Hello everyone. I’m writing to you from Vietnam, where this Wednesday the Lexus Challenge begins, my second tournament of the season in the Asian Development Tour. Very excited. There will be time to talk about this week. Hopefully, many good things will come, but first, I want to update you on what I’ve been doing lately. I’m happy with how things are going.
We decided not to go to Pakistan for the second tournament of the ADT season and instead took the opportunity to play three tournaments of the Nordic League circuit, part of the Ecco Tour. As many of you know, this circuit includes about 30 championships, and the top 5 at the end of the year earn a card for the Challenge Tour. However, my goal is not to focus on that tour. I’ve used it more as a tool to compete and stay in rhythm between my main tournaments. I think I’ve played about 7 or 8 events in different seasons.
This time the three events were at Infinitum Golf, Tarragona. We decided to sign up because we are at a key moment: the technical changes we’ve been working on with Paul Holland are starting to take shape and become automated. We wanted to measure where I am when it comes to competing. We are using a new statistics program, and playing nine rounds allowed us to see where we are failing, what we can work on more, and where to focus our energy for the ADT. That was the plan, in addition to, of course, playing well and trying to win.
From these three weeks, what satisfies me the most is the consistency. I finished sixth, eighth, and lost in a playoff in the last tournament. That reflects a regularity that I hadn’t had for a long time — if ever. All this technical overhaul, both in the swing and biomechanics, is bearing fruit. The intense work we’ve done since October is starting to pay off, as was already seen in Malaysia (finished in the top 10). Confirming it now with these results is a great satisfaction for me, my coach, and the team.
Additionally, I had an outstanding round on a windy day. I signed a 63, -8, in the last championship. In that tournament, where I reached the playoff, the first day was also windy. I started with plus 3 after four holes, practically out of the fight, but I fought a good round and finished with plus 1. The second day I knew I needed a low round, something I hadn’t achieved in a long time. It was one of my short-term goals: to shoot a 62 or 63 that would give me confidence. And I achieved it that second day, in difficult conditions due to the wind. I placed second, one stroke behind Søren Kjeldsen, with real chances on the last day.
It’s been four years since my last victory, so I was going all out to win. The last day was an intense duel with Søren Kjeldsen, a name that needs no introduction due to his history and weight in golf. I knew he would make it difficult for me. We started tied at -2 after nine holes. I was playing very well, although I missed some putts, something that was a constant in the three tournaments. From tee to green, however, I was solid.
Then came a setback: a double bogey on the 12th. I played an aggressive shot from 200 meters, with a flag at the back, crosswind, and water on the left. I hit it slightly wrong, the wind took it quickly, and it ended up in the water. I was three strokes behind with four holes to go. But I didn’t give up. I always think I’m capable of the worst and the best, so I knew I could come back with an eagle or some birdies. And so it was: I made a great birdie on the 15th at the Lakes of Infinitum, a difficult hole.
On the 16th, with a strong wind from the left, I saw an opportunity. Søren wasn’t going to reach in two, so if I managed it, I would put pressure on him. He hit a wood from the tee, played the hole in three, and left the ball about 15 meters for birdie. With the wind blowing from left to right, it wasn’t an easy hole. I hit a solid driver to the center of the fairway, leaving me 250 meters to the middle of the green, and hit a 4-wood with a slight draw against the wind. I left it 10 meters, inside Kjeldsen. He made three putts, I left mine short for eagle, but made birdie and we tied.
On the 17th, I hit a solid iron. I was between a 7 and a 6, but the flag was short, and I didn’t want to end up in the bunker, so I went aggressive with the 6. I went a bit long, about 15 meters to the back of the green, and left myself a difficult putt. I ended with three putts, while Søren made par. On the 18th, he hit a driver and a 4-iron to the right bunker. I hit a driver with a slight draw that bounced in the center of the fairway, but the wind from the right pushed it hard, and it ended just before the water that borders the entire hole.
Then came an epic moment. I had a complicated shot, with the ball much higher than my feet, and I told my caddie, Jason: “Stand behind, because if I hit the ground, I’m going into the water.” I consulted with the referee, got the OK, and Jason positioned himself in case I fell. I hit a 9-iron with a flyer lie, crosswind, knowing it would come out loose. I bounced it just past the bunker, and it rolled 15-20 meters towards the flag, which was close to the water on the left. It grazed the hole and stopped 4 feet away. Almost made a 2! Søren, from the bunker, made a perfect birdie, leaving it 3 meters and sinking the putt. I had an eagle putt to tie and force the playoff. I made it.
In the playoff, Søren played by the book: low driver with perfect fade against the wind, 3-iron to the heart of the green 12 meters away. I hit the driver a bit to the right, into the semi-rough. I knew he would make birdie, so I went with a 4-iron to the flag. The wind caught it more than expected, it bounced hard on the green, and rolled to the left, where the green cascades into the water. It didn’t stop and ended up in the lake. I dropped, made 5, and he closed with birdie to win.
I was upset, of course. I wanted to win and gave it my all, forcing a playoff when I was out with four holes to go. But I congratulated Søren. He was great, super polite and classy. He’s a great player, and losing to him is the least of the evils. I’m happy with how I played, especially the last few holes. These three weeks were solid. If I had putted as usual, I think I would have taken the victory. But we’ve learned.
The statistics show that our weak point is between 2 and 5 meters, so that’s what we’ve worked on the last two weeks before coming to Vietnam. I’m happy to be back fighting for a title. Although it was a Nordic League event, a kind of third division, the field had level: Challenge players, Edoardo Molinari, Søren Kjeldsen. It was fun and competitive, and the results speak for themselves.
So here I am, eager to work, improve, and motivated for the rest of the season. Let’s see if things go well in Vietnam, and I’ll keep telling you good things.
