Taking on the Old Course with Bill Murray

Life on the European Tour is anything but predictable with tournaments held pretty much every week in as far-flung destinations as New Zealand and Asia but it doesn't come any different than spending three days with movie legend Bill Murray at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Like most golfers, professional or amateur, Caddyshack is one of my favourite films, with his character, the lunatic greenkeeper Carl Spackler, playing a leading role so it was very exciting to discover on the Tuesday that we would be paired together.

I knew roughly what he was going to be like after watching the AT&T National and, although he didn't play his best on the first day at Carnoustie, he continually kept us amused. You will have caught a glimpse of some of his antics on the TV coverage and there was never a dull moment with a partner like him.

It is a format which takes a bit of getting used to - on the one hand I felt like it relaxed me a little bit to have a laugh and a joke in between shots but on the other hand you have to try and stay focused, as the Dunhill is one of the biggest tournaments of the year, both in prestige and prize money.

Bill actually swings it pretty solidly. His practice routine is a bit odd, as he takes it up in the air and swings it like a baseball bat, but when he puts his mind to it he can play some pretty decent golf.

For me, the first round was probably the most satisfying, although it yielded my highest score of the first three days. I hung in really well to shoot one over despite not being at my best, then at the Old Course I didn't feel like I had played all that great again but managed to shoot a 66 and, all of a sudden, I was right back in it.

Kingsbarns is probably the most spectacular in visual terms of the three to play and, without any wind, offers up the chance to record a good score so I was happy to keep going forward with a four-under 68, which included six birdies. It would be interesting to see the Open Championship visit there. It may not be as tough as some of the other venues but if the elements go against you, you can shoot some pretty high numbers.

Unfortunately we didn't manage to make the final day as a team, for the record we finished on 15-under - five short of what was required - but it was a real honour and a privilege to play with Bill. Everyone wants a piece of him but he remains very down to earth and laid back and was great fun to play with, as were Paul Casey and skiing star Franz Klammer (all pictured).

It is not every day that you get to spend some quality time, over some quality courses, with a Hollywood legend and a five-time World Cup winner (and Olympic gold medallist) and I will look back on my week in Scotland with fond memories.

The last round was a bit disappointing as I fell away slightly with a four-over 76 after getting caught out by a couple of Sunday pin positions and then carved one out of bounds at the Road Hole before three-putting for a triple bogey and a subsequent 76.

Since my win in the Netherlands my form has been steady, rather than spectacular, but I am still hopeful of adding a second title before the year is out. Before the Dunhill I tied for 32nd at the Mercedes-Benz Championship after changing putters following the first day and it paid off with rounds of 70, 68 and 72. I also started well at The British Masters with an opening 70.

I had been looking forward to The Belfry, having won a car last year for my nearest the pin effort at the 12th, when I recorded one of my better finishes, and the course was in great shape, with the redesign of the 6th making it into a very tough hole. The Friday was very windy and tricky and, after a 79, I came up two shots short of making the weekend.

Although I would have loved to be playing, it was great to see three Englishmen - Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Mark Foster - finish on top of the field.

There have been plenty of firsts in 2007 and there will be another at the season-ending Volvo Masters where the leading 60 money winners come together at Valderrama in southern Spain.

I have played there once after being kindly invited over by a member there on the Wednesday of the Spanish Open. It is a superb golf course and I will be looking to try and attack it with the driver, wherever possible, and finish as high up the Order of Merit as possible. I look forward to bringing you up to date in next month's issue.