Rock struggles at Algarve Open de Portugal

By Robert Rock,
Special for WorldGolf.com

It is sometimes difficult to be a tour golfer.

That might sound funny to all those thousands of players who dream of a life on tour -- and little unfair of me -- but when things aren't going as you would like it can be a lonely world.

This last week was the Algarve Open de Portugal, and I was hoping for a good showing.

Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez had a great week climbing to the top of the Volvo Order of Merit and moving into the World Top-50 as he won the tournament at the Le Meridien Penina Golf Resort.

Miguel moves up 16 positions to World No. 37 and he is now the sixth highest ranked European in the world after Harrington (7), Clarke (14), Jacobson (19), Bjorn (24) and Casey (28). Miguel also moves to the top of the Ryder Cup European Points List with 1,027,946 points.

I didn't have such a good week -- although it did start quite well. I was happy to make the cut -- which has to be your first target at the beginning of a tournament.

But it could have been much better as I played well in the rain on one and got to 3-under par with three to play.

I was playing quite nicely and should have closed the round off. I was especially pleased with the way I was putting after all the hard work I have put in.

But I made two bogeys and then I missed a tiny, tiny putt on the last green.

It is a short par 5, and I was on the green in two.

My putt for eagle lipped out, and I missed the tap in.

Things like that can prey on your mind, and I was very frustrated.

To be 3-under par and then finish like that is not ideal to say the least.

I had scrambled hard and made some good saves but was left at one under.

The second day was a struggle, but I managed to make the cut and then went to work on my game.

I finished my second round in the early afternoon and went to the range.

I hit 21 baskets of balls -- about 1,200 balls in total -- all the time trying to get my swing back.

But I went out in the morning and slipped further and further down the leaderboard.

I started with five bogeys in the first seven holes.

If that happens during the first two days you have to dig in and fight to make the cut. But when it's the Saturday and you start slipping it's even harder.

It's not nice to see yourself at the bottom of the pack. All the time you know there are people at home watching and you're playing badly. People may think you're not trying but you are trying so hard.

The fourth round started even worse, and I ended up 11-over par.

Now I'm back at home and working on putting right what has gone wrong with my swing.

I will keep working on it before heading off to Seville for the tournament next week.

The putting is great -- and that was the problem before -- now I have to get the swing right.

I can see the funny side of it from that respect, but I want to perform for all the people who help and support me.

This weekend I'll join the rest of the world watching the Masters and keep on working on my game.

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• Wentworth recap gets best of Rock
• Belly putters' controversy is the talk of the town
• A few lessons still can't help Rock's game
• British Masters next up for pro Robert Rock
• Rock feeling good heading into Telecom Italia Open
• Seville Open good to Robert Rock
• Robert Rock's putting starting to come around
• Inside the ropes with Robert Rock
• Rock struggles at Algarve Open de Portugal
• Taking a week off proves to be best
• Qatar Masters could be a start for Robert Rock
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