golfrewind.com

Greetings all. Have just arrived in my hotel, had a meal and got onto the hotel internet. 3 computers for guests.
Heading out to watch the golf tomorrow. Bus going directly from the bus station a few hundred metres away. Freebie tickets are waiting for me at the ticket collection point courtesy of the Tour.
Had a safe flight and really looking forward to being "back on Tour". Have already received a big wb from the CEO via email so am starting to feel good.
Getting over cancer, so feeling good is fantastic.
Last night in my own bed at home in Dublin, I was thinking "Im going home tomorrow"

Hope to write a report on the first days play tomorrow. No big names, but should be FUN

Glad to hear that your health is improving and I hope you have a great time at the tournament!! I'll be looking forward to reading your report.

Thanks gang, The weather truly was great today, not too hot and a light cool breeze. My ticket was waiting for me as promised and I arrived after a good breakfast a bit later than I usually would.
My friend Christian Cevaer (from France) was just coming to the turn having played the nines in reverse order. He was 1under at that point.
He birdied 18 and proceeded to birdie 4 holes on the front nine with no bogies, finishing -6 2 strokes off the leader former Ryder Cup player Paul Broadhurst. I was able to walk the full nine with him, but was too tired to watch Ian Woosnam (biggest name in the event) for any more than 1 hole.
He was doing ok at -1, but may need a good round tomorrow.
Philip Price of Wales is also in the field and playing a bit closer to form. Heard he had stopped working with coach Ian Godleman who had got him playing so well up to and during the last Belfry Ryder Cup.
Other names you might have heard of:-
Ignatio Garrido son of Antonio
Nick Dougherty a recent Tour Winner
Jean Van de Velde who won last week, a bit off the pace this week at 1 over.
Buses stop at the course, and cabs to where Im staying was quite reasonable.
Got a lot of morale boosting empathy from the gang, unfortunately the players arent staying where I am so no players buses for me to hitch a ride.
Best shot I saw all day
a near ace from Christian on the 176metre par3 6th. The green is heavily bunkered. A large one in front, another large one the whole left side and two smaller bunkers on the right. Christians ball finished 2 inches from the hole.
He had a few more with birdie or eagle putts edging the hole.
There were also some runner-up places with chips holed from the rough on the 18th green,
All in all a great day. More tomorrow.

Thanks for the story...looking forward to reading more.

How many events do you attend per year?

When I was healthy up to 10, generally not less than 6
Irish, European and British are defos as is Wentworth (now the BMW).
The AIB Irish Seniors always and the British Seniors usually
Ian was 1 over for today finishing on level par. McLardy retired after an abysmal few holes. It was steady as they go, the leaders exchanging birdies.
Paul Broadhurst kept up the pressure adding 5 more birdies to go 11 under. Christian began well, then started to try hard ... with the effect that he had 1 bogey and a double in his first 9, several birdies as well and 1 bogey on 17 in the back 9. He was too busy being competitive to be effective and lost some of the TRUST. Interesting enough I didnt walk 17 with him or any of the front 9. Got enough birdies though to remain in contention at 9 under .
My shot of the day came from another former Ryder Cup player Gordon Brand Jnr (1987, Dublin, Ohio team) who chipped in from the rough on 16.

Signature hole is the 13th. One of the few with water causing some problems. A lake snakes its way across the fairway and along the right hand side. A very tricky hole .
Saw Andrew Colthart briefly but didnt get to talk to him.
Spoke to a few players today including Niclas Fasth who is currently using David McNeilly as caddy. McN used to work for Padraig Harrington and has caddied in Europe for John Daly a few times. John Bickerton is not playing too well and has an earlyish start tomorrow but at least has made the cut. He won a tournament towards the end of last season when I was in hospital so I owed him an apology for not writing to congratulate him.
Peter Coleman (Langers former caddy) is here too, had a brief hello. Ive known Peter C for donkeys years as he used to caddy for Tommy Horton at one point in the dim and distant past.
The weather was fine again, but the wind got up quite strongly towards the end of the day.
Im keeping this on a more personal level as you can always get the scores on the European tour website.
http://www.europeantour.com

Big changes today. Paul Broadhurst and Christian both fell back. The lead is now being held by an American ... No, not a North american but a South american Ricardo Gonzales from Argentina.
Weather still good. Both Paul and Chrisrian felt the pressure. They exchanged birdies on the front nine, then on the 10th Christian made birdie but Paul made an eagle with a magnificient chip in. Best shot I saw all day.
Christian dropped his first shot of the tournament the following hole and ended up washing his ball in the water at 13 (worst shot I saw all day) and ended up making double-bogey. Ricardo had just made an eagle on 18 to tie the lead when Paul blew up a bit dropping shots on the finishing holes.
Christian is now 4 strokes off the lead
Niclas Fasth played well today as did Jarmo Sandelin. Good to see him doing well as he hasnºt been featuring much since his one and only Ryder Cup appearance.
Tomorrow everything is up for grabs.

I passsed on your pleasure at seeing Paul Lawrie playing well, droogy, He was delighted, and a big grin bigger than this one flashed across his face.

Another fine day in Portugal.
Paul Broadhurst came out on top with a brilliant front 9 of 30. 5 birdies in 6 holes.
Christian had a bad day, dropping strokes early on and never picking them up. Nothing too bad except on 18 where he went into a ditch, but never picking up strokes when they were thwere for the asking.
Anthony Wall had a brilliant round and it was only Broadies birdie on the par5 18th that won it for him.
Will post round details when I get home. Have photo of the leaders round scores from the scoreboard. Looks ok in the camera, after downloading if its good enough I will upload it.

Thank you for taking the time to share your personal experiences of the event with us, Par5score2. I really enjoyed reading them and look forward to the pictures.

I say Par5, your not Liz Khan in disguise are you?

Well looks as if Paul Broardhurst has won again...

...Nice one Paul. And that chip in nearly went in without needing to be putted. But the result was unchanged

Safely home. Met David McN at the airport by arrangement as we were travelling back to Dublin on the same flight.
It was very useful to have a caddy to carry my bag on and off the flight for me.
Tried to put the results here as an attachment but they were too small to read.
Check out the Gallery.