MY LAST competitive action of the season begins in Italy next midweek, at a Challenge Tour event, but it is fair to say my mind will be wandering towards Spain at the same time.
The penultimate stage of European Tour qualifying school is now only a month away, the time when so many professionals battle for a select few places on the main tour next season. Of course, I always give my all in each tournament but I have been try
ing and adapting things with tour school in mind over recent weeks. There is no one aspect to concentrate on, I have to ensure my overall game is solid and there is little chance of the silly mistakes which can cost you so dearly at that level.
There are opportunities out there for me if I do not make it to the main tour, I would again be eligible to play in a number of Challenge Tour events next year, but the European Tour is a goal I have set myself and I will be going all out to try and achieve that. Plus, not making it through last year gives me added incentive to get in there alongside some of my former amateur friends such as Oliver Wilson and Rory McIlroy.
It is a major boost that my sponsors continue to show faith in me; Aegon have been fantastic and realise, like me, that professional golf is more of a marathon than a sprint. The backing I continue to receive gives me a lot less to worry about and I can concentrate fully on what happens on the course. That is a real benefit and something not every player of my age can rely on.
My first full year as a professional has taught me so much. Not only have I learned a lot about my own game, there have been tournaments when I have shot level par and not played at the weekend. The standard and strength in depth is so high, in such situations you obviously learn more than if you are winning against lower opposition.
My aim remains to be at the top level for a long time, I don't want to be a one-hit wonder, so I have to be patient and have confidence in myself that it will take time to get to where I want to be.
There was a 6, a 7, an 8 and a 9 on my scorecards over three rounds at the Alfred Dunhill Championship last weekend; needless to say that put paid to my aspirations of making the cut.
A second round of 81 at Kingsbarns was really the killer – my opening 73 at Carnoustie had me in a good position and closing 76 at St Andrews was far from the worst score given the wild conditions. But Colin Montgomerie, Paul Lawrie, Paul McGinley or Jean Van De Velde failed to survive the cut as well, and as always I loved being part of such a prestigious event.
This is my last column of the year; hopefully the next time you hear about me, it is as a European Tour player for the start of 2009 when playing in such company would become normality.
The full article contains 549 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
