As I write, I am sitting in my hotel room in Morocco after another disappointing performance. It’s my fourth week on the road, and my third missed cut. The one cut I made in this stretch was a T-56th at the Volvo China Open last week, hardly the kind of performance I am looking for.
The first event of the four, the Spanish Open at Valderrama, was followed by two events in China before the Trophée Hassan II in Morocco. I have travelled for approximately 56 hours in the past month. I’ve battled a pulled muscle in my neck, and what I can only describe as diabolical food in China.
I’ve also spent a lot more money than I have made.
Saying all of that, I’m not complaining about my job! I love playing golf for a living, and I am fully aware how fortunate I am to be out here on the European Tour. I’m simply trying to give you an insight into how the job is far from private jets and trophies every week – at least for most guys out here!
One lesson you are taught over and over as a touring professional is the importance of mental toughness and resilience. Out here they are probably the most important factors to success. We play against 155 seriously talented golfers every week; inevitably you are going to lose a lot more than you win. If your form dips slightly, you are going to get your butt kicked!
I am going through a run of poor form at the moment and I’m getting my butt kicked most weeks. It is tough to not let it get you down but this is where the resilience comes in, and having a good support network is key.
I have learned that times like these are simply part of professional golf. The more resilient you are, the harder you work; and the better advice you get, the quicker your form will turn around. I am very lucky to have a great wife, family, and coaches behind me. All I can do is keep my chin up, work out what has been going wrong, and then work my rear end off to sort it out. That is exactly what I am going to do in the knowledge that, sooner or later, the good scores will return!
