The Quinn Direct British Masters

I travelled down to the Belfry on Tuesday for the Quinn Direct British Masters and got settled into the hotel. Staying onsite is always more enjoyable and this is one of the best run events on tour, mainly because the promoter is an ex-player who always thinks of everything the players could want or need.

I didn't play in Wednesday's Pro-Am day, but managed to go out and see Steve Harper and James Milner who were playing alongside TV chat show host Jeremy Kyle and their Pro Simon Wakefield in between my practice sessions. I have to mention Steve's great par on the 18th and James' fantastic par on the 9th we joked that people would pay good money for those at the end of the tournament and we were right...I would have loved four of James' pars on the 9th.

On Thursday I played with Ignacio Garrido and Scott Drummond. I was disappointed with my 3 under par 69, as I had been 5 under through sixteen holes and made a double bogey six on the 8th hole which was my seventeenth. It was more annoying that I hadn't capitalised on the many good opportunities I had given myself throughout the round. On a positive note it had been a solid start and I was well positioned on the leader board.

Friday was an early start with a 7.40am tee time, thankfully the journey to the range was only a short walk, and those extra few minutes in bed are always welcome! The weather was cooler and very windy and I was pleased with my solid round and finished with a 2 over par 74. I was in 25th position and made the cut comfortably.

On Saturday I had a quiet morning filling time until my 12.30 tee time with Daniel Vancsik. The conditions were tricky and I was playing consistently until my only bad shot of the front nine, my second to the ninth finished in the water. I followed this with eight pars and bogey on the back nine for a 4 over par 76. I spent the evening at my friend's house watching TV and eating Chinese take-away with his family. With only three English speaking channels all of which were news channels in Cologne last week it was a treat to watch Saturday night TV!

On Sunday I played with my friend Oliver Wilson, I got off to another good start with eight pars, 2 bogeys and 2 birdies in the closing ten holes totalled a solid level par round of 72. I finished in tied 46th position, not what I hoped for after the first round but I am playing well and can now look forward to a week off before the Dunhill Links at St Andrews. Unfortunately my partner from the last couple of year's triple jumper Jonathan Edwards won't be playing, he will be hard to replace but hopefully I will get a partner who is good company and we can share a laugh.