Same year, new season

IN years gone by I would have been writing this column from a beach in the Caribbean. Cocktails and sun tan lotion would have been the main things on my mind.

But I happen to have joined the European Tour in a rather different era and the eras of long holidays in the winter are very much a thing of the past.

Now, as I sit writing this ona rather chilly November day in south-west London, the new season is almost upon me.

There's no doubt it is quite strange that the 2007 season begins in 2006 but that's the way it is and there are very sound financial reasons why that's the case.

And, believe me, you won't hear too many players on the tour complaining about lucrative events appearing at this time of year.

So, while it might have been nice to lie in the sun for a bit and then maybe do a bit of DIY round the house. There's not much time for re-decorating when you're between tournaments you see...

That's not the way it is though and as much it's nice to reflect on a job pretty well done by me in 2006 the process starts all over again for this season.

There are five events before Christmas and I am playing in three of them which I think is just about right.

Someone said to me it must be difficult to get 'up' for such a short run before the festive period and to a certain degree it is.

I'm thinking of it in cricket terms. Batsmen build their innings by setting short-term targets such as five or 10 runs. That's the way I'm seeing it.

I'm probably envisaging going out to face Shane Warne for 25 minutes before lunch on the first day of the first Test in Brisbane. You can't complete the job but you can make a very nice platform.

Take last year for example. I made a terrific fist of these early tournaments and could in fact have won one or even two - and against top-class fields.

That set me up beautifully for the season ahead and gave me plenty of confidence for the months which followed.

If I can go well before Christmas, I'll be able to enjoy a festive period knowing that if I do well in the desert swing I could be on the way to securing my card for 2008.

2008?! I know, it's scary thinking about it already, but that's the way it's got to be. Short-term targets for long-term gain.

And my immediate target is to get my card sewn up for 2008. We all start with a clean slate and, despite an enjoyable and successful 2006 season, I'm under no illusions about the task that faces me.

But the sooner I can get my playing rights secured, the sooner I can relax and think about really challenging for a win.

That said, you can be sure I'll be teeing it up right from the start with the aim of breaking my tour duck. I know no other way.

Even this time last year I thought I could have won. It would have been pretty sensational, but I thought I could do it. But for a couple of loose shots I would have.

This year, I'm even more confident about doing it. Quite frankly, if you don't think you can ever win a tournament, I really don't think you should be out there.

Someone who did just that in his rookie year was Marc Warren, who has been named Rookie of the Year by the European Tour.

I know Marc quite well and congratulated him on the honour as soon as I found out - even though he effectively pipped me to the title!

To be fair, there's no shame in missing out to someone who actually won an event on his maiden season. That's a great effort.

I'm not sure how they work out who's been the top rookie but I'm sure that counts a lot.

I know that could have been me and I'm not going to pretend it wouldn't have been fantastic to follow in the footsteps of some of the game's true legends. As I say, a few shots here and there probably cost me that chance.

Funnily enough Marc and I played together this time last year for the first two rounds in China. I was flying high and he just made the cut and was struggling a bit early season.

But he turned it round and won in Sweden before going on to another couple of good finishes which gave him a fine end to the season.

He is a fine rookie of the year and while that's now something I can never achieve there are plenty more targets for me to aim for.

Happy Christmas to all of NCG's readers.