The plan to reel in Ernie Els and his five-shot lead worked initially as I chipped away and as we stood over a couple of putts on the fifth green there was a chance I could be just one back and then it would have been matchplay.
Ernie was outside me and looking to save par while I weighed up a birdie putt. Ernie holed, I missed and the three-shot difference remained. I would not get another chance to get at the world number two.
Three dropped shots in the middle of the round did not help my state of mind, but I refused to let them get to me. Not too long ago, things like that would have meant me sliding down and finishing about 15th, but that is no longer the case. I took a lot of heart from the fact that three late birdies ensured I finished second, my best finish to date this season. Hopefully, I’ll go one better this week.
My manager Chubby managed to arrange a helicopter for us to get to Skibo Castle for a company day alongside Paul McGinley and Graeme McDowell and then I headed back home for a night.
I will arrive at Sandwich on Tuesday afternoon and probably play a full round. I k now what to expect having played the course recently, but it will be nice just to brush up on what I already know.