Chris Wood: I'm hoping for better luck at Celtic Manor this week

FOR me, last week's BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club is the best tournament on the European Tour.

It has everything; from the way it is run, the golf course, the crowds and, amazingly every day last week, the weather!

Once again, I seemed to get the wrong end of the draw. However, despite the tough conditions on late Friday afternoon, I played some of my best golf of the week.

Every hole seemed to require a driver and long iron into small, sloped greens that, by the time I was playing on them, were spiked up and bobbly. Not ideal for making birdies.

Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk

myprint-247

View details

Print voucher

Our heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.

Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk

Contact: 01858 468192

Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013

I arrived at the par-five 18th at just after 9pm. My third shot from around 85 yards smacked into the pin and finally stopped 40 feet away, which is a shame as the ball would have only been five feet away had it not hit the pin.

Having said that, I'm glad it went to the right, because had it gone 40 feet left, it would have been straight into the water. I still can't decide whether I was lucky or unlucky.

Saturday was a very tough day. I shot 80 the first time in about ten years. It was strange, because I didn't seem to hit that many bad shots.

Ernie Els, pictured, criticised the course set up after his third round and there were a lot of players posting high 70s and 80s, not just me.

On Sunday, I went out and shot 68, my best round of the week. I know the form is very close, it's just not quite dropping for me at the moment. But it will soon.

Monday was US Open qualifying at Walton Heath, and I have to say 36 holes in one day is not something I'm used to anymore. I played plenty of it as an amateur, but with my back it is a lot of golf in one day.

It showed halfway through my second round, too. My left side, which is where the problem has been, stiffened up and I struggled to get through the ball. I missed out by three shots in the end, but again, some of the golf I played was decent.

I played with José María Olazábal, who has twice won the US Masters and is this year's Ryder Cup captain. We had a great crowd following us all day and watching him round the greens was great, as I'd never played with him before.

Rules are rules, but it doesn't seem right that a two-time Masters winner and legend of European golf in his year as Ryder Cup captain should have to qualify.

This week I'm playing the Wales Open at Celtic Manor. I almost consider it my home event as I can stay at home, which means sleeping in my own bed, cooking my own food and watching my own TV.

When you're away half the year, that is heaven, believe me.