Two contrasting views on the recent Senior Tour Q School in Portugal

Necessary change of clubs hampered Fraser

Mann's rookie year as a senior 

FROM THE WEEKLY PGA E-BULLETIN
Fraser Mann is vowing to learn from his 'difficult year' on the European Senior Tour, having secured full playing rights for the 2011 season.
The former Scottish PGA and Northern Open champion - won both titles in 2004 -  came through the rigours of the over-50s Tour school in Portugal last week for the second successive year to gain one of the six cards with full playing rights. Last year's card gave him entry only to a limited amount of tournaments. Now, in 2011, he can play in every event on the Seniors' schedule.
The 50-year-old former Musselburgh and Ballarer pro from Carnoustie is now ready to make amends for his rookie year in which his form failed to materialise due to coming to terms with new clubs and changing his game.
But Mann, who finished 64th on the European Senior Tour Order of Merit and whose best finish was 28th - in the final event of the season, believes his game will be in shape for the new season, while the issues of being a rookie and finding his feet are also in the past.
"I'm looking forward to getting back out on tour and playing," he said. "I did not play well all year and can't look back and say there was at least one good tournament. I changed my clubs to comply with the groove rules and I just never settled with them.
"It has taken until the end of the season to get them right and that finally started to show in my scores finishing 28th in Italy and then coming to Tour School and shooting a shot better each round, with some steady golf."
Mann will be on familiar territory in 2011 and he acknowledged that will make a huge difference when he embarks on making an impact during the next 12 months.
"I can't believe how quickly the year has gone and that I find myself in the same position as 12 months ago with a playing card for the European Senior Tour," he said.
"I have a clean slate to go out there and start all over again and the great thing now is I will know a lot of the courses, having played them this year. I will also know exactly where I am going and be able to plan my travel arrangements better. That should make a difference.”


Very frustrating to fail by narrowest of margins

says PETER SMITH
Who just failed to gain Category 2 membership at the Senior Tour School.
Including the pre-qualifying competition, it was a long event really, going for 10 days, although I was much better prepared than last year.
It really came down my bad third round, in which I has a real bad wobble late on the front nine. I settled back down and finished well but he damage was done. It put pressure on my last round and I played really well with loads of birdie chances. I was full on looking for another birdie to get back to level for the event when I hit a poor drive on 16, which was a long par-5.
I pulled my tee shot and got stuffed with the ball sticking in a little bush, best option was an unplayable and drop quite a bit back, so couldn't reach in two more shots. Finishing up taking a 7.
Even then when I put my scorecard in I was 16th and was told they were taking 16 players as two of the guys ahead of me were not eligible till next year, being 49.
With all the pressure it didn't look like anyone would beat my score so I was given my membership forms, schedule etc. Then half an hour later, two players who had started on the 10th came in with 68s (beating my 71) and tied my 16th place but pushed me down to 18th and out of the membership spot.
So it was very frustrating but my own fault for not playing well enough.
I don't have full membership of the Seniors Tour for 2011 but I have an option of buying (£1600) affiliated membership which would make any money won official and I would be in the rankings for next year.
I am in Category 9 in 30th spot and, going by last year's events, that would get me into only one event automatically and, of course, the three British events where I can pre-qualify.
The one event is the Mauritius Open in a couple weeks. I'll find out if I can play in that after the closing time for withdrawals which is the Saturday before the event.

My plans are still to combine my playing, my coaching and playing corporate golf with corporate clients from Aberdeen.

I am presently in discussion with a couple local clubs regarding use of facilities and am close to being available for lessons.

I am also busy with a website which will give information of my services.

It is a frustrating event but I still have playing opportunities next year, and a am still young, fit and in good health.

It's a pity for Steadfast Scotland who sponsored me and sound just as disappointed as me.

PETER SMITH

petergolfsmith@hotmail.com

Orlando-based Poulter commited to playing in US

FROM THE SKY.COM WEBSITE
Hong Kong Open winner Ian Poulter says he intends to remain committed to playing in the United States despite the European Tour's decision to increase its number of mandatory events.
As of next season, players need to take part in 13 rather than 12 events to retain membership of the European Tour and the Florida-based Englishman admitted that planning his 2011 season will therefore not be easy.
As a result of the change, Poulter's Ryder Cup team-mates Rory McIlroy and world number one Lee Westwood have already decided to turn their backs on the US PGA Tour.
"I live in Orlando, so the family is schooled there, I have three children, two of which school in the States," Poulter explained.
"Rory lives in Ireland. His family is in Ireland. So therefore for him, I guess it's difficult to see being over that side of the pond.
"For him, it's an easy decision, and for me, I'm happy playing golf where I am. I'm very happy playing both tours, playing The European Tour and the US PGA Tour."
Poulter's win in Hong Kong at the weekend was his 10th on the European Tour and has also moved him up to number 11 in the world rankings.
It comes after a period in which the 34-year-old has been happy with his form but has been unable to capitalise - Poulter struggling in the final rounds of both the HSBC Champions in Shanghai and the Singapore Open.
However, Poulter now heads to this week's Dubai World Championship filled with confidence and looking to climb as high as he can in the rankings.
"I think I'll just try winning the Dubai World Championship and see how high I can go," he added.
"Tiger has dropped a lot of points. Westwood is world number one, and if I keep playing well, then who knows - I could get up there."

Oosthuizen, Schwartzel reverse trend - join US Tour

Going against the recent trend of top Europeans, such as Rory McIlroy, who have given up their membership of the US PGA Tour, comes news that two leading South Africans, Open champion Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel, have taken out membership of the American circuit for the 2011 season.
Oosthuizen earned a five-year US PGA Tour exemption when he won the Open at St Andrews in July. Schwartzel earned enough money as a non-member in 2010 to finish among the top 125 on the money list so he was eligible to join, as well.

Pebble Beach Invitational 1-2 boost

for return to US Tour School

FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
PEBBLE BEACH, California (AP) — John Mallinger won the Pebble Beach Invitational on Sunday, birdieing four of the last six holes for a four-under 68 and a two-stroke victory over Jason Gore.
Mallinger, who lost his fully exempt US PGA Tour status after finishing 133rd on the money list, made a 25ft birdie putt at the 18 to finish at 15-under 273 in the event which featured 76 male and female players. He earned $60,000 in the $300,000 tournament sponsored by Callaway Golf.
Mallinger, who also led after the second and third rounds, had eight birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey in the final round played in intermittent rain.
"I putted well today and putted well all week," said Mallinger, who has eight top-three finishes but is winless since joining the PGA Tour in 2006. "I love Pebble Beach. It's tough to beat Pebble Beach."
Gore, who will join Mallinger in the US PGA Tour's final qualifying tournament, closed with a bogey-free 65.
"I tried, but I just got outplayed," said Gore, who also birdied the final round. "But I played well and I'll take the momentum to Q-School."
Pat Perez (65) and Champions Tour player Russ Cochran (71) tied for third at 11 under. Cochran, who began the final round trailing by one stroke, held a one-stroke lead after birdieing the 11m but bogeyed the 13th and Mallinger soon began his final birdie spree.
Annika Sorenstam, completing her first 72-hole tournament since her LPGA Tour retirement in 2008, shot a 73 to finish at 3 under.
"It's funny, you don't play for two years and then you go inside the ropes and the mindset comes back," Sorenstam said. "It's there, which is too cool. But you can't make the same shots any more."
Morgan Pressel shot a 72 to finish at 7 under, the best among the 13 LPGA Tour entrants.
Tommy Armour III, the 2008 and 2009 winner, withdrew before the final round because of personal reasons.

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