Picture: Getty Images
The last three weeks in China, Korea and Spain were a little disappointing. A nine on the last in China to miss the cut and two finishes around 40th or so in Korea and Spain doesn't reflect the golf I played.
The first two days last week in Spain were really tough. The guys who played Thursday morning then Friday afternoon really got the wrong side of the draw, as the wind and rain seemed to start when we went out and finish when we came in. I felt that I played OK for a one-over-par total after 36 holes, and with the cut coming at four-over it showed just how tough the course was playing. It's not often a cut comes that high outside a major.
Seville Golf Club is a decent course. They just struggle with the greens a bit there. They get very soft and a bit bumpy, so with the wind and the pace of the greens, it becomes very tough to hole putts. Lots of players were struggling on the greens.
The rough was also some of the thickest that we have all year, so it really was a week to be hitting the ball well, and finding lots of fairways because if you missed them, you could only hack it out 50-100 yards. That's how tough the rough was.
When you are away for three weeks and eating out every night, you really do start eating pretty badly. My diet, especially in Asia, has consisted of pizza three or four nights a week, the odd steak and a few noodles in China. I cannot wait to start eating some regular food again and probably put some of the weight back on that I've lost, so a few visits to my mum are in order starting I think with one of her roast dinners. I might as well give her my washing while I'm at it.
On Monday, I played in the Rovers-City charity match at the Memorial Ground. I have been pretty excited about it for a while.
For someone like me to play in a stadium atmosphere was a great experience and, despite the weather, a good crowd turned up to watch.
I haven't played a proper match for about seven years, but Tommy Doherty was giving me plenty of stick about the one and only chance I had. I blame him for not giving me the service from midfield.
It was great playing with the ex-City players. Jason Roberts came to play for Bristol Rovers and Nigel Martyn played in goal, all to raise money for Children's Hospice South West, which I support with this blog, so it was a great day.
I have some time off, so lots of practice to get on with. Hopefully, my new bike will be here soon and I'm heading up to Lytham at the weekend for some practice for The Open. I still have to qualify, but any excuse to play Lytham I'll take.