The good news is that I am getting better!!! Yesterday I was 9 shots worse than Adam Scott, today it was only 4, so going on those numbers I should beat him by 1 tomorrow and 6 on Sunday leaving me only 6 behind!!
In all seriousness though, that was a very tough day, brutal conditions with severe wind and rain just to cap it off. Starting the day at 1 under and inside the dreaded Friday cut line only just, it was always going to be one very tough afternoon at the office. Adding to that was the fact that my status on tour next year is riding on this week. I went into the week in 69th position on the Aussie Order of Merit with the top 75 getting status of some sort. Really though, the top 60 is where you really need to be. Because of all of that I had some anxiety and nerves about the day ahead of me today, probably more than normal. After starting with a par followed by a bogey, another bogey and then a double bogey, that pressure was going through the roof. The 14th hole, my 5th of the day didn't do much to erase my increasing levels of anxiety as I missed the green into the right bunker. It is easy to have all the answers as far as how to deal with such things on the golf course but as I told my brother last night, I am human and sometimes it does get too much. When you are playing for your livelihood that is when the pressure starts to overcome you at times. I had a bunker shot and then 13 more holes to try and turn this day around!! My bunker shot was sublime and left me only a tap in, just what I needed. Despite the poor start I felt like I actually hadn't done much wrong and murray reassured me of that, ramming home the notion that we needed to keep believing and trusting in my swing and game. When things aren't going well, it is easy to start second guessing yourself and your ability. A perfect drive and second shot left a good chance at birdie and after reading the putt with Murray and hearing his thoughts on the break of the putt, I finished the discussion with the statement, "As long as it breaks 4 inches downwards at the end, I'll be happy!" That is a common statement amongst golfers meaning we hope it drops into the cup.....fortunately it did! The next stretch of holes were good for me as I made three more birdies in a 5 hole period. So with 6 to go, I had rectified the situation I found myself in some 7 holes earlier. Standing on the 3rd tee, with 7 holes to go, I still had some difficult holes ahead of me, namely the next 3 and then things theoretically it was going to be a little easier on the way to the 9th, my last hole. After negotiating the next 3 holes in 1 over that was the end of the strong into the wind holes. I parred the 6th and made a good birdie on the 7th to be 1 under for the tournament with 2 to play for the day. Very disappointingly I missed two putts that I should have made on the final two holes and had to settle for a bogey, bogey finish. That certainly left a pretty sour taste in my mouth after such a good fightback. The best news of the day was that I was finished and I had made the cut, giving me a chance at the weekend and getting inside that top 60 by the end of the weekend. Two very good rounds of golf await for me and
1 Comment
Chris Mayne
11/29/2013 03:39:22 pm
Gooo Matt - BELIEVE AND BREATH. In Penang on a golf holiday but following the golf. All the best - you can do it!!!!
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AuthorCatch up with everything from the tour as I let you know about the course, conditions and my thoughts and feelings on how I am playing.....also some cool stories from the tour!! Archives
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