TEE TO GREEN:I took a lot away from competing in the final group on the final day in Germany. It was my first experience.

IT’S COMING into a key part of the season. Some are vying for Ryder Cup places or contesting majors whereas I need to make best use of the events I have left in an attempt to hold onto my tour card for next season.

I took a lot away from competing in the final group on the final day of the BMW Championship in Germany recently. It was my first such experience and I kept telling myself to stay in the present – that old cliché of focusing on one shot at a time, rather than the situation I was in during the tournament.

If being honest it felt just the same as any other round, certainly the intensity kicked in on the back nine and you could feel the tension more. Bradley Dredge got a bit tight and hit shots that weren’t expected and Ross Fisher was really pushing the issue for Ryder Cup points.

If somebody said at the start of the week you’re going to shoot 14-under and finish tied ninth, I would have said “right, thanks very much”.

People can say “ah but you shot 73 in the final round” but if I’d opened with 73 then shot three 67s then it would have been a great week. It’s still the same four-round aggregate and I have to take the positives away from it.

Overall the experience wasn’t as intense and single-minded as I thought it would be. I’m not saying if I get there again it will be any different but at least I’ll know what to expect.

I also have more stability for the rest of the season as my caddie Ross Methven did the dirty deed and handed in his notice with work and will be on the bag full-time for the rest of the season. After a couple of weeks off he starts out with me again in Scandinavia next week. We’re great friends and have known him since we first met at Lincoln University before I moved over to Newcastle and married my Irish wife, Ciara.

It was a big decision for Ross and I said: “Look I can’t promise anything. At the end of the season we could be back to square one or on top of the world.” He understands the game and the situation inside out but he’s still young, single, no ties so why not give it a go – it’s his big chance too.

We work well as a team and he brings a lot of calm to the party. It’s the little things, attention to detail. I don’t need to ask him about getting the water and bananas before a round, it’s done. From the moment I put the clubs in the boot of the car on the way to the airport I don’t touch them until I’m hitting them again at a tournament, he looks after it all. That might not seem like much but it’s a big help.

On the course he’s very good at reading the situation; when to make a joke and laugh or knuckle down and switch on. He isn’t afraid to make the calls either and at the end of the day it’s my livelihood, I make the final decision as it’s me who hits the shots.

We discussed finances and it’s still fairly fluid. I’ll continue to pay his way with flights and accommodation and give him a set fee for the week. If we have a good week I’ll throw him an extra few quid.

There’s another re-rank coming up on the European Tour and hopefully I’ll get another eight to 10 tournaments. If I can’t get into an event there is still the option of playing Challenge Tour.

Like Germany, the rewards are so high all it takes is one or two good weeks and the card for next season will take care of itself.

This week I’m playing in a couple of Irish PGA Pro-Ams, one at Dundrum House and another in City of Derry but I’ll still have one eye on St Andrews. I won’t really be out trying to shoot scores, more work on aspects of my swing, nothing specific as I try not to get too technical.

Sometimes my hips drift open at impact and come over the top and pull the ball left. That’s something Kevan (Whitson) and I are dealing with at the moment.

When not playing this week I’ll watch the British Open just like anyone else. Rory (McIlroy) has obviously been practising hard on links courses recently; it would be nice to see him win it. On a links course anyone can win. The draw could have a lot to do with it, especially if the weather turns.

As for myself, the down weeks are as important as tour weeks so I can recharge the batteries. The hard work begins again next week in Scandinavia.