Date: October 31, 2010
Author:

AIS Rookie Blog: Matt Griffin in Scotland and China

By Matt Griffin, AIS Rookie Professional On the golf side I had an up and down couple of weeks away from home. The first week was in Scotland for the Alfred Dunhill Links – a $5 million European Tour event. It is a wonderful week with 3 great courses including St Andrews and Carnoustie. Pretty much all the European Ryder Cup Team played and it would easily be the strongest field I have played in. Many stars play also in the pro am format including Steve Waugh, Warnie, Hugh Grant and many British stars so it is a great week. Unfortunately I got sick before going over and wasn&apost great leading up to the event – not helped by the extreme cold and strong winds. However I started well and was 5 under after 14 at Carnoustie on day 1 and on the leaderboard. The brutal finish though caught me and I ended up 2 under still a good start. Then in terrible conditions at Kingsbarns I had 4 over. Played alright but two water balls hurt. At St Andrews we played into the wind all day and just wasn&apost on game to MC only my second of the year! It was still a great week to play at the home of golf and I hope im back there soon. It was then off to China for a One Asia event and it would be hot and humid around a tough, tough course. Luckily Denis my coach came over and we could do some really good work. I got off to a great start with a 65 and was equal leader. Day 2 was really tough and 3 over cost me a bit. A 69 on day 3 left me a few back and then 71 on day 4 and I ended up tied 8th. Played good all week but a few mistakes cost me a chance to win. But great experience again and some more TV time. That win isn t far away hopefully. So now it all hots up with a busy run to the end of the year. Next week is the WA PGA and then the Australian Masters at Victoria which will be great with Tiger again. It is then straight to San Fransico for US Tour Q School Stage 2 and hopefully then the Final in December before finishing the year at the Australian PGA.