:: May 08
5 May, Wachovia Championship
Wachovia was a week I was looking forward to, as last year I missed it through injury. Quail Hollow is a fun old style golf course, with slopey greens and tree lined fairways. Unfortunately for me, too many trees and too much slope on the greens! I really got my tournament off to the worst possible start (double bogey, bogey, bogey) and ended up shooting +4, 76 on the first day. Although I got off to a terrible start, I felt that mentally I stayed very positive and if I had had a decent putting day, I think I could have been salvaged with an under par score. The second day was very much the same in terms of putting performance. Looking back on my round, if things had gone my way and I had putted nicely, I feel I could have shot between 67 and 65! Instead, a 73 left me four off the cut mark. The highlight of the round was holing a 91 yard sand wedge from the right hand rough on the par 5 10th for eagle, which made up for the previous day's double bogey 7!
Although I missed the cut, I actually feel more upbeat going into the Player's Championship, as my attitude and temperament felt a lot better, and if I can keep that trend going and get back to a few simple basics, the results will soon turn around. After having to withdraw from Hilton Head due to some minor twinges in my back, I feel it has settled down really well, and with an increased stretching regime, the back feels really good. Touch wood! I am looking forward to coming back to England after The Players, and playing in front of a home crowd at Wentworth. Thanks for all your messages of support through the Masters and withdrawing from Hilton Head. Speak soon, Justin
21 May, BMW PGA Championship
Sorry for the delay in the updates, but life has been really busy. Right after my disappointing performance in The Players I flew back to England and last week I was up at Royal Birkdale for the first time since the '97 Open. I was there for a few days and got some practice in for July as well as spending time doing some media days for The Times and TaylorMade. I am now at Wentworth for the BMW PGA Championship and my game and body are in good shape. I am off with Cabrera and Olazabal at 12.45pm in the first round and I am hoping to go one better than last year! Thanks for all your support. It's great to be back in Europe. Justin
26 May, BMW Championship
Another very disappointing week at the office. I had by best warm up for months on Thursday and felt really good about my game, but I just could not take that form to the course. I struggled over the opening holes and after solid par at the first I had to scramble for pars and when I did drop a shot I could not get it back. I held on until 14, but a bad double there killed my momentum and the only bright point was the long putt I holed at the last for par. The second round was more of the same. Technically my swing is not there at the moment, although my putting was better this week on greens that really varied a lot.
Golf is full of ups and downs and I am going through a down at the moment, but you just have to be professional about it and work hard and eventually something will click and I will get a bit of consistency and confidence going. It’s hard to stay positive but the more upbeat you are the quicker you can turn it around. I am off back to the States now for the Memorial Tournament so I will catch up with you from there. Thanks for all your support this week - it was great to play in front of my home crowd again! Justin
