Why the top 50 is my ambition for this year

SINCE my column this month falls within the preview of the year section, I thought I'd give you some of my thoughts on the prospects for 2007 ­ even though I did something similar a couple of months ago. At that time I wrote about the beginning of the 2007 European Tour, which as you all know actually starts in 2006! Even in the short space of time since then, plenty of things have changed.

By the time you are reading this some players will already have competed in as many as eight events. I know how they feel because this time last year that was me! If you have just got your card, as I had then, you simply have to play in every event you can. That's what I did and the fact I did so pretty successfully means this season my schedule already looks very different.

It did start out in a fairly similar manner though, with a stint in South Africa for the terrific events they stage every year.

And, as last year, I was delighted to play well. At Leopard Creek for the Dunhill Championship I started slowly with a 73 but rounds of 69 and 68 had me nicely placed going into Sunday.

I didn't play badly by any means on the last day but a couple of blips cost me dearly, one of which was down to a slice of bad luck.

On the par-five 13th I was ready to go for the green in two but the group in front were holding us up and eventually after five minutes they called us through.

I hit an indifferent approach but, after getting a good break with some grass clippings, played what I thought was a nice chip.

It looked good... until it hit a sprinkler head and rattled across the green and down the other side! From there I took a six and although I battled on a 70 was all I could muster having done little wrong.

The tie for fourth I earned was an excellent start to the season nonetheless and I went to Humewood for the South African Airways Open in good spirits.

I played perfectly well over the first couple of days there but just couldn't score as I wanted to. Then suddenly everything came together and a third-round 66 left me, once again, looking good going into Sunday.

Overnight though my hopes of challenging what was a stellar leaderboard took a severe blow when I started to feel rather unwell and had a very uncomfortable sleep.

I did my best in the final round but a closing 72 was never going to be enough in that company. I thought a 67 was probably what was required and I was nowhere near in the right shape to
produce one.

It wouldn't have been enough in any case as Ernie Els (pictured below) defeated his countyman Trevor Immelman in tremendous style to continue his fine winning record of one victory every year since 1991.

I spent a bit of time with Ernie during that week due to mutual friends and it was of course a real pleasure. I just missed out on playing with him but hopefully that experience is not too far away.

I also saw a bit of Lee Westwood and it goes without saying that spending time in the company of these guys does make you feel even more at home on tour.

Certainly, my ambitions for 2007 are somewhat higher than they were last year, when I was just happy to keep my card ­ as ANY rookie is!

Now, I'm targeting a place in the top 50 of the Order of Merit. It will require a lot of work and a lot of good golf but I feel well capable of doing it.

Last year was a great stepping stone and, a year on, I'm pleased to be able to say that my targets have moved on in such a progressive manner.

In fact, I don't mind admitting that I will be disappointed if I don't make it into the top 50. That means earning a considerable amount more than I did last year, but I don't feel daunted by that prospect.

If I play well for the majority of the season then this should be something which takes care of itself.

Indeed, I know I should have picked up more money than I did in 2006 because of the missed cuts I had towards the season's end. After such a good start, I should have capitalised even more.

I've got another good platform this season and intend to build on it.

A few weeks rest and a holiday has been just what I needed, during which I went my girlfriend, Jo, to Mauritius for 10 days, and now I'm looking forward to competing again.

I didn't touch the clubs for about three weeks over the festive period but, after a few sessions with my coach Kristian at Wentworth, I'm sure my game is ready.

Kristian and I never get too technical but after a few weeks without picking up a club you might think that if we ever were going to go down that route it would be then.

But, although there was a bit of initial rust in the swing, I was soon back into my rhythm and he sent me away with nothing to think about apart from just playing well.

I also made a trip to Pure Sports Medicine in London to make sure my fitness is as it should be (although as a professional sportsman obviously I didn't touch a single mince pie over Christmas!).

The next time I put pen to paper I'll have played three events I didn't get into last year, in Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Dubai.

Continue my form in those and I'll be well on the way to achieving my aims for 2007. I very much hope to be reporting back from the Middle East with some good news!