I’M writing this month’s column on the eve of The 139th Open Championship at St Andrews and by the time you read it, you’ll already know how I’ve done so fingers crossed, it’ll be positive news!
I’m feeling really good about my game. Germany was obviously a really positive week, finishing second at BMW International Open. To finish runner-up and feel like I didn’t putt very well at all is very pleasing.
I was a little bit disappointed to miss the cut in Paris at the French Open but it was one of those times where I wanted to go there and try to crack the week. It’s not one of my favourite places to play – I’ve never really done well there – but I wanted to go there and see if I could this time and unfortunately I didn’t manage to do that.
The Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond gave me the perfect opportunity to bounce back from that disappointment. Loch Lomond is a place I always really enjoy and I had my wife, Jo, and daughter, Eve, there for the week, which was lovely.
Contention
I got off to a slow start and only just scraped through the cut but I had a very nice day on the Saturday when I shot 65 to put myself in contention. My iron shots felt similar to the first three days in Germany so I knew I had to capitalise and fortunately I was able to sink some putts and make some birdies.
There were some really tough conditions on the Sunday and some really high scoring so I was reasonably pleased to shoot 70 and finish tied eighth – the same position as last year!
It’s slightly frustrating that my game has felt in great shape all season and it hasn’t really been reflected in my results so far but that’s the game and you just have to get on with it. If I had holed a few putts in Germany I could have won that tournament by a similar margin to my seven-stroke victory in The European Open and I really feel like I’ve got a really low score in me if I can just get the putter working.
| I’m looking forward to The Open enormously. I could have won last year’s tournament but for one bad shot, one bad hole, in the final round. But that’s golf and you learn from your mistakes. Hopefully if I get in that position again I’ll remember what to do this time.
At last year’s tournament Jo was pregnant and about to give birth to Eve – I had a pager and was ready to leave at any moment but I’ll be able to concentrate solely on the golf this time. Eve and Jo will be at St Andrews with me so I’m sure it’ll be a great week.
I feel really comfortable at St Andrews. I’ve done well there before and have played it a lot of times. I came within a whisker of winning the Dunhill Links Championship there a couple of years ago so if I can recapture some of what I did that week I’ll be in with a chance.
Eve’s birthday
Eve’s first birthday is coming up so we’re really looking forward to that. I’ve loved every minute of the first year of fatherhood. Jo and Eve are able to come to some tournaments with me now and it’s great having them with me.
Volvo World Match Play
I’m delighted the World Match Play is back on The European Tour Schedule for next year and I’m very much looking forward finally being able to defend my title at Finca Cortesin. I’m disappointed that I can’t do it this year but I’m thoroughly looking forward to doing it next year.
Dubai World Championship
I heard that Abdullah Al Naboodah of my sponsors, the Al Naboodah Group, has been made Chairman of the Dubai World Championship and I think that it’s a great honour for him. He loves the game of golf and has done so much to help grow the sport in the Middle East so I’m really pleased for him and I’m sure he’ll be delighted.
|
