FIRST PERSON

Rock heads back to the practice tee

By Robert Rock,
Special for WorldGolf.com

(June 26, 2004) - We've been amazed at how tough the course is at the French Open at Le Golf National this week.

It was windy on the day of the pro-am and the wind hasn't ceased since.

As I write I'm just waiting for a taxi to take me to the airport as I missed the cut, having finished the second round on 10 over par.

I had an eight on the ninth, which is probably the most difficult hole this week, and that did for my hopes. Other than that I was only one over for the day which was quite good considering the course. And that would have got me inside the cut.

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Robert Allenby's playing here and he reckoned the fairways were narrower than they were at last week's US Open - obviously the greens weren't as hard and fast as at Shinnecock Hills, but the fairways still made it tough.

I watched the US Open and it was plain the course was very difficult - far too tough for the way I'm playing at the moment. I'm glad I couldn't go - it would have been embarrassing.

Apart from the difficulty of the course, the main topic of conversation among, players, officials and spectators is still the Euro 2004 football championships.

And on Thursday night of course, England went out in a dramatic penalty shoot-out with hosts Portugal. The bar here was packed with players, families and officials, but I was first out at 7.30am on the second day so I went to bed early.

Unfortunately my room was above the kitchen and they were still clanking pots and clearing up in the early hours so I lost a bit of sleep.

And when I got to the club in the morning Frenchman Christian Cevaer - who also missed the cut - gave me a bit of stick for being English. Most of the English guys were feeling a bit low when they turned up. Many of them are soccer fans and really thought we could win the tournament.

Some personal news: I'm getting married in November. My fiancé Lynda and I will be getting married in November. I have most of November and December off and we will be going to Mauritius for our honeymoon where I admit I'll have to play golf.

Before that I - and many others - have to face the trauma of Open qualifying. Mine is at Sunningdale on Monday and to be honest I'm not looking forward to it the way I'm playing at the moment.

Still, there are now 15 places up for grabs after the R&A announced today (Thursday) there are three more places available at each venue.

Between now and then, I'll be putting in some intensive practice to attempt to iron out my current faults.

Wish me luck.

Any opinions expressed above are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the management. The information in this story was accurate at the time of publication. All contact information, directions and prices should be confirmed directly with the golf course or resort before making reservations and/or travel plans.