Oh Greg - where did it all go wrong!!!!

I couldnt help but post my views on what happened when watching the golf last night and I think there's a very strong lesson to be learned for everybody from it!!

Baring in mind Luke Donald (an englishman) won in America last week, this was a superb chance for another englishman - Greg Owen to make it the first time any Brits have won back to back weeks in America since I can remember, if ever!
The tournament was the Bay Hill Invitational in Florida and to cut a long story short, Owen had about a 3 foot putt for par on the 17th green which would have given him a 2 shot lead over Rod Pampling of Australia going up the last hole and almost certain victory. What happened next, and the repercussions are simply unforgettable and also a truly fantastic illustration of what nerves and pressure can do to golf.

Owen hit his first putt very hard and it missed - fair enough, we can't all hole every putt! The ball however, continued to roll about 3 foot past the other side of the hole leaving another strong testing putt coming back. Owen, perhaps in a moment of craziness, didnt even line up the putt coming back and took no time at all over it. Consequently, he missed that putt too and tapped in for a double bogey, leaving Pampling tied with him for the lead going up the last.

Understandably, Owen's nerves were gone going up the last hole, and Pampling's par was enough to give him the title as well the prestige going with it. How Owen must have felt is perhaps far worse than any of us golfers (including myself) have ever felt on a golf course. That moment of lapsed concentration cost him not only leaping from 95th in the world rankings into the mid 30's and a certain place in the US Masters next month. Also, it cost him a 2 year exemption to play on the tour and some £200,000 also!!!!!!

Ouch!! I have certainly seen this and taken it on board for my own game. Golf is a cruel game in which you cant get complacent because it will always get the better of you. I'm sure Greg Owen will have his day, but you've got to wonder how something like this will affect the rest of your career. I guess you will only have a certain number of chances in this game and to let it slip in this manner is a bit unbelievable. Hopefully, he will emerge stronger because of it and certainly never ever make the same mistakes again.

We live and learn.....

The flu and not a lot else......

Since my last entry I have quite literally been knocked out by flu although now I am feeling much better. The doctor said I also have laryngitis which is also now thankfully subsiding. I very rarely get ill to the point where I cant get out of bed but this has certainly been the case this week. Nevermind, it's over now - onward and upward.

I have decided that I am going to do my playing test at Clandon Regis on May 11th instead of Bishops Stortford. I decided this finally after a lengthy discussion with my boss who I must say has been very helpful with his advice on my golf. I can certainly rely on a 'honest no-holds-barred' opinion with him and this is great because it forces me to be decisive about things.
Clandon is the chosen venue mainly because it is the first date of the year I can do. Waiting for the Bishops Stortford test would be 2 weeks longer, which is not an appealing thought as I just want to get this thing over and done with as quickly as possible. It's a slightly more forgiving course that I have played 2 very good rounds on last year. All I have to do is put them together on the same day and it'll 'happy days' for me. Its a little bit wider from the tee too, which actually now isnt that important to me as I'm hitting it much straighter anyway. The focus has got to be building on my chipping, pitching and putting as the greens are for want of a stronger word 'tricky', so I'm gonna have to be in tip-top shape for them.

My golf right now, in terms of swing and ball striking is probably at B/B+ if I had to quantify it. This is great as I consider last year at best to have been around C-. In other words, I am vastly improved, but know that I have a lot more to improve on too. The main thing now is that I have an understanding of my swing which could aid in me fixing problems on the course if they occur.

I have begun dedicating some time to working on my pitching and trying to build up some reliability and versatility in my yardages. This area is what seperates good players from great players and to quantify this, I am probably on about a C grade with that at the moment (good at times but not consistent enough. This will improve by one way and one way only - practise, practise, practise!!!!
Its only just over two months till the test now which is quite scary as it feels that it is creeping up on me. I hate to blame weather again but its so bloody horrible. I haven't been able to get out there for more than one day at a time and now I am on a bit of time limit I desperately need mother nature to do me a favour. Otherwise, i'm gonna have to force myself out there in all my waterproofs and risk getting flu again - not something I particularly want to do.

At the weekend, the Mid Sussex Davies and Tate team have a practise match against the Sussex County Boys Under 16's. I cant wait to play in this, as I think it is great opportunity to see where exactly my golf is, as I havent played a competition for ages now. Can't wait for that.

Stay tuned.....