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3 Irish Ireland Open, Killarney , Co Kerry, Ireland

Thursday, 29 July

68 today on this par 71, 25th. It's good scoring in Killarney! There is no rough and you have a lot of chances to hit the greens. Nevertheless you need to hit good irons to the the flags because the greens are undulated... I had the longest drive today, 326 yards, my game is ok. Let see what tomorrow brings...

Thursday, 29 July

I just heard from Michel VM the achievements of Thomas Detry: 3rd score European Boys Ch'ip, 7th Carris Trophy, he's now qualified for the Junior Ryder Cup and the Jacques Léglise Trophy! I have still great memories from those selection 10 years ago. Thomas is a great laid back guy with a splendid ball striking. Come on Thomas...

Today I'll start at 9.45, 10.45 in continental time!

Wednesday, July 28th

Awake at 7.00 this morning to be the first on the putting green for a long practice session. Jérôme Theunis came with me this week and we have been working together since Monday afternoon. It's good to work in team! Today, we'll stop at 12, have lunch and we will go to the Gap of Dunloe, one of the nicest place in Ireland with his typical wild nature: mountains, lakes, rivers...

Killarney is really no links land, absolutely not. It's parkland at his best on beautiful surroundings like the Lough Leane lake and the mountains, the MacGillyCuddy Reeks. Build in the 19th century, this Killeen course has been lenghtened in 2006 for the last time. It's now nearly 6.600 meters.The greens have been changed (USGA) to be faster. There is less rough than in Sweden last week but nevertheless the treelined fairways and the 10 holes on the lake will be a good test and even a severe one if the wind blows!

PS: for all the Belgians going to the South of France, make a stop in the Luberon on the gand-place of the Village of Goult at the Café de la Poste. At noon I have a friend met in Australia at A Game Academy that is working there: Yann Marme is his name, He's a real golfan! Goult is the Village of Daniel Béchu, the Sport Psychologist and father of Romain Béchu.

Nordea Scandinavian Masters, Stockholm

Sunday, July 25th

Sweden can be so nice under the sun. But here we had very cold days with gusty winds and tonight it rained so much that the tournament has been delayed this Sunday with teetimes from the 1^st and 10^th tee.

At the Stockholm Airport now. Well I'm pleased with that swedisch week. My card on the European Tour for 2011 is definetely secured. I can now play without this in mind. Today my game was very hot during the first 9. Then the weather became better and the birdies came from all over the place. So I had to make more birdies again, but 2 balls in the water changed my back nine. I must admit that I did not like the double at the 17^th! But no regret for the 71 other holes...

I will arrive at the airport just before midnight and will be back in Brussels airport at 4.00 in the morning to catch a flight to Cork via Amsterdam... The life of a Touring pro... Next week the Irish Open in Killarney, a great links course...

Saturday, July 24th

68 today, 2nd score of the day. Back in a top 10, But we'll see tomorrow because this is a real championship course. No kidding here. So a bad hole can always happen. Minus 5 after 3 rounds, 5 strokes off the lead, we'll see what tomorrow brings!

Friday, July 23^rd

I kept on training this week with my caddy. I am sure that sooner or later this must pay off.

The course (Bro Hof Slott Golf Club, architect Robert Trent Jones Jr, 2007) is what can be called a modern one; the course is long (6734 metres) with small and very undulating greens.

Louis Oosthuizen, the winner of the latest British Open is playing; with the Dutch fellow players I am amongst the very few able to pronounce correctly his name!

Le Zoute, Belgium

Friday, July 16^th

Good week of training in Royal Zoute! I wanted to stay alone for a few days and find some tigh lies to work different shots. Mich Vanmeerbeek came also today to fix my game and discuss about the next tournaments and the second half of the season. The aim is find my rythm back in tournaments which I lost a little bit in France and Loch Lomond. We worked on it and I'm confident for the near future. My 65 today into a nice wind is another good sign that I'm on my way back.

My next tournaments: Scandinavian and Ireland Open at the end of July. Then from the 16th August, Czech Open and Johnnie Walker Championship in Gleneagles.

The British Open is amazing, with those weather conditions playing a important role... Who will win? I don't know... Louis Oosthuizen had a great draw, he escapes this afternoon heavy winds, but still 36 holes to go...

Loch Lomond, Scotland

Saturday, July 10^th

My story is the story of a bad draw, since two weeks... no much comment about it!

Anyway the most important news of the week is the gold medal of Belgium during the European Boys Championship. Super achievement for the Belgian Flag. Congrats Boys! You will allways remember that moment!

