Gloomy overcast weather arrived for the weekend but it was actually a blessing as the temperature was much more enjoyable.

When you are starting the weekend right in the cut line there is one direction you want to go and fast, that is forwards. For me the weekend was all about trying to make serious birdies and be extremely attacking where possible. I think this week actually saw me play a little too conservatively and as is often the case up here in Japan that leaves you with large breaking putts.

Although the rough was thick here it seemed as though the small shots from the rough from the short side of the pin were actually the easiest. So different to a week ago at Brookwater where short side misses usually ended in bogies. I took too long to get back into Japanese golf mode after a month back in Australian conditions. It actually didn't dawn on me until my back nine on Sunday.

My weekend was a battle. Even though I was starting to feel better health wise and improve my tee shots, particularly on Sunday, I just didn't hit it close enough. I left the putter too much work all weekend and that meant long birdie putts and par saving putts from too far all too often too. Even though my short putter was performing ok it was given too big a task by my long and short games. I struggled for timing and rhythm with the putter over the weekend on course and it's obvious to me that I still have a way to go in this transition. When I got it right it was very very good and is truly exciting looking forward. I just need to keep working hard to allow the good to turn up more often.

I'm disappointed in my weekend but really happy to have put two full tournament weeks under my belt with the short putter. If someone told me two months ago that would happen I would have thought that person was mad. Here I am though and despite it being far from comfortable or even good yet, I'm through it and better for it. I look forward to continuing my work with my coaches back home and studying what Jason Day is doing as it is obviously working for him!!!!

Travel day today and tonight, I'd rather be staying to play the next event up here but I just didn't do well enough this week to play my way in. Back to the practice green I go!!

Friday's on tour are tough days. So much happens, so many stories unfold and as I've mentioned before more than half of the professional golfers out here are sadly packing up their travel covers with their clubs and heading either to next weeks venue or home......unpaid

Before that happens however there is no doubt a roller coaster of emotions that have been gone through out on the course. There are certain groups of players that arrive at the course on a Friday. Let me explain them to you:

Leaders - these guys have started the week well on Thursday and look at Friday being a day to get their nose in front heading to the weekend.

Solid performers - these guys are the week in week out cut makers. They aren't necessarily at their best but are playing well enough to be comfortably inside the cut line. Friday's happen without too much stress for them, they are comfortable all day without being excited about their form.

Cutliners - these guys have come from multiple directions, some from inside the mark but are playing average on a Friday and scrapping with all their might to hang on, and some who played poorly on Thursday but still have a chance to make the weekend with a solid under par round.

Dreamers - these guys are exactly that, bad bad days on Thursdays mean these guys have to dream of season low rounds to make the weekend.

I wishers - these guys wish they were somewhere else on this Friday making money from a real job.....trust me there are plenty of these guys out there!

Today I was in the middle somewhere between the solid performers and the cutliners category. I had scored well on Thursday, but due to some poor golf early on Friday I was in a serious battle to make the weekend cash rounds. Incredible things happen on Fridays and I wish I knew all the stories to share them here. My own story ended with me in that picture up above, sitting by the beach having a beer and watching the scores throughout the afternoon.

My story was that 4 bogies in a row on the front nine meant I was in a solid battle. I was sick but not willing to lie down at this point. I scrapped an amazing par on the 7th and said to my caddy that I thought it was a turning point. I birdied the next two holes and another on 13 meant I was back in the "safe zone". I couldn't quite get another and then with bogey on the tough 16th I was left with two holes to try and secure my spot for the weekend. It wasn't to be and such an afternoon at the beach having a swim and checking the scores occasionally followed. I was involved in a Guyatt family group chat as we ticked off the final players that could impact the cut one by one....I had made it on the number and was amazed to be around for the weekend. I had been sick for two days and played really poorly off the tee but somehow had scraped through....pumped

One story from the day was that a former winner on tour was shaping as a guy that could knock me out of the weekend. He was on fire on his back nine and was coming home very very strong. He closed with a 5 under 31 which included two chip ins and only 11 putts. He finished 1 shot short of weekend golf and despite shooting a 6 under 66 he had to pack his gear and head to next weeks venue. Another player I know was going ok but made a triple bogey with 5 to play and couldn't quite pick up the shot he needed to make the cut, also missing by a shot. There are so many of these stories out there each and every week. What an extremely tough way to try and make a living, brutal, so brutal!

