2007 Open Championship - Round 4

When I woke up for the last round it was raining hard and it was windy. I wanted it to stay that way. I figured from the position I was in, seven shots behind Sergio Garcia, those conditions would give me the best chance of making up the ground. I thought if I could shoot 68 in those conditions, maybe that would be good enough.

But the weather changed and by the time I started it was nice out. Still, I thought I had a chance right up to when I finished the 14th hole. I was two-under starting the hole, and figured if I could make eagle to get to four, and then birdie three holes coming in get to seven, that might be good enough. As it turned out, seven-under was the number to get into a playoff.

I almost chipped in there, too. But overall, my ball-striking wasn't what I needed. Last couple of days, I was fighting it a little bit more compared to the first two days. I wasn't overdrawing the ball like I did on Saturday, but I just didn't feel right. I just didn't feel comfortable.

I had a good day Friday in the rain and cold, but other than that, it was a mixture of really good ball-striking and moments of not so good. It was a mixed bag. For the last few weeks, even at Congressional, at the AT&T where I got within a shot of the lead on the back nine the last day, it wasn't quite as sharp as what it has been other weeks this year. But my short game's getting really good. I made a number of great saves, my putting's good, and I'm more encouraged about that than anything. I'm rolling the ball good, making a lot of nice putts, doing everything around the greens well.

So I just have to sharpen up my long game a little bit, and I'll be ready to go.

I got off to a poor start again. The first hole was playing into the wind, and I had 3-wood to a bunker on the right that you don't want to reach. My ball rolled 270 to the edge of the bunker. I didn't think it would go that far. I hit a 9-iron from there and then 3-putted from 30'. That wasn't a good start, obviously. I bogeyed the third but then I birdied four and five.
 
But I needed to get something going in the middle of the round, and I didn't. I had decent chances at 7 and 8 and made a nice save on nine. I had a good chance at birdie on 10, and then I kind of scrambled around, but I birdied 13 and 14, nearly made birdie on 15, hit a pretty good shot on 16, and then I made two nice saves on the last two.

I feel like I'm getting closer to putting it all together. I just needed to be sharper on a few things, and a bit more consistent. Then I'd have been right there. There was some real good stuff, but overall I wasn't quite on it.

Now it's time for my fifth major, the Canadian Open. I'm heading back to Toronto tonight on a flight the RCGA has provided for players, and then I'll get some rest. I played Angus Glen's North course a few weeks ago, which was a help. I'll get on the right schedule and go from there. I'll probably get out to the course on Tuesday. The Canadian Open is always a busy week for me, and it's one I always look forward to. The tournament means a lot to me.

This was the first of four weeks in a row, the Canadian Open, then the Bridgestone in Akron and then the PGA in Tulsa. I'll take Greensboro off, and then play the next three in the FedEx playoffs, and, hopefully, the last one. It's a good time to get things going. As I say, I'm encouraged about my short game, and I know I'm going to start hitting it better when I get with my coaches Mike Bennett and Andy Plummer at the Canadian Open.

As far as the Presidents Cup goes, everybody knows how much I want to play at Royal Montreal. We had a meeting this week with our captain Gary Player. It mostly about the logistics of the week, and the clothing. Gary didn't say much about the two picks he had, except that he wants guys who are playing well. He made that point. He said he'd rather pick somebody of the players who are close to qualifying who is going forward. It's his decision. I feel like I'm playing well, and there's also my experience. I hope he's taking a good look at me. I can only do what I'm doing. I'm making strides, and I'd like to make the team on my own.

On to Angus Glen.

Thanks for your support.
Mike