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August 2004
5 August, Ryder Cup Wales Challenge, 1st Round 63 (-9)
Played well obviously, but not spectacular. I just did the things you
are supposed to do, but don't normally do. After starting with a birdie
3 at the 10th, I made another at 15 and then birdied 5 in a row, including
a chip-in at the 2nd. I only missed one other green and managed to make
a 10 footer for par to ensure a bogey free round. 63 is not only leading,
but is my lowest pro-round and a new course record, so I am very pleased
with my score today and hopefully I can keep it going tomorrow. David
6 August, Ryder Cup Wales Challenge, 2nd Round 71 (-1)
What a difference a day makes. Played OK and got off to a good start with
a birdie at the first, but then hit 4 bad shots at the par-3 2nd and made
a double. That knocked me out of my stride a little and I parred my way
out to the 11th, missing 2 or 3 good chances for birdie. Made birdies
at 12 and 13, but then at the par-5 15th I drove in the edge of the rough
and caught a bad lie. I tried to hit four-iron out and it plugged in the
bunker short of the green. Hit a reasonable bunker shot out and was unlucky
with the putt and made bogey. Bounced back with a 2 at 17 to get back
under with a 71. With scoring so low, it dropped me back to tied 9th,
but I am still in the tournament and a couple of 66s or better over the
weekend and I will be right up there on Sunday. David
7 August, Ryder Cup Wales Challenge, 3rd Round 68 (-4)
Played really solid and hit the ball better than the previous two days.
Practiced hard last night then did some work with Ian this morning. Made
a nice four at the first, bogeyed the second, then birdied 5, 8, 10 and
11. Three missed greens and three bogeys at 12, 16 and 18. The last two
bogeys were when I took the wrong club and went through the green and
missed very short par putts. Birdies at 13, 15 and my third 2 at 17 balanced
them up. Still in the top 10, just, and 65 tomorrow should get me a top
5, but more patience required. David
8 August, Ryder Cup Wales Challenge, 4th Round 71 (-1)
Very windy today and I played pretty solid, but a bad stretch on the on
the easy holes on the back nine cost me a good score. After bogeying5,
I birdied 7, 8 and 9, then missed from 3 feet at 10 for another. Made
a bad mental decision at 12 which cost me a shot and the little things
did not go my way down the remaining holes and I parred in for 71. That
left me tied 11th, which is another good finish and maybe a little disappointing
after that excellent first round. However I will take the positives from
this week to my next event. David
12 August, BMW Russian Open, 1st Round 75 (+3)
Played really well for the first eleven holes. I made birdies at 12, 14
and 17, but I should have been five or six under as I was hitting it close
and made nothing. Over the last 7 holes I hit four loose shots and dropped
6 shots due to some poor short game and putting. Not happy. 75 is going
to require a low number tomorrow to make the cut so I am off to get some
practice in. David
13 August, BMW Russian Open, 2nd Round 72 (Ev)
Didn't get the start I needed. I was off first group from the first at
7.30am and parred the first two, then dropped a shot at the 3rd again.
Made birdies at 5 and 6 to give myself a glimmer of hope, but for the
next 7 holes I had some chances but could not get the ball into the hole
and the eventual birdie at 14 was too little too late. I still had an
outside chance of making it until I hit it in the water on the reachable
par-5 15th and ended up making bogey. Bogeyed 16 and only made par on
17, but it didn't really matter in the end and I missed the cut by 6.
The damage was done on the last few holes yesterday. It was strange -
I played really well for 11 holes then awful for the last 7. My short
game was poor and I didn't make any putts, so I'll be working on that
the next few days. David
19 August, Norwegian Challenge 2004, 1st Round 72 (Ev)
Shot even par 72 today. Played pretty well for most of the day but some
really bad mental mistakes along with a poor short game proved costly.
Missing a green equal's bogey at the moment. It was one of those rounds
that could have been even better or could have been really bad. Five birdies
offset by five bogeys with a few pars in-between. Got off to a great start
with a birdie at the first but dropped the shot straight back on the second.
Birdied the third but bogeys at 5 and 9 meant I reached the turn at one
over. Got back to level with a birdie at the 10th but back to back bogeys
on 13 and 14 had me well down the field. Hung in there though and got
both shots back with birdies on the two par 5's 15 and 17. A par at the
last and I was round in level. Away to work on my short game for tomorrow.
David
20 August, Norwegian Challenge 2004, 2nd Round 78 (+6)
After yesterday's rain delay we finally got to play the second round.
Shot 6 over-par 78 in what was probably the worst display of mental golf
in the history of the game. I played OK for most of the day but made four
6's when it would have been easier to make four 4's. Absolute genius!
I was appalling mentally, not sure if I've been playing to much or if
it was just one of those days. Missed the cut this week but I think I
need a week off to recharge the batteries and prepare myself for my next
event. David
26 August, Skandia PGA Open, 1st Round 70 (Ev)
70 level par today. Played pretty good, hit driver much better but pitching
wedge play and especially putting were poor. Kind of important those!
Started at the 10th today and made a solid start with three straight pars
then a good birdie on the 13th but bogeys on 14 and the par 5 17th meant
I reached the turn at 1 over-par. Dropped to 2 over with another bogey
at the long par 4 3rd but got the shot straight back with a birdie 2 at
the next. Bogeyed the 7th but two birdies to finish helped get me back
to level par for the day. Away to work on my short game. David
27 August, Skandia PGA Open, 2nd Round 71 (+1)
71, made it by one! Had to birdie 16 and 18 to scrape through. I played
pretty well but short game and putting let me down again until last three
holes. Made a couple of poor mental mistakes too. Was down on myself all
day. Made a poor start with 3 bogeys in the first 4 holes and things were
not looking good. Birdied 5 and 6 to get two of the shots back but a bogey
on 8 meant I reached the turn at 2 over-par. Made another bogey on the
12th and it was looking like I was having the weekend off again but I
birdied the par three 16th and then on 17 made my first up and down of
tournament to save par. Then on the final hole I hit a great tee shot
and converted the putt for a birdie 2 to be safe for the last two rounds.
Hopefully things will improve over the weekend and I can start making
my way up the leader board. David
28 August, Skandia PGA Open, 3rd Round 73 (+3)
Was appalling today and ended up shooting 73. Was really down all day
for some reason. Got off to a good start with a birdie at the first then
I hit a few loose drives that caused bogeys. Bogeyed 3, 7 and 8 with a
birdie at the 5th to make the turn at 1 over. Only problem was that my
driver broke on eighth so it was going to be a long back nine. Very scrappy
after that and two bogeys on 12 and 13 along with 7 pars meant I was round
in 3 over-par. Away to practice and get a new driver! David
29 August, Skandia PGA Open, 4th Round 74 (+4)
Shot 74 in very windy conditions today. Played well for first eleven then
had a mare without really hitting many bad shots. Unlucky a few times
combined with poor short game not ideal. Birdied the 6th and made a lone
bogey on the 8th to reach the turn at level par for the day. Bogeyed the
10th but got the shot straight back with a birdie on the 11th but then
things went a bit wrong. Bogeyed 12, 13 and 14 before I birdied the par
5 15th. Then after my driving troubles of yesterday the only poor tee
shot all day cost me seven on the 17th. Pared the last to be round in
4 over-par 74 and 8 over-par for the tournament. Short game has been poor
all week so I know what needs some work on. David
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