Tuesday, February 12: On my flight to Europe I had a lot of time to think, since I didn't get one wink of sleep on the red-eye from JFK to Dublin, which was followed by a four-hour layover before heading onward to Portugal. I wanted to come over with a mindset of no expectations, and make a fresh start. No matter how comfortable you think you may feel outside of your home, being away from your family and friends, you never quite feel the same. Not being in your own environment, sleeping in your own bed and eating the food you grow accustomed to throws you for a twist! Everything over the next few weeks here will be an eye-opening experience. I am looking forward to not only the obvious reason why I travelled all this way—to play golf—but to embrace the challenges that lie ahead.
I arrived at Montado Golf Resort, the site of the Portuguese International Amateur Championship, and was able to play a practice round today. I feel the course really suits my eye. The front nine is kind of a driver's paradise, with a touch of links golf, but on the back nine you kind of have to plot your way around, and I hit a lot of irons off tees. There are a couple of par fives that will bite you if you fall for the John Daly "grip it and rip it" mindset. Being smart and patient, something I lacked in my last tournament, the Jones Cup, is something that I am learning each and every round. Hopefully my caddie, General Secretary of the Golfing Union of Ireland Pat Finn, who made the trip to Porturgal with me will keep me in check. Tomorrow is the first of four rounds, with a cut after round three! I am looking forward to getting off to a good start. The weather should be a bit windy, but about 60 degrees which is ideal golf weather. I tee off 1:03 local time (five hours ahead of you guys in New York).
Thanks again for all the support, and I can't wait to get started!