Tuesday, July 6^th, PM

Very good day today, practised with Mark Roe and played the course, 18 holes. Fairways are very wet and the greens are not that fast. This place on earth is simply fantastic. What a joy! I stay in a lodge on the Loch, sharing with Marcel Siem, Marcus Brier and Maarten Lafeber. Belgians are amongst the very few to find their way with all the different cultures on The Tour. This week I'm with our german neighbours, but the cool ones. For those who don't know Marcel, Marcus and Maarten, well, they are nice lads, cool as I like them. Thursday I will play with Marcel from the 10^th tee at 14.10 (2.10 PM).

Monday, July 5 ^th, PM

First decision: never, never, never again I'll fly with RYANAIR. That company has no respect at all. I've never been treated like that, it's over, finished, done. they lost a client forever...

Hopefully therefater, I could breath the scottish air and see this beautiful countryland. Hello, the land of golf, here comes the inspiration... Yeahhhhh.

ALSTOM Open de France, Paris

Sunday, July 2^nd

So, that second round was disapointing, not my long game but my putting strategy. i decided to play defensive on those very quick and hard greens. I didn't do any 3 putts but I didn't hole birdies when I needed to. And when I attack on the long game, the course punished me, like that drive too long on 9 who went in the water.

Nevertheless, with the different changes, this course isr suited to my game now. My long irons from the tees are ideal and the fact that only a few can it the 14th in 2 with an iron (235 meters with an iron 2) is a plus point, I'm looking forward for a revenge...

Thursday, July 1^rst

Great long game today, many fairways and greens and one mistake on the 7^th, and a unplayable ball, with a drop on a gravel path out of the deep rough, an approach and 2 putts. A lot of chances but no one dropped! 72 +1, I need to sketch some more red figures on my card tomorrow, but my game is in place, so I'm confident.

Today I had the pleasure to welcome juniors from Royal Waterloo and Rigenée; there were all so enthousiastic! We had a chat together, made some pictures and a practice session. Always nice to meet all those youngsters. I do remember when I was a kid like them, I was in heaven when I could follow a tournament live...

If today was warm, tomorrow will be even warmer. I play in the afternoon at 14.20, Ooch... it reminds me somewhat Australia where it was even hotter because of the humidity.

Wednesday, June 30 ^th

Interview this morning with the European Tour weekly in Versailles. It will be on the air next Wednesday (during Loch Lomond). From 12.00, after lunch, we went for a training session till 17.00. My game is in good shape, I'm ready for tomorrow. Tee off at 9.20 AM on the 10^th tee.

Tuesday, June 29^th

Great working day here at the Golf National with Brian, Mich Vanmeerbeek and Vincent. I played 18 holes this morning with Rhys Davies, Greg Bourdy and the French amateur Romain Vattel, than later, the whole afternoon on the range, the chipping and putting greens for 5 hours. Some faces around me had turned crimson under the heavy sunshine by the end of the day!

I like the course, I find it better than the other years even if I have a lot of irons off the tees. I'll play Thursday at 9.20 AM from the 10^th tee and Friday at 14.20 from the 1rst tee. It's gonna be a very tough afternoon as the forecast is 35° and some thunder...

No pro-am for me tomorrow but an interview with the Europeantour Weekly in the morning and a practice session after that.

BMW International Open, Mûnchen

Sunday, June 26

Not a good day, not a good tournament, disastrous start...

Tomorrow Paris, another story. Big field, big course, I'm looking forward to be there!

Saturday, June 25^th

-4 today, another batlle with not my best game, some opportunities missed in the first holes and one or two bad shots...but after all I'm still there in the hunt...

I played with my friend Marcel and with Matteo Manassero. Such a nice gentle fellow, Matteo. I really enjoyed this round with this young, gifted and sweet guy.

Thursday, June 25^th

I fought a tough batlle to the finish: -4 in the end. Yesterday my swing was ok, Today was another story... Nevertheless, I finished galantly with a very welcome birdie! I changed my putter and took my trusty Odyssey with which I played back in 2003-04. I also had good putts today, as the poet would say: An old love story never ends.... He must be right...

I'm in the field in Loch Lomond, that's also good news...

So, Munchen for the weekend, and even if this course doesn't suite my game, we are going to try to make the best of it... Auf wiedersehen ;o)

Thursday, June 24^th,

69 -3 27th. A good start after 2 weeks off. Missed a few chances with 3 lip out, one on the 9th for eagle (6 foot putt). Driving is good, 14 greens in regulation, and a good stat in driving distance. Let's see what tomorrow brings at 9.20 AM off!

