Rest, relaxation and relentless practice

When you're away from a golf tournament it's important to unwind, but it is also fair to say that your mind is never far from a golf course. Last week was a free one for me away from the grind of the US Tour and I spent most of the time up in Albany, the state capital of New York, where I mixed some R and R with corporate commitments and, of course, practice.

The reason for my time up north was Kevin O'Haire, a lawyer who has become a good friend. It's amazing how you can strike up a friendship with someone. I first met Kevin at the European Amateur Championships in Portmarnock last year. As a graduate of the University of South Carolina, he was curious to discover who the guy with the Tiger paw clubhead covers (the symbol of USC's greatest rivals, Clemson State) was. It was me, of course, and we got chatting and kept in touch. He came down to see me play in Greenleaf a few weeks ago and also came to the Honda Classic.

It was nice to clear off to Albany for a few days, and it surprised me to discover how many Irish people live there. It was like a home from home. One of the highlights of the trip had nothing at all to do with golf, though. It involved two days of fishing (a first for me!) on the Hudson and I caught loads of fish and it was a terrific form of relaxation. On Thursday, I had a corporate day for my clothing sponsor Sports Master who'd invited a number of customers to play a round of golf and I had to play two or three holes with each group, give a clinic and we finished off with a nice barbecue. A very pleasant day, indeed, and, after the way I finished the Byron Nelson the previous week, and how flat it left me, it was a good way to bring myself back up.

So, by Saturday, I was ready for some serious practice - and it didn't mean touching the driver at all. Instead, I spent three hours on the putting green at Albany Country Club and I must have hit about 6,000 six footers. The way I see it is that if you convert every putt from that distance, whether it be for birdie or to make par, then you'll finish the day better off by a few shots.

I travelled back down to Clemson on Saturday night and, on Sunday, did more work. But the difference in weather was incredible. In Albany, it had been a nice 75 degrees, but it was 95 degrees in South Carolina and after just 15 minutes on the range at Cross Creek Plantation - a golfing facility a few miles from Clemson where a few of my friends work in the shop and which is available to me for practice - my shirt was soaked through and I was fit to drop. Honestly, it was like a sauna.

However, I know the importance of hard work. It was good to hear of Darren Clarke's win on the European Tour last week and also to hear how well Padraig Harrington was doing in Wentworth. Some day, hopefully, I'll be up there with them but I know it takes time and work to get there.

I'm away from the regular tour again this week, but I will be playing golf - in the Nike tournament in Knoxville. My caddy "Herman" is having an operation on his knee this week, so it has worked out well that a friend of mine from Birr, Robbie Sheils, who is over in the States with the Bank of Ireland soccer team, will be on the bag.

That'll be no problem - he's a good golfer himself and I will get a yardage book and be able to work out club selection etc, myself. It should be good fun.

But it is also pretty serious, too. The Nike Tour is highly competitive and, although the courses aren't set up as tough as the regular tour, you still need to shoot 14 or 15 under to win. There is also the prizemoney. I haven't exactly made a million dollars out here, so a top ten finish could win me nine or ten grand and a win would bring in 50,000.

Knoxville is only three hours from Clemson so I will drive down. My old car had no air conditioning which wouldn't make such a trip very pleasant at all, but my new jeep is great and, with the music pounding, the journey should pass quickly enough. Anyway, I'm hoping for a big week. I'm happy with my game and getting so close.

Going back to the Byron Nelson, those two triple bogeys on the Saturday killed me - but a 74 with two triples isn't bad, and I plan to keep them off my card this week.

The Nike Tour is like a back-up, just in case I don't keep my US Tour card. By playing a few tournaments, I should be exempt for next season - although my aim is to keep my card on the regular tour. I'll be back playing with the big guys in the Kemper Open in Potomac next week and I'm also in the Buick Classic in Westchester the following week. Then I'm off the week of the US Open and, hopefully, I can get back home that week.

(In an interview with Philip Reid).