Home for a week after 3 weeks up in Japan always creates a slight dilemma, keep practicing hard after three big weeks and plenty of fatigue or rest up and prepare to go again next week.
For me it was about family time as my number one priority. Having been away for nearly all of the school holidays my wife was exhausted and my kids were ready for some "dad time!" I loved that fact and couldn't wait to get involved. Golf was momentarily on the back burner until maybe later in the week.
The plans for the week changed slightly when I fell playing soccer with Jack and Jonte on Monday. I didn't do the damage that Rory did but it looked like my right knee ligament that was repairing from a tear some 4-5 weeks ago was re-torn. This changed my plans for the week and meant it was all just about hanging with the fam and maybe, knee permitting I will hit some balls later in the week. Lounge room putting and backyard chipping will be the order of the week now!
I head back up to Japan next Monday for my next event and despite really looking forward to it I know it is a hilly course which will certainly place a fair amount of stress on my knee. It will be a test physically as well as the usual mental challenge.
I am always inspired when the majors are in TV and sitting here watching the British Open has without doubt charged the batteries. If ever there needed to be something learnt for my game from watching the guys play, it couldn't be clearer watching the contrasting fortunes of the man of the moment Jordan Spieth and Tiger Woods. What I'm learning is that when you play golf with a clear mind and a mind that is solely focussed on the next shot only and technique free, as Spieth is doing, you increase your chances of playing well. On the other hand when you have too much going on and the confidence is low meaning more thinking, as in Tiger's case, you increase your chances of playing poorly. So for me, and for all my readers you need to find a way to focus simply on the next shot and the process to hit that shot. Immerse yourself in that shot and do the absolute best job you can of seeing, feeling and hitting that shot.
That will be my challenge next week too, with the added challenge of accepting that physically I won't be at my best. The more I can focus on that the better my week will be in Japan. As for the rest of my preparation until I fly on Monday, I will possibly have an MRI tomorrow on my knee and then hit some balls and do some practice, coach my sons soccer team on Saturday before watching Man City play at night and then head to watch my beloved Broncos on Sunday at Suncorp. That should have me fresh and ready to go next week.
Enjoy the British Open people, my tip was Adam Scott but seeing the weather worsening before he has teed off on day one with low scores already in, makes me a little nervous about that prediction. Speith and Dustin Johnson look great already as does our own Jason Day!!! Love watching!