North in Portrush and defending my title in Lahinch

Due to college commitments i didnt get up to portrush till later than hoped. I only played a practice round on the valley course which is where i played the first round. Shot my best round of the year 66 which really was the worst i could have had. Played really well and the course was there for the taking. Shot 77 on the dunluce course the next day. I was level par thru 14 and a little tiredness maybe crept in the last four holes which i dropped five shots. I safely qualified but was beaten in the matchplay. It was extremely windy right from the go (my ball blew off the back of the first green fifty yards into the front bunker) and with all respect to my opponent it was pot luck out there who won. But fair play to him.

It was great to go back to lahinch after last years win and i had a very difficult first match which i got through by one hole. My concentration was terrible. Thinking about last year and also a long season was catching up on me at this stage. Won another game which i played very well but lost my next match. Again if i was anywhere near  my best form id have expected to go through. The way the draw worked out  i could have went all the way again if i was in any kind of form or confidence. But such is life!

Its been a long year and a dissappointing season. I have struggled with a few niggly injuries that have definitely affected my performances. Obviously confidence gets dented from bad results. A few other issues didnt help either. Even small off course problems causes stress and after a while it all builds up to a lot of stress. Its impossible to be able to deliver peak performances with any stress on your mind.

On the other hand training has been going great. Had a screening with the master himself Dr Liam Hennessy and we identified a few issues that were causing some of my bad shots on the golf course. Been working hard on the corrective exercises since and he is delighted with my progress. Body is in really good shape, single digits bodyfat,  injury free and getting more neutral by the day. The guys i train with are all shredded to pieces so we only train the right way. The quickest way to injuries and limitations in your body is to train the wrong way.

Im planning a nice long break from the game now to recharge the batteries. and rediscover the love for it again.  Its badly needed! Before that we have senior cup leinster finals on sat week.