A big thank you to my mum and dad

THESE days Im sure most of you think that every player who plays on tour is surrounded by an army of helpers and advisors.

Certainly some of the top players on the mens and ladies tours do have nutritionists, fitness trainers, psychologists and even someone to tell them what to wear! Tiger Woods, pictured below with coach Hank Haney and fitness guru Keith Klevin, is the obvious example.

My support team is a bit smaller than that, and a lot closer to home. In fact, its basically my mum and dad.

Its 12 years since I started playing golf and in that time my parents have been by my side every step of the way.

It was my dad who first got me interested in golf when I went down to his club to caddy for him and from there my love of the game started.

There were loads of sacrifices to be made in those early days, as I think Ive talked about before, but its only really now that Im beginning to realise how special my mum and dad have been.

From driving me round the country to amateur events my dad has progressed to carrying my bag on tour. He has done both brilliantly.

And in the last 12 months he has taken over a new role my coach! It is a development which has worked really well for me.

Some outsiders might be thinking how can someone of moderate golfing ability (dad has never been a single-figure player) teach someone who is playing on tour?

Well, he can! Dad knows my game so well that he has been a huge help to me. He knows my swing better than anyone and he can spot something thats gone wrong very easily.

He also explains it to me in a non-technical way, which is just the way I like it. Its not fussy and it is effective.

Its an arrangement which has led to my most consistent season and Ive got no doubt that it can lead to even greater success in 2007.

Were working hard at the moment, even in the middle of winter, on getting even better. There were things which dad and I pinpointed during the season which we said we would work on in the close season and thats exactly what were doing.

So, were out playing 18 holes in the morning and then on the range in early afternoon. Its work which will hopefully lead to my first win on tour and Im confident thats what the end result will be.

The other great thing with dad coaching me is that hes always at tournaments with me. Otherwise Id be carrying my own bag you see! So, although hes not coaching me on course, because by the time youre on
the 1st tee, youve got no chance of changing your swing.

But if things havent gone well in the previous event or even between rounds, we can head for the range and do some serious work to correct things.

Dad has been a brilliant caddy and now hes doing the same with my swing. I cant imagine it any other way. Its probably the final act my parents have had in my golf career and I really could not be more grateful.

As well as the driving and giving up weekends in the early days, the 100 per cent support and the caddying and coaching nowadays theyve also given me a good sense of perspective and kept my feet on the ground.

They made most of my decisions for me over the past dozen years and almost all have been spot on.

The great thing now is that I feel able to make these decisions myself and thanks to the education I have received from my parents I am confident whenever I come to a conclusion that it is the right one.

My choice to not go to LPGA qualifying is one example. It was top of my priority list for a lot of 2006 but when the time got closer I decided it wasnt in my best interests.

That decision made, I am completely happy with it and as time goes on Im even more convinced it was the right thing to do.

Maybe dad is secretly annoyed as he might have fancied a season in America! But Im sure he understands better than anyone why Ive come to that conclusion.

Its another season in Europe for me with mum and dad by my side, giving the support which I just couldnt have got this far in the game without.