Golf Wales Open: Ian Woosnam enters today's Celtic Manor Wales Open at the "lowest ebb" of his 27-year career following his nightmare display at Wentworth.
Woosnam crashed to a second-round 82 in the PGA Championship last week to finish 145th in the 156-strong field in the European Tour's flagship event.
The former world number one, whose last strokeplay victory came in the same event in 1997, is struggling with changes to his swing and admits he would rather not have turned up for the 2,250,555 tournament in his native country.
"If it wasn't for the Wales Open I wouldn't have played. I would have given myself more time practising what I am trying to do at the moment," said Woosnam.
"I feel I need to turn up, although I feel I need to get away and do what I need to do. If I am going to make the changes I need to do it away from a tournament.
"I don't enjoy it at the minute because I know what I can play like, and, when you are out there struggling after 27 years, what's the point of being here?
"If I can't make these changes I am going to have to say forget it for a while and take six months off until I get it correct."
Woosnam is trying to change his address position, a move which will have the added benefit of easing the back problems which have plagued him since 1987.
"I've been on anti-inflammatory tablets since 1987 and if I couldn't take them I don't think I would be able to play," added the 46-year-old.
"I have inflammation of the spine, and eventually the spine will weld itself together and when that happens, whatever position I am in at the time, I will stay in that position.
"This is why I am doing all this to get my posture as good as I can so when it fuses together I will be locked in that position. The better I can keep my posture now, the better in the long term."
Woosnam also intends to battle through his long-standing putting problems by reverting to a standard length club on the greens rather than the "belly" putter which has caused controversy in recent weeks.
World number three Ernie Els called for them to be banned last month. Woosnam agrees with another long putter devotee, world number two Vijay Singh, that the club is not as easy to use as Els makes out, but admitted: "I feel like it is not part of golf.
"I think it is part of the mind battle and I want to beat it. I feel I have given in having to use it. The feeling of putting with the short one is terrible, but I would rather putt with a short one if I possibly can. If it means missing a lot of cuts, that's what I'm going to do."
Woosnam missed the cut here 12 months ago as Ian Poulter led from start to finish to claim his fourth European Tour title.
Poulter is among the favourites despite slipping from a share of sixth at Wentworth to 52nd after weekend rounds of 77 and 74.
He partners another former winner, Paul Lawrie, and Colin Montgomerie, who is hoping to play his way into form before attempting to qualify for the British Open championship.
The Scot is not currently exempt for the British Open at his home course of Troon. He will play in the 36-hole qualifying competition at Sunningdale on June 28th, and could also gain a place via a mini-Order of Merit running up to and including the European Open at the K Club that week.
Paul McGinley, who won here in 2001 in a five-way play-off after rain reduced the tournament to 36 holes, leads an Irish challenge that also includes Graeme McDowell, Peter Lawrie, Gary Murphy and Damien McGrane.
