The life I have at the moment is pretty good

I'm the first to admit that. It's taken a lot of hard work, but this is what I've wanted to do ever since I first gripped a golf club.

It isn't ALL exotic locations and big prize funds though. There is a very humdrum side to it too and, more importantly, being on the road week after week takes a lot out of you.

So I really enjoyed the last fortnight in September, when I was was able to leave the golf clubs in the garage (well, not quite, they're a bit too valuable to do that!) and forget about the game for a little while.

I say 'forget about the game', but that isn't strictly true. I didn't pick up a club for nearly a week but I was effectively working on my game every day.

There are various things a professional golfer ' and indeed the leading amateurs ' can do these days to squeeze that extra few per cent out of their game.

That's what I was trying to do as I relaxed at home.

So, one day I went in to Wentworth to have a massage and another I spent looking at my stats with my coach and the guy who puts them all together for me.

I went to the gym a few times to keep myself in shape for when I return but it wasn't anything too strenuous. I was supposed to me 'on holiday' remember!

In the past when I've had a week or so off I've tended to cram in visits here and trips there, seeing as many people as I can to make up for the time I'm away.

It can leave you as tired as when you're in the middle of a tournament! So I made a conscious decision to chill out with my girlfriend Jo in front of the television at night and get my batteries fully recharged for the final part of the season.

The European Tour schedule really is something of a marathon and by my reckoning we're on about the 20-mile mark now. In other words, you've done the hard bit with some money in the bank, but it's just starting to hurt now and you've got to grit your teeth and get on with it.

Having those couple of weeks off was therefore quite vaulable for me as I attempt to play my way into the Volvo Masters.

Once I had secured my card for 2007 making it to Valderrama became my next main target and as I write this column I'm pretty much on target.

We've got a couple of tournaments to go though, including the cash-rich dunhill links, so it's time to finish the job.

I'm certainly looking forward to the dunhill. I've heard lots about it and from the outside it looks like a great event to play in.

Maybe I won't be saying the same thing after watching my amateur partners top their way round three of Britain's finest links, but I'm excited about it.

Who wouldn't be when the possibility of playing with a legend such as Kenny Dalglish or Ian Botham is in prospect?

I can just about remember the days of Pro-Celebrity golf on BBC television and I think it's fair to say the game has come a long way since then ' the golfing celebs are just so much cooler these days...

In addition to a bit of star-gazing I'm also relishing the chance to tackle the Old Course, Carnoustie and Kingbarns.

I've played St Andrews several times as an amateur and really enjoy it but I've yet to experience the other two.