I have a few small issues that are
reflected in my swing and why I can be so fidgety -
mainly due to hypermobility in my shoulders and my ongoing
neck issue that's improving all the time. I've got 6
- 7 weeks before starting back to do really good work
in the gym and try and get those things under control,
which will result in more consistency. I won't be hitting
many balls up until Christmas but the stuff I will be
doing in the gym is golf specific so I'll be doing golf
simulations with weights and bands which will get everything
fired up so when I do put a club in my hand it will
feel like I haven't had much time off at all.
The main thing I'm going to be working on in the off
season is my putting. I'll be doing as much as possible.
I feel like it's time for a change of putter. The one
I've put my faith in the last few months hasn't really
worked out that well. Although I've been able to putt
ok with it I don't feel like it's working quite how
I want it to. Along with putting I have lots of club
testing to do with Callaway with the near gear - new
drivers, irons and wedges too. Obviously one of the
things I've been in the media about over the last few
weeks, which unfortunately wasn't my golf, but my shoes.
That's another aspect I'll be working on over the upcoming
weeks - trying to get the best shoes possible for me
which will give me the most solid platform to swing
it the best, which is why I've pursued the route I did
with the Vibram Five Fingers and I'll continue to use
those in practice, but hopefully by the time I go back
out to the Middle East I won't be needing to play in
them and I'll be in a golf shoe that I really like.
I've also got to try and find some free time in the
off season and make the most of it. I've worked really
hard this year and it's time to reward myself. I'm going
to try and go skiing before Christmas for a few days.
It's my favourite thing to do so hopefully it'll be
very relaxing and enjoyable being out on the slopes.
The other big thing happening in my off season is that
I'm getting married on New Year's Eve in Charlotte,
NC so there's lots of things to be done and I'm looking
forward to it all. It'll be a completely new start come
January 1.
Finally I'd like to thank everyone for their support
this year. It really does mean a lot and certainly helps
when things aren't going so well to know that you're
all pulling for me. Stick with me and I'll come out
guns blazing in 2011!
Have a great holiday season, best wishes, Oli.
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