I flew in yesterday and spent the day at the course today getting to know it and coming up with a game plan. I think that was pretty simple, make a thousand birdies!!! It isn't too tough and I think the lads up here will eat this place up, particularly as the only defence, the greens, are not fast enough to cause too many problems. I am going to go out on a limb and say that unless I shoot 12 under minimum I won't win this week.
So with that number in mind I have been hard at work trying to figure out how to shoot that sort of score. I hit the ball pretty well today, no real problems at all but need to be a little sharper out there tomorrow if I am going to hit the ground running. I have done things a little differently today in my practice round and it is all aimed at improving on the greens, where you can really pick up strokes. I spent alot of time mapping the greens today during the practice round and less time chipping and putting on them. I worked hard on the putting green after the round but spent my on course time mapping. Now that I am using the Aimpoint putting technique, ( for those interested in what that is, go to www.aimpoint.com ) I have spent valuable time working out the gradient of the slopes so that I know how much the ball is going to break. It is a complex process to begin with but the more I do it the better I am getting at it and with a concerted effort I am really going to improve my putting to make it an absolute strength this year.
The course itself doesn't really present too many problems, particularly if your ball striking is on. The green have lots of slope and tiers in them but if you are hitting the ball well you will be putting for birdies from fairly close range. I think the highlight for me is the par 3's. Three of the four of them are over water ranging in distance from 6 iron to possibly a 3 iron depending on the conditions, great fun!! I'm sure you are all thinking that!!!
Well that might do me for tonight, hopefully I will be back tomorrow night telling you I made the 1 round cut and am in the last group going into the final round!! Check out some of the photos below as usual and don't forget to get out there and enjoy yourselves!!