Golf: Silly mistakes take their toll

Jun 3 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

AND so to Ireland, for the latest event on the Europro Tour at Faithlegg Golf Club in Waterford.

Monday May 19: An early start as the alarm clock went off at 3.45am in time for my 6.30am flight to Dublin. Whenever I can, I use Liverpool’s John Lennon airport and no more than 10 minutes from arriving in the terminal I sailed through check-in and security – try doing that at Heathrow!

The short flight over gave me a chance to catch up with local boys Sandeep Grewal and Mark Ramsdale for some early morning banter. On arrival in Dublin we rented a car and set off on the 2½-hour drive to Waterford.

Once at Faithlegg, we managed to squeeze in a quick nine holes before dinner and a well-needed rest.

Tuesday May 20: Pro-Am day and I was playing at 1.40pm, so I had a chance for a rare lie-in before going for a run over the back nine (as we played the front nine yesterday, it gave me a chance to have a look at the back nine before the pro-am).

Fitness is becoming a big part in professional golf and while you don’t have to be Olympic fit, it pays to do your bit. So I try to do a couple of light runs during a tournament week.

The pro-am was a good chance to play a competitive practice round and a chance to meet a few new friends, but it does take a long time and after 5½ hours on the course I was ready for bed!

Wednesday, May 21: Teeing off at 1pm from the first tee, I got off to a perfect start with birdies at two, four and five and despite a bogey at eight, I was out in three-under 32.

The back nine was going well until I had a horror bogey, double bogey finish for a round of 72. With only four under leading, I was still well placed but your dinner never tastes as well after a finish like that!

Thursday May 22: I generally prefer morning times and 8am was just perfect. Although a little cold, the rain that was forecast never materialised and it turned out to be quite a nice day.

Another good start for me and I found myself five under after 11 holes (playing the back nine first).

Sadly, It was another poor finish and I had to settle for a two-under round of 70 that left me in eighth place just three shots off the lead.

Friday May 23: In order to catch the leaders, I needed to have a fast start and that is exactly what I got. Birdies at one, two, four, seven and eight had me straight to the top of the leaderboard before I undid some of this good work with a bogey at nine and a double at 10!

Luckily for me, I bounced back with birdies at 14 and 16 and I finished with a 68 for a six-under total and a share of seventh place.

In reflection, it was a positive week considering I was struggling to break 75 just two weeks ago. I led the field in birdies made with a total of 18 for the three rounds but I just made too many silly mistakes to win a golf tournament.

Still, there are plenty of Europro events left on the schedule and I am still confident of achieving my goals and joining the winner’s circle.