There have been quite a few changes in my sporting life since the US Open and none more significant than that concerning my equipment.

Together with TaylorMade's Mark James, I've been changing the shafts on my irons while I've gone from extra stiff to stiff with my woods.  There has been an immediate change for the better and of course Chubby Chandler, my manager, has been taking all the credit.   If it keeps him happy then I'll go along with it.

The new equipment worked particularly well in Paris where the French Open was held on one of the best courses we play all year.   I played nicely all week, well at least for 71 holes, and then took an eight on the last on Sunday to slip out of the top 10 - a big disappointment at the time, but one I'm over now.

Other changes include a new caddy, or actually an old one given that Scotchy Graham and I first started working together about 14 years ago.   He's been with a few more since, then including Lee Westwood and Soren Hansen, and I'm delighted to have him back on the bag again.  It's also a pleasure to have Big John Newton (aka Newt The Bewt) back out on Tour with me again.  He deserves a mention if for no other reason than that he says he does.

Now I'm in Scotland for the Barclays where one of the highlights for me is playing with the bank's top man Bob Diamond on the bonnie bonnie banks in the pro-am.  It's always a pleasure and the perfect way to start what is always an excellent tournament.

On the way here and setting off at four in the morning, I stopped off to play in Paul Lawrie's pro-am in aid of his foundation and what a good outing it was.  We all had a great day and I managed to shoot 62 which, coupled with some excellent help from my team, meant that we finished on top of the leaderboard.  

Other changes include changes to the grooves for next year - with square grooves giving way to the more traditional 'v'-shaped ones.   There will be more emphasis on keeping the ball in the fairway as well as shaping shots.  Trajectory will be more important than spin and the ball strikers and shot makers are going to benefit.  Hopefully I'll be among them because I really do applaud the decision.

Looking forward to next week, I'm sure the rough will be thick and brutal and hopefully we'll get a bit of inclement weather to spice things up a bit.  Whatever happens it will be a pleasure to play at one of the greatest courses in the world.

Away from the course, Tyrone and Conor both won medals at their sports day, but they were just as delighted with the new Tiger Woods PGA video game which includes me this year.  They've both beaten me and they'll be looking forward to doing the same in real life after The Open when we head to Abaco in the Bahamas on holiday.

First there is unfinished business on the golf course and I was delighted to record a bogey-free first round in the Barclays Scottish Open.  Hopefully it continues long into the weekend, but then it's off to Turnberry where one of my first jobs will be to greet my old caddy Billy Foster.

Billy set off walking from Loch Lomond to Turnberry carrying a Tour bag and clubs.  He's raising thousands of pounds for charity including my own for breast cancer research and I'll be there to greet him with a pint when he reaches the west coast.   You can still donate by visiting justgiving/billyfoster on the web and thank you to the hundreds who already have.

I'll keep you up to date with what's happening at Turnberry next week.