This week the cards fell my way but I have certainly been on the other side more times than I can remember too. Here's to hoping I actually get some sleep tonight and feel a thousand times better tomorrow. I have nothing to lose and everything to gain so I am planning on having a red hot crack this weekend. Time to go MG!

After the Qld Open I made a dash nth to Japan on Monday only to arrive in Tokyo to news my connecting flight on Tuesday morning had been cancelled due to a massive typhoon in Fukuoka, my final destination. After rescheduling to a late flight Tuesday we finally hit the air hoping the typhoon had passed through and that we could land safely. I have to say it certainly wasn't the most enjoyable flight or landing for that matter and I was one happy camper to be on the ground safely and in one piece.

Due to the weather the week was very disrupted and the JGTO decided to make a great decision and make the pro am only 9 holes allowing most of the field to at least get to play 9 holes in practice on the Wednesday. I did that and found the course to be a little challenging. Whether it was actually hard or the fact that my head cold had reached "man cold" proportions I wasn't too sure. Either way I wasn't feeling awesome. I walked the other nine and headed home for bed

I woke this morning to a head that was pounding and eyes that were aching!! My call for "lemsip" was not answered and so I was left with no option but to get up, shower up and man up!

My warm up was exactly that, it was hot out there making my head cold feel even more awesome. Fluid was the key today and my little legend of a caddy made sure that I had it in abundance.

It was week two with my short putter in the bag and a definite step up in tournament size. Fortunately I had a great chat with Murray Lott last night and was sharing with him all that has been happening in my golfing world the past month. Murray has been away in China coaching so it was great to catch up. He has always been a believer in the fact that I have all the skills and that I need to just let them come out. I haven't really known how to do that and probably hadn't believed it either. The past month has seen me research certain aspects of the game and analyze some of the greats and why they have gone off the boil when at the peak of the world. What I have realized is that players at all levels, even world number ones are searching for perfection in a game where perfection isn't possible. Well maybe that's a little harsh, maybe they are just trying to get better.

I have come to recognize that I have all the skills needed to be successful at my chosen sport. What I can do is kick a footy. I learnt as a kid and have never had to be taught the skill again, I have just kicked the ball and never given the technical side of that another thought. Why is it then with golf do I do that? I have learnt all the skills, I have all the skills, so surely it's just like kicking a footy, look where I want to "kick" it and kick it!! No thoughts! I know I can hit any shot required of me. I know my limits and talents. I know which of those shots I'm really good at and the ones I'm not so good at. Surely it's just time to play golf and choose my good shots more often and allow them to shine. I am not saying I'm finished learning but I'm not sure I need to learn new tricks. How refreshing to just be able to practice what I already know and get better at that!!

All that being said, that is what I did today, I saw the shot practiced the feel and hit it! For my tee shots I struggled to get it right and I'm not sure that wasn't just my inability to stabilize due to this flu, but my irons were great, superb even. I found the thick rough often, very often and made my day so difficult for myself. I managed my game so well from there though, I played with respect for the course and gave myself chances at pars on those holes. I threw in a couple of birdies and an eagle to go with my 2 bogies and was pleased to sign for a 2 under 70 breaking my run of 4 71's from the Qld Open.

My putting journey continues and my caddy James got to see the short putter for the first time. I made a couple of putts but missed a couple too. I still am having my great putting holes where it feels easy and also the holes where I'm glad to move on to the next! Headspace is going well though and I am trying to simply hit the putt accept and move on, what more can you do?

