My Blog

A great week end of sport altogether with the football, golf  & motor racing all covered brilliantly by 5 live! The PGA Championship however was supreme, the quality of golf played around a newly lengthened and bunkered West course was just ourstanding. I have played that tournament many times and as a shortish hitter found it very tough, these guys however, ‘play a game to which I am not accustomed’, to steal a famous quote. Paul Casey won by a single shot from Ross Fisher, who having shot 64 must have thought he had done enough to at least be in a play off. Paul, now world no3 had other ideas, a 3 wood and 3 iron into the last and a tricky 5 footer won the title- terrific , compelling stuff!

This week the main tour are at The London Club for the European Open, a tittle I was lucky enough to win way back when. My good friend David Gilford a former Ryder Cup player, and himself an ex winner of the title is dusting his clubs off to compete this year. David competes a little in the Midland PGA but plays little other competitive golf, but is exempt and just fancies the idea. I played a few holes at Portal on Sunday with him, and is still playing beautifuly. He always did drive the ball great, seems easier to him than ever though now- perhaps that’s just my perception! Anyhow, I wish him luck on a course 7200yds long!

The Players Tour this week have a 2 day event at Royal St David’s in Harlech, a brilliant course and setting. Both Tom and  I are playing, my younger son Matt is on my bag, I think double pocket money is deserved for that.

Next on the senior tour is the Irish Open at Ballybunnion,  I can’t wait to play there ,  having heard so much about it over the years. It is Tom Watson’s favourite links, and he has played some in his time. My other news, is of a putting consultation down at the ‘yes’ putting lab in Southport with Phil Kenyon, a former tour pro now re nowned coach with Harold Swash. He helped me a lot, made me a putter to suit my stroke and told me effectivly to trust my instincts, go back to what I know and  ‘go see Karl Morris’!!  He, for those that don’t know is a leading sports psychologist, good honest advice- you can’t beat it.

I have just returned from playing in the Majorcan Open, what a course! This was the inaugural event played over a new golf course at  Son Gual. It is  a spectacular place, the facilities were amazing, the course fantastic and hospitality fabulous! Pity my putting was none of the afore mentioned though. The condition of the whole course was breathtaking, practice facilities to ‘die for’ and frankly greens that whilst in great condition had a couple of design issues. That said, the layout was superb and course design, I have always said is just ‘opinion’.

As for my golf, well I missed 8 greens in regulation all week, and scored 5 over par. Easy done if one kept leaving iron shots 40 feet away, but I wasn’t. In fact I have to say its some of the best iron play for years, if not ever! So…the putting, yep, it was purely down to the ‘short stick’. The teaching Pro Michel was tearing his hair out, as he tried to assist with all his technology. I was a poor student! The par 72 layout was a good test and my 75,74,72 was only  good for 42nd place. Testimony for how good a test the course was, was the leaderboard quality..Mark James, Eamon Darcy, Chapman, Torrance, Mason all players of high pedigree. Mark won on the 2nd play off hole from Darc’ on a total of -10. Great golf at a great course in great weather, what more could the sponsors , spectators want? Me in the hunt perhaps!! No news on the equipment front, other than my new Adams irons are brill’ , and I’m in the market for new putter I reckon, tho’ the 2 thumb grip has potential.

This week I have a quick trip to Crieff GC for VW Commercial, and then its the Algarve for Travis Perkins for 3 days! More sun…can I hack it? Someone has to hey?

Play well……