There we go, strong field, good weather, nice course, I'm off at 2.20PM,very late start (not my favorite) from the 10th. Tomorrow I'll play from the 1rst at 9.20 AM. Some Belgians arrived today, I saw the Royal Latem captain Michel Verheuge this morning!

Speaking from spectators, some busses will travel next week to The golf National for the Open de France, like the one from Rigenée full of 55 people!

BMW International Open, Mûnchen

Tuesday, June 22 ^th,

Here we are again! Back on Tour in Mûnchen. Brian, my cadie, came back from his home in Thaïland. I hope I can salute Greg Havret for his superb performance during the US Open.

Brussels Belgium

Thursday 17th

Training this afternoon in AGS Antwerp with Michel Vanmeerbeek. Tomorrow I will sustain the Pro-Am for my friend Laurent Richard. My program for the next 3 weeks:

- BMW International Open in Munich

- Open de France in Golf National

- Barclays Loch Lomond

Three great tournaments where I'm really looking forward to play!

Tuesday, June 15th

What a nice day yesterday on the La Marache with the Systemat invitees! Lovely weather, nice people and a good course, the recipee of a great day...

Interview today for a French golf Magazine in Brussels.

Queens, London

Friday, June 11th

Training and tennis week in London. I'm following the successes of Xavier Malisse at Queens! What a splendid match against Djokovic! Xavier is a very gifted player, very talented and a beautiful personnality. We have together good fun here at Queens, and because Xavier is a also a golf player, we will met more often as he wants to follow me on a golftournament. Belgium Together!

Sunningdale, England

Monday, June 7^th, PM

A poor second round where nothing seemed to come in my favour. I am upset.

Monday, June 7^th, AM

64 -6 this morning on the Old Course! 35-29 8 birdies and 2 bogeys... 18 more holes this afternoon on the New Course.

Qualification for the British Open. Sunningdale. 10 players qualified. No Live scoring today, results at www.opengolf.com - International Final Qualifying - Results. maybe some scores after 18 holes... To be confirmed...

The Celtic Manor Wales Open

Sunday, June 6^th,

Or how to turn a bad week into a good one! Two more rounds did awful good to my game. There were some Belgian supporters in Wales (Philippe, Michel and Edgar), they all enjoyed my finish today as much as I did.

Sunningdale tomorrow, with a possible qualification for the British Open that will take place in St Andrews.

Saturday, June 5^th,

A good start, then some putts didn't drop. I am pleased with the 68, this makes me jump in the ranking. You need to be very successful on the greens. Three lipped out and two stayed on the edge. So there were a few more strokes to win today. But why not tomorrow?

On Monday I will play the qualification for the British Open at Sunningdale (New Course) at 9.04 AM with Jamie Donaldson.

Friday, June 4^th

This course is tough too handle, not my favorite! It's not that it's too hard but it's not my kind of design. Shots to the green are quite difficult, surely when the wind blows, what I experienced in the afternoon. Today my 71, the par, was a good one and I had to wait for a long time to finally make the cut. Good break, so I will have two more rounds to find my good form back

Thursday, June 3^rd

Didn't get in the rythm of the tournament...  Poor round , but tomorrow is another day and I play in the morning...

Wednesday, June 2^nd

The 2010 Course. This is his name! This site is very natural nested in a huge valley. The course is long, 6.747 meters for a par 71 (compared to the par 72, 6.056 meters Telenet course, to give you an idea).

I'm playing last off at the 11 th hole, tomorrow in the middle of the afternoon!

Tuesday, June 1^st

This is the course of the Ryder Cup. Long with huge greens, a course in good conditions. Yesterday I had a chek up with Michel Vanmeerbeek: posture and swing. Wednesday morning I'll have my first session with Mark Roe. I'm curious what I can learn around the greens from him. We were good friends on Tour, he is someone who knows what sportmanship means, and he is still very fit. He always had great hands and an inspirational short game. 8 o'clock on the chipping green for this experience! Yesterday night I went to Blaise Erpicum, a super physiotherapist, for a final check before entering 3 tournaments in a row...

Yesterday at Royal Waterloo, we had a great day with 30 invitees of Alexis Mannès, sharing a lot of golfing moments on the pratctice and on the splendid La Marache course - great views and blossoming rhodo's - and on the screen, inside, with Mich revealing some swing secrets!

