First top 10 finish a big boost on the US Tour

As a rookie, you look for a number of things. One is obviously to retain your card, and that fight goes on; but the other thing you want to get is respect, especially from other players. I think that my performances over the past few weeks have allowed me to earn the appreciation of my peers, and that was particularly evident to me on the final day of the BC Open in Endicott, New York, last Sunday.

For the first time since turning professional, I actually went into the final round convinced I could win. I didn't, but there is little doubt that my game has stepped up a gear or two and it was immensely satisfying to achieve my first-ever top-10 finish, an important milestone in any professional's career. Something else, though, proved very gratifying. Before my final round, a number of players actually sought me out to wish me well and among them were two vastly-experienced players, Trevor Dodds and Peter Jacobsen.

"Jake" had been enduring a trying season himself, ironically enough up until last Sunday when he finished second to Chris Perry, and I thought it showed the man's calibre that he purposely went out to find me to pass on his good wishes.

Generally, I seem to be getting a lot more respect. I can't remember the number of times that guys came up to me at the BC and said, "good on you". It feels good, and it probably helps that I'm an extrovert. All season I have made a point of introducing myself to other players, talking to guys on the range and in the locker-room. As a rookie, you can only get so much respect, but I feel that I have got my fair share and it's a good feeling.

I earned $34,714 last Sunday to add to the $35,000 of the previous week and that certainly helps towards the ongoing fight to keep my card, although I still have a considerable amount of work to do. I didn't really get into the groove in the final round but I still consider it a good week and I was quite happy. Top-10, and in contention, I think there were a lot of positive things to take away from the tournament. The course played so tough in the final round, with the greens like rock and the stimpmeter up to almost 11, that it made me appreciate what my playing partner Chris Perry was doing in going on to win the tournament. The flags were in some obnoxiously tough positions and he got up and down from some terrible places. You just had to admire what he was doing, particularly that chip from the rough on the 15th which set up his par.

Some players talk a lot on the course, others don't. Personally, I'm the type who likes to get involved in some conversation. Chris, however, was so focused that he didn't say a word all way round and the first sound I heard from him was on the 18th when he knew his tee shot was safely away and he let off a little roar. It didn't bother me, though, that he wasn't the talkative type. I could appreciate he was focused and I actually loved the atmosphere and the attention. We had a huge crowd following us and, with the television cameras everywhere, it was like the whole world was watching. I had no negative feelings at all and I think that my Walker Cup experience last year probably helped me.

Chris did what he had to do, and won. I went out in the last round believing that I could win if I managed to shoot somewhere in the region of a 69. As it happened, Sunday - when I shot 73 - was my bad day. Unlike Saturday, when I had a 67 and didn't even sniff a bogey, I didn't really get into the swing of it on Sunday but I enjoyed the experience and I intend to learn from it.

Saturday is what they call "moving day" in a tournament and it was great to come in with a really good score, almost the perfect round, and I don't believe that my "bad day" on Sunday did too much damage. After all, I had a top-10 finish, and that has to be good.

The BC Open was my fifth straight week playing and I must admit that I wasn't totally energised on the Sunday, which was hot and humid. I had to kick for touch a number of times, given the severity of the pin placements, but that's tournament golf. One aspect that really pleased me, though, was how I worked with my caddie Travis. We got our yardages perfect. We factored in the release factor and generally played a club less than I'd normally use. The result was that I was first in greens in regulation for the tournament, which was also pleasing.

Looking back on it, I did have a few birdie chances on the Sunday - but I'm not too disappointed and if I can squeeze out another cheque in the Texas Open this week I'll be very happy.

The past couple of weeks have generally been good for me, but five weeks on the road can be quite tiring. I drove down to Albany to my friend Kevin O'Hare's place on Sunday night and I made the journey down to San Antonio yesterday. I was dreading the thought of it, to be honest, and I'd love to have had a week off. That wasn't feasible though, and I hope to keep the trend from the Canadian Open (tied13th) and the BC Open (tiedninth) going.

On the re-ranking, I'm now into every tournament from now until the Walt Disney Classic and it would obviously be nice to secure my card for 1999 before I get to that final tournament before the Tour Championship, which is limited to just the top 30 on the moneylist.

My goal is definitely to keep my card, but my performances in the last few weeks have raised my expectations. As I've said, I had thoughts of winning going into Sunday's round and was trying to shoot another perfect round like the one I had on Saturday. It's important to keep the trend going this week and it really is mind over matter in ensuring that you don't get tired.

I'm now into my sixth straight week of playing and travelling. Of course I'm a little jaded. But I can't afford to feel tired. Every tournament is important to me and the Texas Open this week just happens to be the first of them. I have to ensure that my mind is fresh for this latest challenge so that I can achieve my goal of retaining my card. Circumstances like the one I found myself in last Sunday can only help.

(In an interview with Philip Reid)