It seems I am missing more diaries than putts at the moment so as my old school teacher used to say "Howeller, you must try harder". So if you have been on to my website and been frustrated at the fact that is has not been updated I do apologise.

So what has been going on lately? Third place in the Johnnie Walker championship at Gleneagles was a pleasant return to the top of the leaderboard and gave me some much needed confidence going into the Mercedes championship in Germany which was why it was so disappointing to play poorly and finish way down the field. I was glad I went though as something happened that week which I found hilarious. Now normally I would not pass on to you something like this as it could be slightly embarrassing for the person it involves, but seeing as it is about the Jockey I feel it is my job to pass on this story.

We were drawn to play the first round with Long John Daly which is always a treat as John is a nice guy to play with, he is of course a legend, and you never know what might happen when he is out on the course. The third man in our group was Anders Hansen whose caddy, John Maclaren, is a good friend of the Jockey and knows Long John quite well too.

The Jockey as always was looking trim and feeling confident in his own skin and was looking forward to the day, hopeful of another good week. He left the course in a slightly different mood when John Maclaren told him that on the fifth hole Long John Daly had discreetly enquired as to whether "Howeller's caddy was gay?"

Well you can imagine the mileage I have got over the last few weeks knowing this piece of information. Still, the Jockey took this blow to his confidence well and is still his old confident self, and as always has been doing a good job.

The Ryder cup was a week off for me this year and I watched most of the matches willing our boys on but alas this year the Americans were just that bit better on the day. As always it seems the rookies did themselves proud and showed what a strong tour we now have and at the end of the day you cannot win every time. The match was close enough for it to be really exciting again and it seems that the Ryder Cup never lets you down for drama which is why I will do all I can to make the team that goes to Celtic Manor in 2010.

The Quinn Insurance British Masters at the Belfry was our next stop, a tournament promoted by my management company ISM, and I don't mind heaping praise on them. They have created one of the best tournaments we play from a players perspective, by just going the extra mile and also for the sponsors the Pro-am party the night before is the best of the year, just by being convenient for the players to join in, casual but fun, a lesson for all promoters I think. Highlight of the evening was definitely Tony Hadley of Spandau Ballet singing a few numbers, he is a legend. Jaguar one of my sponsors and a sponsor of the tournament has a good relationship with Tony, however I don't think he has ever played such an intimidating arena. Wembley stadium is nothing compared to Sam's Bar at The Belfry.

I started the week at odds with my swing but some good work with Jamie (nickname still to be decided on) helped me feel a little better by Thursday. An up and down week was ended with a bogey free 67 to lift me into 16th position, a reasonable showing.

I then drove up to Turnberry to do a company day for HSBC with a few other players and celebrities. I was looking forward to getting a look at the course for next year's open which you may remember I qualified for with my last day charge at this years open, but it did not turn out the way I expected. It was the worst day's weather my caddy, who had worked at Turnberry for 20 years, had ever seen.

This day left me feeling down beat about the dunhill links as the weather forecast was awful however when Thursday came the weather was great, my swing was in shape, and the Jockey was on top of the world knowing that I was partnering Sir Ian Botham and Shane Warne was our other celebrity playing with Richard Finch.

Happy days again, I was hugely disappointed with a 66, Beefy was rubbish, Finchy had a disaster on the greens, and Warney swore his way around all day. Finchy is always great fun to play with no matter what his day brings, one of the reasons he is having such a good year I am sure.

Friday, Beefy was brilliant, Finchy was good, Warney swore his way around all day and I was ok shooting one over on the Old Course to stay in touch with the lead.

Saturday took us to 'Carnasty', It was 5 degrees, raining and windy. I was rubbish but hanging in there like my life depended on it for the first 16 holes, Finchy was solid and Warney and Beefy were trying their hardest to make the amateur cut.

After battling all day I felt that if I could par the last two holes I would be in with a chance on Sunday to challenge for the title. After finishing triple bogey, triple bogey I felt like I was in with a good chance of missing the cut. What a game this is, it never ceases to amaze me. This finish left Beefy needing to make at worst a five on the last to make the cut. With a hanging lie on the edge of a bunker with 160 yards to the green I suggested he lay up and play for a chip and putt, so he listened to my advice, took out his five iron and went for the green, just like the aggressive cricketer he always was. In the end he holed a nerve jangling 5 foot putt for bogey to make the cut on the mark, a great effort.

In the end Warney missed out by two shots, and when he realised this he rationalised the situation by saying " Mate I can't believed we missed by two Beeping shots, Two lousy Beeping shots, That's Beeping all, if I had only holed the Beeping putt on the beeping 8th, we would have beeping been beeping playing at the beeping Old Course tomorrow, mate I cant beeping believe it, I'm beeping gutted".

On Sunday I felt like I let Beefy down, it's strange but I was more concerned with trying to win with Amateur prize for Beefy than I was about my own finish, in fairness this was only because I was now on the wrong end of the leaderboard but it adds a nice dimension to the event. In the end Beefy finished about 5th I believe and I finished a really disappointing 60th, which I would never have believed possible the way I played on Thursday and Friday. Still on the positive side at least I am putting together some low rounds which is a good sign for the future. Until next week then when I promise to update this site after the Portuguese Masters thanks for taking an interest.