Gulag Golf, French Birdies and British Autumns.
What can I say about the last two tournaments other than it was like going through a time warp?
First up I had to get out of Russia and that meant dealing with a Russian airline and trying to sort out the extra baggage charges.
Trapped: but Adam escaped Russia to make it to the Vivendi Trophy
I won't go into the details except to say that they tried to charge more for the clubs and excess baggage than it cost to buy the ticket.
I wasn't going to pay this but trying to talk things through in Russia isn't easy. Firstly the staff were sticking rigidly to protocol and refused to change their stance.
Secondly they didn't speak much English, so you either complied or didn't get home!
The check-in lady did very kindly tell me that if I wanted to leave my clubs in the airport's basement I could and I would be able to collect them when I next returned to Russia. How thoughtful.
Adam Gee
Quotes of the week
I had to repack my bag, shed kit, and was still miles from getting the weight down.
The check-in lady did very kindly tell me that if I wanted to leave my clubs in the airport's basement I could and I would be able to collect them when I next returned to Russia. How thoughtful.
In the end, I worked out that they were trying to charge me for the ongoing flight as well.
I decided that a new line of strategy was needed.
Just as the check-in lady had finished writing out my receipts I said that I only wanted to pay for my luggage through to Stockholm.
She was not happy, and tore up my receipts, cursing me the whole time. I still had to pay €90 but the final, small victory was mine.
Disappointing
A week after escaping the golfing gulag, I was in France and on the European Tour at the Vivendi Trophy.
What a difference. These are the places where I want to be playing week in, week out.
Not only is the prize money significantly better but you are treated fantastically well. Courtesy cars, players lounge with food, decent courses and equipment trucks everywhere offering you new stuff to help you gain yards or hole more putts.
When you don't play here regularly you really appreciate the weeks that you do and it just makes you want to be here all the time.
Others who have been here a while can sometimes be heard taking it all for granted. "Don't think much of breakfast this week", "only a 1.2 million purse?" etc.
A few weeks on the Challenge Tour would certainly be a reality check, comrade.
But while the surroundings may have been much more to my liking, my golf failed to live up to expectations.
Missing the cut in France was disappointing but not soul destroying. I played plenty good enough to make the weekend but my chipping was nowhere near sharp enough and on the Friday too many putts slid by.
For some reason, I continually under-read putts and didn't learn my lesson quick enough. Never mind.
Chance
So I am not enjoying a week at home, and after six events on the road, it's nice to be back in the UK.
There are a few things that I need to have a little grind on, my chipping definitely being one of them. But on the whole I feel like I'm going to play well over the coming weeks.
There are four tournaments left on the schedule and I need a strong finish.
It's no secret that I haven't played well enough this year but with four to go I still have a chance to crack the top 20 if I get it going and then play well at The Grand Final.
One week can change the season.
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