LAST weekend was another very pleasing one - but it didn't start off very well.

I travelled to Germany for the Deutsche Bank Players Championship and finished in a tie for fifth spot, with Bernhard Langer, Bradley Dredge and Peter Lawrie, which meant I added another £75,000 or so to my earnings for the year.

But it could have been so different because my clubs and suitcase went missing!

I got to London for my connection to Germany and there was no clubs and no case. Fair to say I was a little worried that they weren't going to turn up at all and that meant I could do nothing on Tuesday in terms of preparation.

On Wednesday they finally arrived, which was a bit of a relief, and I managed to hit about 30 balls. Not the best preparation for one of the Tour's biggest tournaments.

Then on Thursday it rained like I have never seen before and no play was possible. It never stopped for about 20 hours and they did very well to make sure play started at all.

That meant we had to play two rounds on Sunday and I was off at 6.55am. I played with Ian Garbutt, who I get on with well and I said to him that I always seem to play well when I play with him.

It is tiring, both physically and mentally to play back to back rounds in a major tournament, but when you are playing well, you can get through it fine.

I was very relaxed and I think it paid off with the way I played, shooting a 69 and a 67, which was the second best round of the day, bettered only by John Daly's 65.

In a way the pressure is off me a little bit because my aim at the start of the season was to retain my card and that was done well before last weekend.

This season has exceeded all my expectations. To be 23rd in the Order of Merit at this stage is a very good feeling. I've made my targets quite comfortably and it really couldn't be better. Now I've got to set myself a new target, to raise the bar again, and ensure that the season doesn't peter out for me.

My target is to finish in the top 20, that has to be my aim.

It would be nice to play at Wynyard in the Seve Trophy and we will see what comes on that front. Getting in the top 20 would make a big difference.

I've played in 24 tournaments this season, which is more than any other player on the tour. I've clocked up plenty of air miles, so this week I'm taking some time off. I'm going to give the Scandinavian Masters in Stockholm a miss and my next event will be the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles on August 4. Playing there means I can drive up from home next week after a few days off.

After that there is another week off because of the USPGA.

During this little break, I'm going to spend some time working on my fitness, do a bit of gym work and the like to keep me going.

I've played five weeks in a row now and, with my card assured for next year, I can afford to take a rest.

It will also give my caddie, Steve Rawlinson, a break from me as well! We have worked really well together this year and I am very pleased with the partnership. We are both more or less from the same area, so that may be why we both get on so well. He's done a bit of work for Colin Montgomerie in the past.

I've had a very good season and he has as well, long may it continue!

Published: 27/07/2005