Byron Nelson

We were at the TPC Four Season Resort Las Colinas in Irving, which is close to Dallas in Texas for the EDS Byron Nelson Championship this week. The course has been newly renovated by tour player D A Weibring, he has changed every hole on the course, every week is a new course for me so it was nice to see everyone else working really hard to prepare rather than using the previous years notes. I got up early on Monday morning to play a practice round before it got busy, but when I got to the first tee at 7am there were already three groups waiting! I played another practice round on Tuesday and then hit balls and putted on Wednesday.

The weather wasn't what I had been expecting, the new drainage system was tested by Wednesday night as storms dropped over an inch of water on the course, despite the strong wind and lightning the course was open for play but we did use preferred lies. The wind stayed strong on Thursday and at times was up to 40mph. I had a frustrating day on the greens and couldn't hole a thing I looked at. Friday was an odd day where every mistake cost me a double bogey, unfortunately there were three of them. I missed the cut, but the conditions and course had taken its toll on the field with one of the highest cuts of the year.

On Saturday afternoon I met up with an old college team mate, after he had been out on the course watching. It was nice to speak face to face rather than by email, it's been nine years since my time at Midland Junior College but I have been lucky to keep in touch with most of my old team. I moved my flight forward to Sunday morning so that I could arrive in Charlotte earlier and then get some rest before I do it all again next week.

As you can see I will be wearing a Marie Curie Daffodil on my hat for the rest of the season to show my support and hopefully help raise awareness of such a fantastic charity.

I am also pleased to announce that the Alzheimer's Society will be one of the recipients of the Ferrie Foundation golf day this year. Alzheimer's Society staff and volunteers work together to provide help and information to people affected by dementia in our community. Local branch services include day care and home care for people with dementia, as well as support services to help families cope with the demands of caring. Branches provide both practical support and an essential point of human contact; the money raised will be spent in Newcastle and Northumberland. I think the emphasis on supporting not only the sufferer but the families impacted by this disease makes this a very worthy charity to support, a number of people that I know have been touched by this illness and I would like to raise awareness that there is advice and support available.

I am playing in the Wachovia Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina this week; hopefully I will take my good play with me and remove the mistakes.