March 2002

4 March, Off to Zambia
I am feeling much better now and played a few holes and had a light gym season yesterday and everything seems OK today. I am flying to Zambia this morning for the Zambia Open, so hopefully I will be able to tee it up this time. I am not sure what the internet and phone connections are like there, so fingers crossed I can get my news back to you! David

7 March, Zambia Open, 1st Round, 75 (+2)
Shot 75 today which is two over and is not very good. I struggled a wee bit in the heat - it is about 32 degrees and that is playing in the morning! Will be even hotter tomorrow when I am last off. Felt very tired over the closing holes. I played well in patches but struggled a little off the tee (I'm not the best when it is quite tight off the tee). I had a couple of poor doubles - the 4th was bad course management and the 16th was sloppy and I ended up in the water on both. My putting was OK but I did not really make anything. It is hard trusting the lines because the greens are so grainy and the ball breaks in different directions to the slope. However two really good birdies to finish at least gives me a chance tomorrow, as I think I need a 68 or so to make this trip productive. I am not quite at full strength yet as still feel tired and weak from the food poisoning of last week. Here is hoping for a few good breaks tomorrow. Cheers David

8 March, Zambia Open, 2nd Round, Retired at +4 after 14 holes
I've just come off the course in the dark after a two and a half hour rain delay. I am currently four over today with four holes to play. I actuallly played pretty well. Striking the ball much crisper than I have been. Unfortunately my shortgame was shocking. Hit a couple of poor chips that were very easy, but it is the blade that has been misbehaving. Really struggling with the grain. Even grainer today as I was last off. Missed nine putts inside ten feet for birdie as well as 3 three footers for par. Not the recipe for success. Have to get up ridiculously early to finish tomorrow with no hope of making the cut so I will fly home to cooler climes tomorrow night. Hopefully after some rest I can get my season of to a proper start in the next event. David

17 March, Getting Ready for the European Tour
I found out last week that I have got into the Madeira Island Open European Tour event next week. I am flying out on Monday with my trusty caddie Scott for our first event on the big tour. As a Challenge tour card holder, I can get a couple of starts on the main Tour, and after my abortive start in Africa, this is a welcome opportunity to get some competitive experience. I know the course because I was part of the Scotland Team that won the European Youths there in 1996, so hopefully I can have another good result. I have spent the last weekend up in Elie and the weather has been fantastic so I have played a couple of rounds and got some good practise in on the range too. My game is in good shape and hopefully it will enable me to make the cut and start challenging. I'll let you know how I get on through the site.

20 March, Madeira Island Open
Arrived here safely and am looking forward to my first European Tour event. The practice ground was busy yesterday and I got the last spot without realising who was next to me, only to turn round after a few balls to find Seve behind me! Gave him a few pointers as you do....anyway, just to let you know I am off the 10th at 9.20am with Thomas Haveman of Denmark and James Johnson of England. Speak tomorrow with my first round report. David

21 March, Madeira Island Open, 1st Round, 76 (+4)
Played OK with only a couple of sloppy shots. It was very windy and on very slopey greens I putted poorly. I reckon I missed 3 short ones and 7 makeable ones and had four sixes too many, but at least two 2s kept the score down. I am currently tied 89th with a whole bunch of people on +4 so if the conditions stay like this, then something under par should get me through to the weekend. I am just off for some physio and some dinner before getting some rest tonight. I have a bit of a lie in as we are off at 1.50pm, so at least I'll have a good idea of what I need to shoot when I tee off. Cheers, David

22 March, Madeira Island Open, 2nd Round, 76 (+4)
Played pretty good again, apart from the 11th, 12th and 13th where I dropped 4 shots. Three 3-putts and three more sixes today did the damage and even a birdie at the last did not threaten the cut which came at +4. I was disappointed with my finish today as I was inside the cut with nine holes to go - but 39 home is not the way to make it. I am going to stay on here for the weekend for some warm weather practice, as my next tournament is not until 11 April in Morocco. It was a great experience to be playing on the European Tour at last and hopefully I can get the results this year on the Challenge Tour to be here permanently next year. Thanks for your support, David.

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