I was long gone from Turnberry and driving home when Tom Watson nearly won the Open Championship at the age of 59.   What a story that would have been, but Stewart Cink spoiled that particular fairy tale and every congratulation to him.

I listened to it all on the radio and was torn between Lee Westwood and the five-time champion:  Lee because he is a good friend and Tom because of what he would have achieved.  It was not to be and I felt for both of them.

The following day I was in Epsom at the RAC Club for a company day with Tesco, who made a very generous contribution of £100,000 to the breast cancer side of my Foundation. 

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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... MORE »

I'm off to America tomorrow for two very good reasons.  First it will give me time enough to recover from jet lag ahead of next week's US Open and second it gives me the opportunity to play Pine Valley again.

I'm the guest of my good friend Dougie Heather, who runs the Darren Clarke Foundation, and I know we'll have a great time on what is normally top of everybody's best-course-in-the-world list.  It really is fantastic and although I've played there a few times, not for the last three years so I'm particularly looking forward to it. 

Hopefully it will put me in the right frame of mind to compete at Bethpage given that I've been having too many weekends off for... MORE »

There is a common denominator linking everything to do with my golf and related statistics.  It's called the putter... although I've been calling it a few different names recently.

I even resorted to the belly putter last Sunday, but that particular item was last seen circling the Surrey air searching for a helipad.   It will not be taking flight again.

There's not a lot more that I can do because my game in general is fairly sharp.  I've just got to keep at it and hope that eventually the ball starts to find the cup instead of skirting it.  It's very frustrating, but that's golf for you.

The weather across the Irish Sea was desperate, but I played nicely at the 3 Irish... MORE »

It's been a tough road lately and one which has produced more breakdowns than I anticipated, but I'm hoping The 3 Irish Open will see the start of my return to form.

Baltray is a great track and after the disappointments of both Japan and Italy where I only managed two days' work at each venue, it would be very satisfying to give home support something to cheer about on the east coast of Ireland. The wind will be a deciding factor because if it blows as it can then there are going to be a lot of swings tested to the limit as well as a golfer's patience and determination.

One thing which never varies though is the support of the... MORE »