TEE TO GREEN:A quick turnaround and it's off to Vienna this week, hoping to discover the secret of how to hit a good bad shot

IT’S BEEN a very quick turnaround this week with less than 24 hours spent at home between getting back from the KLM Open then setting off again for this week’s Austrian Open, which is likely to be the first of four remaining tournaments to decide if I keep my tour card.

My caddie Ross and I only got back to Newcastle at 8pm on Sunday then set off again for Dublin airport at 7.30am yesterday ahead of our flight to Zurich, then onto Vienna. It was cheaper that way and the Diamond Country Club is an hour from Vienna airport.

Normally we travel to tournaments on the Tuesday but Vienna is also a pain to get to so we left a day early. It’s a day’s travelling rather than chilling out and getting to spend time with the family. Unfortunately for me there’s no other way around it at the moment – nothing a private jet wouldn’t sort out!

I threw last week’s clothes into the washing machine but didn’t even have time for them to dry; just put new kit in the bag then off we went again. In Ross’s case he somehow still managed to get a couple of pints in on Sunday night, don’t know where he found the time – must be the difference between playing and carrying the bag.

Last week was a tough but good course and I played decent (tied 57th, level par, €5,040). The course was long so I had to hit more long irons compared to some of the other guys.

It’s a key part of the season but I wouldn’t say time is running out. I’m 30 places outside the top 115 who will keep their cards and I’ve this week and the Vivendi in Paris the following week. Hopefully I will also get into Portugal and Spain after the Ryder Cup and we’ll see where we stand after that.

I sent an email to the European Tour to see what my chances are of getting into the Dunhill but I don’t think it’ll happen. It looks like the Castello Masters in Valencia the week before Valderrama will be my last counting event.

As I’ve said all season I don’t focus on the numbers and where I am in the standings. I have to concentrate on my game as it can be very distracting this time of the season.

Keeping my tour card was never a set goal. I have to keep playing to the best of my ability and whatever happens, happens. If you don’t keep your card then you’re not good enough (this time around) and if you do then you are good enough. Simple as that.

At my level each week is now massive; it could be life and career changing. If I keep my card then I’ll get a better category (eight) or higher if I win. I’m currently category 11 after winning my card from last year’s Tour School. A higher category would obviously help me to schedule better next year.

And what is plan B? If it doesn’t work out then I go back to tour school. It’s not the be all and end all, I’ve a wife and a young child at home and they’re the priority and sometimes you need a wider perspective. For me golf is just what I do for a living and there will be good and bad times.

Looking back on this rookie year the biggest thing has definitely been consistency. It’s not how good your good shots are it’s how good your bad shots are.

I’ve noticed all the better players seem to hit the bad shots at the right time and it’s not by chance, they’ve learned the percentages and experience has taught them to be consistent. You have to know when is the right time to attack or play conservative, that’s the key.

Take the likes of Martin Kaymer, he’s obviously world class and in comparison to someone like me he’s also that little bit stronger, a longer hitter, straighter, etc, all the little things add up. At the start of the season I might have said putting is an area I need to work on but not anymore; I’ve come to realise I’m actually a good putter.

One thing I do know is that I’m good enough to compete out here. You have to believe in yourself more and that comes with experience. I pretty much came straight from playing the PGA Irish Region onto the main tour with a little time spent on the Challenge Tour.

The best players rarely hit a shot they can’t execute; that’s why they are so exact with their yardages and conditions. Ask an amateur and all they want to do is hit the perfect shot, whereas all a pro wants to do is get it round the course in as few shots as possible — that’s the big difference, that’s my goal.