Thursday - Day 1
What a frustrating day. I actually hit the ball nicely all day but just didn't get the rewards I deserved.
I had a lie-in this morning having got to bed about 10.30 pm on Wednesday and headed for the practice range. Don't ask me who I saw there, I was so focussed I didn't notice.
Met Mark O'Meara on the tee for the first time - what a nice bloke and he turned out to be very encouraging and very supportive. Charl Schwartzel, my other playing partner is also a good lad.
I started tidily with six pars and thought I had a really good chance to post a good score. I was driving it excellent. But on the 7th (453 yards, par-4), I came up just short with a 9-iron approach and putted it 8ft passed and missed the putt coming back.
Same thing happened on the 11th (par-4, 393 yards). I drove it down the middle and had 90 yards to the green. Came up just short again, and misjudged the approach putt too strongly and missed the return.
Two over at that stage was irritating but I knew I was hitting the ball so well, things had to work in my favour.
Then at the 15th - a little par-3 of 160 yards - I missed the green and the ball rolled round, dropped in the bunker and plugged. I couldn't get it out first time and the second effort went a few feet passed and I finally had to settle for a double bogey five.
But I still had two par-5s and knew that if I could get something from them, two over par wouldn't be too bad.
At the 16th I was pin high right in two, chipped to 6ft and holed for birdie and on 18 I drove it beautifully down the middle, hit 2-iron to the centre of the green and two putted for another birdie.
A two over par 74 is disappointing but I'm driving and striking the ball well and if I can play like I did from tee to green tomorrow - and be a little more successful with my approach putts - I'll be okay for the weekend, I'm sure.
My housemate Graeme McDowell will be thrilled with his 66, I know but he won't have time to celebrate. Like me, he's off early in the morning and appreciates that we're only a quarter of the way through the tournament and much can happen.
I'm off for a bite to eat and an early night. I'm up at five for a tee-time just before seven. Fingers crossed.