Wentworth, Surrey, England

Sunday, May 23^rd

The agony is over. Let's concentrate on the next tournament. I decided this afternoon to play the qualifications for the US Open at Walton Heath instead of resigning. After this morning round played in 3 hours, I was not too tired, one more night can do me only good. In Walton Health, 1 out of 10 will qualify for the US Open, so it's a sprint and a gamble, but I will take my chances. I start at 8.55 AM (London GMT) with Ricardo Gonzalez.

But for this PGA championship in Wentworth, I deserve a revenge. Really.

Saturday, May 22^st

What a frustrating end of week! Being sick on one of the most important week of the year hurts a lot. No power, no concentration, no energy... How can you beat this monster without a single weapon, it is so frustrating. There such a great crowd here and I was playing with blue figures next to my name. Gosh it hurts... but I couldn't do anything else, just hoping that the agony comes to an end. I went to the doctor again this morning but it didn't help, I am not allowed to take the right medicine for antidoping reasons. So back to the old aspirine and a spray for the throat. I couldn't stop playing because I sincerely hope that tomorrow will be a better day. Should my forces come back, I'd grab a few places and some more bucks for the Race to Dubaï. What an experience. But that's life, with good and bad moments but it's just not the right week to live that nightmare. But I will survive..

Thanks to all the Belgian friends who came over here to support me and all the ones who reacted with a encouragement message on this site. Guys, I will come back here stronger than ever!

Friday, May 21^st

After 12 holes I felt a terrible slump today. I was exhausted, extremely tired... The six last holes were so long... and the 17 and 18 refused my birdies attempts, lipped twice. +2 today, after a great fight without energy. The wind this afternoon made the course even tougher. Some greens and pin positions were a real nightmare. It's 7.30 PM now and I'going directly to my room, order a quick room service and hope for, at least, a good night. A look at the scores tells that nobody finds it easy. Let's see what tomorrow will bring!

Thursday, May 20^th

Bad night, fever, soar throat... this morning I went to the tournament's doctor and received some medicine. If the swing was alright I had some difficulties to get focused on the putting surface. Nevertheless, I played strongly from tee to green and made a lot of 2 putts. I hit 15 greens in regulation and had a bunker putt on 9 and 2 approach-putts on holes 3 and 5. My birdies came on hole 4, 16 and 17. I'm happy with my being patient between 4 and 16, because I had 2-3 more birdies there! But I do confirm that this course has turned into a real monster, with deep bunkers and pretty undulated greens. It's certainly here that we hit the longest irons to the greens. On 15, (long) par 4, I was 193 meters from the pin, I had to hit a good 5 iron! The 18 has become a drama hole where you will probably watch very few players trying to get on in two...

So time to go to bed now, get some sleep, trying to recover and being ready for tommorrow round...

Tuesday, May 18^th

Well this course has become a monster! It's playing 300 meters longer that last time I've played it and I calculated 30 bunkers more on the course, much deeper than the old ones. This year Ernie Els Design added a river on 18 (for the drama) and they changed all the 18 green's surface! This is a world class golfcourse, and the pin positions will have a major role in the strategy. All will depend of the weather...

I'll start Thursday at 9.45 and Friday at 14.10 with Canizares and Zanotti. I'm looking forward to this tournament, I'm excited to be back on major tournaments with huge galleries. This PGA Championship is one the 5th majors, surely the N°2 in Europe just after the Brtitish Open. On your TV's or PC-Mac screens, it's gonna be real tough out there and very intense...

Sunningdale and Walton Heath, Surrey, England

Thursday, May 13^th

Zaventem this morning at 7, I flew to London to discover some courses I will play to qualify fot the US open and British Open.

What a pleasure to discover those great and beautiful courses. I like this heathland architecture, the subtile contours of and around greens.

Next week, I will play the BMW PGA Championship in Wentworth, and Monday 24, I'll play the qualification

I'm here practising with my caddy Brian Nilsson...

Jeju Island PINX GC, Korea

Sunday, April 25^th

Not my best day; too many bunkers, not very lucky at the last but overall, a good Asian 2 weeks.

Good par 3's results, long driving (ranked N°1), a lot of good putts this week.

It's important to emphasize the good points and to forget less good ones but I know that I'm on the right track, my confidence is growing.

Long trip back to Spain: through Shangaï, Frankfurt, Madrid to finally land in Sevilla Tuesday morning.

