Chris Paisley checks in from Florida and updates us on his recent European Tour starts
This month I’m writing to you from the Florida sunshine during a a delightful five week break. Like a true Brit, I keep muttering ‘It’s too hot”.
Since my last column I have played the Open De Andalucia, Irish Open and Scottish Open; an incredible run of events!
I finished 37th, 41st and 34th respectively. While the results aren’t anything special, I played a lot of high quality golf. This year I made the cut at Valderrama for the first time – a place that normally has me well beaten after 36 holes! I have also had an awful record in Rolex Series events the past few years, so it was nice to make the cuts in Ireland and Scotland. With so many Race to Dubai points up for grabs, it was important to play well to ensure my card was secured for next season. Retaining my card isn’t something I set as a goal at the beginning of a season, but it’s still nice to know that I have a job for another year. My main goal for the season is to finish in the top 20 of the Race to Dubai, which would get me into all the majors and WGCs next year.
So, what do I do in this break to achieve that goal? A big focus is to get my strength, speed and power back. After a long stretch on the road I typically lose 5-6kg due to a lack of training. I really enjoy going to the gym so it’s not a chore for me. Golf-wise, I will base a lot of my work on my stats from the year so far. One stat that has stood out is my increase in three putts. I typically have one per tournament, but recently I’ve been averaging almost one per round. It doesn’t sound much, but every shot is so important and three putt avoidance is one of the most important stats when it comes to winning. I am always looking to improve every aspect of my game, but when an important stat like that jumps out, it’s important to address it.
These periods are also crucial for family time. Although I am back working extremely hard, I try to get the balance right. Keri and Ella have been travelling with me, but Keri takes on the majority of the workload when we’re at tournaments so I can focus on golf. It has just been an absolute joy to spend so much time with them and watch Ella grow and learn so quickly. I have come to really enjoy these periods; it’s a nice reminder that while golf is my job, they will always be my life.
