Firstly, a huge well done to my mate Gmac for lifting his first major at the US Open – a great result for Europe and Northern Ireland.

From my own point of view it wasn’t a great week. My three week stretch started off quite well at The Memorial and then played ok for the first couple of days in Memphis and sort of struggled over the weekend there and by the time I got up to Pebble Beach my game had got a little bit worse.  I wasn’t completely in control of my ball and if you’re not feeling confident going into the US Open then you’re not going to do that great. It’s probably the toughest tournament of the year and you can’t really go out there hoping to play well – you’ve got to be playing well and feeling confident.

I was hitting it ok in the practice rounds but I knew that it wasn’t all completely there and I was struggling a little bit. I hung on well in the first round and did quite well to shoot 75 to keep myself in it but on the second day I just really struggled and put myself in the wrong spots and short-sided myself a couple of times which you just can’t do round that course. I actually drove the ball pretty well but my iron play wasn’t as good as it had been so that was disappointing and I reckon if my irons had been firing on all cylinders like normal I would have probably done ok.

After missing the cut I got out of there on Friday night but I wish I’d have hung around because it would have been great to be there when Gmac lifted that trophy.  I watched it on television and it was absolute class – to go out there on Saturday having never been in that position before he played just great and he just handled it so well. On the last day he just lasted longer than anyone else did – everyone found it so tough and he just ground the pars out and holed the putts when he needed to.

I played the practice rounds with him and he played great – he’s been putting the work in all year and it really paid off for him.

Portrush had a celebration for him on his return and myself and Holly went down there and joined in the fun. In fact he stayed with us last night and we went out for dinner in Belfast and then played at Royal County Down this morning. It was his first blow off the tee since winning the US Open so we both got off to a bit of a sluggish start but we both played pretty well on the back nine. One thing’s for certain – it definitely wasn’t as tough as Pebble Beach last Sunday!!

As you can imagine he’s been hot property in Portrush this week so a little visit to us was just what he needed – mind you when we got to Royal County Down this morning there was a photographer waiting for us!

On Thursday last week I did a sponsor day for FL Partners and Bennett at Mere Golf and Country Club in Cheshire which was a good fun day. I did a little clinic for them and answered a load of questions and then went out to play. The lads are really good fun and I’ve got to know them really well over the last couple of years so it was a very pleasant day in great company.

I play in the Alstom Open de France next week just outside Paris and from there I return to Ireland and play in the JP McManus Pro-Am at Adare Manor on the Monday and Tuesday.

I’m taking Wednesday and Thursday off when I’ll probably play a couple of rounds of links golf with Michael and then I’m off to St Andrews on the Friday and Saturday and play Michael and JP there so I can some early practice under my belt.

I’ll then get back on Saturday night and have Sunday and Monday at home and then probably fly around midday on Tuesday back to St Andrews – do a bit of practice in the afternoon and then have an early practice round on the Wednesday morning. Major weeks are so long and you feel like you’ve been there forever, so the way I’m doing it just makes it a bit more of normal tournament week. I know St Andrews like the back of my hand anyway so it’s just a matter of taking the course conditions into account.

So I think if I can get my game in shape and really think I’m playing well then I reckon I’ve got a good chance as I’ve played really well round St Andrews in the past.

I’ll be checking in with you again before the Open so until then enjoy your golf.

Rory.