Last week was a week off for me... or so I thought! I seem to be far busier when I am home than on tour. I spent the early part of the week catching up on paperwork and sorting some more details out for my charity day on September 3rd. I have had loads of interest and have half of the teams confirmed already, not to mention around 20 of the local pros. I have team prizes sorted out along with some stunning auction items not to mention a special prize for a special shot on the day; I'll leave that to your imagination for now. Things are coming along nicely and will have an update with details coming soon. The early part of the week was also spent getting my game ready for the US Open, I practiced well and am looking forward to taking my game to Oakmont.

On Thursday I went along to Tynemouth to honour an agreement I made late last year. When I was doing the junior presentation night I was asked, kind of tongue in cheek, by one of the kids if I fancied a game. I accepted and went along to play with Ryan, his friend Paul and Tynemouth pro John McKenna. It was a cold damp day but once we got going it got better, same really as the match went. Ryan and I were two down after two holes and it looked like it was going to be a struggle but with a par nett birdie for Ryan on the seventh, birdies at eight and nine we managed to win one up... not sure Mr McKenna would have let me hear the end of that if he had won! I hope Ryan and Paul had a good day, I know I did.

Friday was a hectic day with the opening of the new 9 holes at Matfen Hall. I was up there first thing to play with the press and do some media ahead of the US Open. I have seen the course since the start and it always looked like it would be good but wow... it has turned out fantastic and I'm not just saying that.

The official opening was done in the afternoon and I had the pleasure to play with the owner of Matfen Hall, Sir Hugh Blackett, Jonathan Edwards and England boss Steve McClaren. The weather got out really nice for the 1 30 start and we had a great time with lots of banter and stories on the way around, none of which I could possibly repeat. There is a great mix of holes, the par five fifth is well over 570 yards, where as the previous hole is around 150 yards. The signature hole is the par three eighth, 165 yards framed by mature trees and over a marsh area, kind of reminded my of the seventeenth at Loch Lomond. The new nine is very in keeping with what Matfen already have and they must be hugely proud of how it came out.

Saturday was the usual trip to The US, flight to London, flight to the US and then a connection to my final destination, which this time was Pittsburgh. I need to get my finger out and make enough money to get a private jet to make life easier... well back to reality! I arrived in Pittsburgh with no major problems, well other than no suit case or golf clubs... flying over here can be a real pain, in the last four trips my luggage has gone missing 3 times, hopefully by the time you guys are reading this I will have my kit back but I'm not going to hold my breath... feels very much like Medinah at last years USPGA when my clubs arrived on Saturday morning just in time to fly home after missing the cut with a make shift set!

As they say, the week can only get better...