Jeju Island PINX GC, Korea

Saturday, April 24^th

This is a great tournament, it's a pity for the weather. Great modern course with huge undulated greens,

but it was foggy on Friday and very windy now. With slick greens, it has become a real test! 71-71, 24th,

I putted well, great second putts... I'm happy... good fight today with 2 birdies at the end,

a good finish to celebrate the 40^th anniversary of Brian Nilsson, my caddy!

So, just one more round tomorrow and back to Europe, the tournament has been reduced to 54 holes...

Jeju Island GC, Korea

Monday, April 19^th

Korea is very different than China, more traditional, more japanese style but very modern also.

I had a look on my stats:

- 88,9 greens in regulation (best of the tournament)... Amazing figure if compared to others

It's 9 greens on 10...

Shangaï, Suzhou Jinji Lake GC, China

Sunday, April 18^th

69-72-68-69 for a total of -10. Good for my first top 10 this season. I am pretty happy with my game.

It's a good week, I played well and gave me a lot of birdie chances.

So next week, Jeju Island in Korea, without my room mate Greg Havret who had to withdraw because he can't find any flight!

Shangaï, Suzhou Jinji Lake GC, China

Saturday, April 17^th

69-72-68 for a total of -7. A good day with 7 birdies and two or three other chances...

Just a pity for the bogey at the last, but the mood is good.

The forecast for Sunday is not good, rain... normally I'll be paired with Stenson...

Due to the big Iceland cloud, Greg Havret can't find a flight to join me in Korea next week where we share the room.

Shangaï, Suzhou Jinji Lake GC, China

Friday, April 16^th

69-72 for a total of -3. A bit of a struggle today.

Still jetlagged, awake at 1.30AM, I need to recover some normal sleep time.

At one time in my round today, I decided to secure pars and to play solidly without going for flags. Several putts saw the hole but didn't fall. I stayed patient.

Let's hope finally for a good night and a good scoring week-end!

Shangaï, Suzhou Jinji Lake GC, China

Wednesday, April 14^th

buurrr, back to the winter time over here.

It is so cold that they had the pro-am tournament cancelled.

We would not be surprised to see the Yeti coming down the Himalaya strolling around the place!

Time passes slowly in these conditions. Not easy to stay focused.

I have a late start (01:30 pm) with two local players I did not have the opportunity to meet before. Let's cross our fingers for the weather conditions...

From Suzhou Jinji lake GC, (c*o*l*d*) cheers to you all.

Shangaï, Suzhou Jinji Lake GC, China

Monday, April 12^th

Well, finally back on track, on the European Tour. For 4 straight weeks: China, Korea, Sevilla and Torino.

I need to play several tournaments in a row to get the rythmn and the automatisms of scoring.

I trained and played well these last 2 weeks. A few sessions with Mich Vanmeerbeek did help.

I'm feeling confident and hungry, in de starting blocks. From now my schedule will be very heavy till end of July.

The Masters at Augusta was amazing, but I was in the plane during the final round...

So I'm really looking forward to watch some TV to see how Mickelson won his 3rd Green jacket!

From Suzhou Jinji lake GC, cheers to everybody.

Malaga GC, Spain

Friday, March 26^th

I was not feeling very well this morning and my game reflected that situation. After an horrible start, I began to feel better and played ok till the the bogey on 15. Two birdies missed on the the last three holes kept me out of the cut. Actually I'm deeply disapointed and frustrated, Sunday, I drive to Bordeaux for 7 days of intensive training with my long time friend Jerôme Theunis.

My next tournament will be in China!

Thursday, March 25^th

Quite a strong wind here on the shores of the Malaga GC! Today 68 on this par 70, some "stingers off the tee" (iron 2 under the wind), I can only take 4 times the driver out my bag, so it's an iron driving course... It's not really a links but it's playing like one on some shots. I really do like links courses very much, but it's so rare to play them on Tour... The 7^th of June, i'll play the qualifications of the British Open and before, on the 24^th of May, I'll try to qualify for the US Open at Pebble Beach. That's quite a program! But before that, still a lot of golf to be played, let's begin with tomorrow morning here in the south of Spain, the country with the best Jamon in the world!

Tuesday, March 23

Last week was a so-so week, with a great partnership with my amateur during the 2 first rounds, we finished second!, but also some bad decisions on a few holes. But I'm improving and I make more and more birdies... I need to play more to retrieve all my sensations and automatisms in competition mode.

This week, from the Real Golf Club de Campo de Malagà, I am pleased to announce 2 new partnerships with "le 3e Bureau" and with "Systemat". Behind those 2 companies, you will find passionnate golfers and loyal supporters of my career. Check their website and their press release (Systemat Press releases, French or Dutch).