An early start tomorrow so looking forward to playing well with the skills I know I have. Check out some pics from the course and the video showing this weeks rough that I have had the pleasure of playing out of an aweful lot today. Hopefully far less often tomorrow!!

Was there any dancing this week at the Qld Open? That might seem like a strange question if read in isolation but if you had read my blog from a couple of weeks ago it would make more sense!

I'm sure last night at some point there was some dancing from David Bransdon, the eventual winner after a playoff. I'm not sure of his dancing skills but who cares when you win!! Great win DB!!

For me the dancing was about being free flowing in the greens with the introduction of the right handed short putter in competition for the first time in probably 15 yrs or more. Could I find the rhythm to beat the yips and dance just like I do with my long game.

You know what, for periods this week I was on song, dancing and feeling amazing on the greens! There were also times when things felt like I was a nervous 13yr old at his first school dance not wanting to look ridiculous in front of the girl he liked across the room. I was nervous, anxious and mentally struggling. But that's ok with me now.

Having only recently started on the journey back to the short putter I know there will be struggles and days where it's tough. The great news is that I have methods and a road map if you like to help me negotiate those times and get back on track. I would be lying if I said I didn't have to use those maps this week. The great news for me was that the strategies talked over with Cameron Strachan really helped and allowed me to get through the week. It wasn't always good but at times it was close.

Perfection is something we are all chasing in a game where perfection isn't possible. It's not something I am chasing anymore!

I have never accepted misses more easily and enjoyed holed putts more. I know the numbers and that really helped me to perhaps have more success on the greens than I have for a long while. As I sit in the airport writing this and about to head to Japan I am able to excitedly reflect on a week where I took on a big challenge, was hit hard, had some success, progressed a little on that putting journey, reconfirmed I can really ball strike and also a week where I finished T10 and my best result in a Qld Open, my home Open!

The journey will continue this week in Japan and I look forward to plying my trade and loving my job! I only hope some of you reading this are finding your groove on the dance floor and starting to really move too!!

Brookwater hosts the Qld Open for the third successive year. It's a great venue and a true test of golf. With a superb layout it tests the ball striking skills of all players.

This year the cold weather in Brisbane has hurt the course and it isn't in its usual mint condition. The tough is sparse and certainly the course is longing for some grass growth in certain areas.

I have had a good week enjoying being at home for a tournament, a rare treat for a tournament professional. I was also fortunate enough to be able to invest some time into the juniors at Brookwater too on Tuesday afternoon as I was introduced to them by resident teaching pro John Collins. It was a blast of an afternoon and the kids left smiling so I'm sure it was fun for them too!! They are the future of the sport so it was a highlight of my week to be able to help out.

Pro am Wednesday came and went with some fun with the big wigs from Brookwater, time spent chatting and hearing all about the upcoming projects to create an amazing resort out there. Our golf suffered for the chat but it was a great day anyway!

Rounds one and two have also come and gone and for the first time in a very long time I am using my short right handed putter in a tournament. I have to say so far it has definitely been a mixed bag. I expect that and haven't worried about missing putts at all this week, simply walk and try again! It is a refreshing way to play this game and I hope that the more and more I use it the more comfortable I will be. Knowing the putting numbers certainly helps and has been part of the key components to helping me with my putting. It hasn't been all plain sailing and sometimes I have struggled with the yips. It is a work in progress and I have been happy to reset and go again.

In the first round I injured my lower back and was very close to withdrawing through nine holes. It wasn't hurting to hit the ball but walking was proving a major difficulty. I was trying my best to stretch it out and I think the uphill walk up the 18th helped it to settle a little funnily enough. I decided to carry on and with birdies at my 10th thru to 14th holes it seemed like an ok decision. I was still hurting though and by the end was in considerable discomfort. I had made it though and signed for a 1 under par 71. I was very happy with that.

My second round this afternoon was a little more difficult than day one and along with not hitting it as well, I struggled to find my rhythm with the putter too. The good news was that I was holing enough putts and just hitting enough good shots to make some birdies and in the end manage to churn out another 71. At 2 under for the tournament I am exceeding my expectations for this week and also creating problems for myself. By that I mean I wasn't sure how my putting would go so soon after the change and also by making the cut it creates some difficulties for me getting to Japan with enough time for a practice round next week......first world problems.

So the weekend is going to be fun for me. No pressure as I'm ahead of where I thought I'd be and I look forward to enjoying myself out there in my home state open.

A week or so ago I came home from another trip to Japan and was a little disappointed. I had played really well and had shot four sub par rounds for the week finishing at ten under par. Why would I be disappointed with that I hear you ask? Well I didn't putt well and once again felt as though that part of my game let the rest of my game down again!

That Monday I sat down at my computer and decided to do some research. I looked up the PGA Tour putting stats for this year to date. What I found will change me forever I hope. The numbers were amazing. I looked at putts from 3 foot to 10 foot and then in some larger brackets beyond that out to 25 ft. I looked at the best, the number one ranked player and his percentage of putts holed from all of those distances and then also looked at the 10th player and also the last placed player from every distance. What I found in a nutshell without really boring you completely to tears was that from inside 5 ft the number one putter is exceptional and is nearly at 100% although 10th place only makes around 88% from 5ft whilst last place makes only 61% from 5 ft. The numbers continue to considerably slide the further you get from the hole which is understandable but what shocked me were the numbers. From 10ft the best is at a very respectable 73% but 10th place drops to 57% whilst last place is only making 17% from that range. I guess what I am getting at here is that for a very very long time I have been expecting to make more putts than the best putters in the world. Unrealistic expectations and that has over a number of years built the pressure on the greens and caused me to spiral downwards mentally to the point of suffering the yips and incredible mental instability in the greens. When the best in the world is making 13% from 20 foot why and how did I get away with believing I should be making them all and criticising myself each time I missed.

It was probably the most valuable hr I have spent on my game this year. I am playing great at the moment but that doesn't matter when your brain is being told lies the minute you get to the green. The past two days I have added to my study by spending some considerable time with Cameron Stachan, a putting coach that I have come across through a mutual friend.

When Cameron and I went to the course to play I flushed it down the middle and wedged it to about 10ft. From there I hit my putt which came up short and I tapped it in for par. Cameron came across and said something very profound to me....he said "I watched you play that hole and from the tee to the green you were dancing, moving beautifully to the music and then the minute you got on the green it looked like you no longer knew how to dance, you were lost and your brain looked like it was in overdrive trying to find answers!" He said "The hardest part of the hole technically was to hit that tee shot 250m down the middle with a slight draw and you didn't give it any thought or time?? Yet when you got to the easiest part of the hole technically, you actually almost froze and gave it far more brain power than the tee shot!" How true he was and how valuable this putting lesson was going to be. Not only was I placing unrealistic expectations on my putting but I was also doing it all wrong. I wasn't dancing at all, I was thinking too much about outcomes, fearing them even and also just generally overthinking the easiest skill in the game.

For a person who plays the game so much on feel and in fact loves playing instinctive sports too, my putting game hasn't matched that since I was a young kid. I have often thought I am better at other sports where thinking happens on the run unlike golf where we have an abundance of time to think. For me that has been the killer. Here's the big one, if a person who had never played golf before was given the task of hitting a driver 250m down the middle and hitting a ten ft putt to the hole, we all know they would have far more success hitting the putt....yet I make that process the hardest and most difficult.

Over the course of the day I was taught and finally started to roll the ball, stay in the bubble, look and react, putt instinctively and more. I felt free for the first time in forever and coupled with my study I felt as though I didn't have to make putts!!! The irony of it all was that now I started making putts! There is loads of more relevant repetition ahead of me but I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little excited! Stay tuned for more and my advice is that you don't think about how to throw a ball to a person, you just do it, allow the power of your brain and instincts to work and you may just be amazed at what happens! Enjoy your golf!!

Thanks Cameron!!