Eddie Pepperell
Well, it’s nice to be able to talk to you about some actual golf. Before the European Tour’s three-week stretch in the Canary Islands, I’d only played one tournament – the Qatar Masters – since the Dubai Desert Classic in January. As I’ve said before, I’m someone who needs to get into a rhythm and play a few tournaments to get in the groove – something that’s really been evident in the last year. Very rarely will I show up after a few weeks off and post a great finish.
Part of the reason why I played all three events in the Canary Islands was because I needed some competitive rounds under my belt. I also took my partner, Jen, out with me to make sure I stayed the duration! It was actually really good – I felt I improved as each week went on and I got back into the familiar habit of playing a tournament, looking back, reflecting, learning and moving on to the next one.
That process has been completely missing since the pandemic started and it was nice to have it back. I felt like I made some nice steps forward as the weeks went on and I’ll be playing plenty of golf over the next couple of months. The fact we were able to leave the hotel at night and go out for dinner also really enhanced the experience. Not being holed up in a hotel all the time made the world of difference. My well-being felt much better for it. It was nice to have a bit of normality back.
On the course, there were some good signs, but the venues weren’t really suited to my game and style of play. They were very low-scoring layouts with lots of par 5s and I felt like if you drove the ball and putted well, you were going to be right there. Those aren’t the parts of my game that tend to be really strong when I’m playing well – that’d be my iron play and my short game. If I play the way I did in the Canary Islands Championship – where I finished tied for 12th – then I’m confident higher finishes will be ahead. I often have my best results in the summer and into the autumn, so I would hope to see that pattern again this year.
While I was out there, Rory Mcilroy was winning for the first time in 19 months at Quail Hollow, a venue he loves. From what I saw, his swing looked a little different and he was trying to play with a bit more control, especially with his irons. He’s obviously been doing a lot of thinking to establish what he wants to work on and he’s clearly achieving that.
He also putted very well, especially from close range, and when Rory is on form from six feet and in, he’s going to feature in a golf tournament given how well he drives the ball. He’s one of the most talented players ever and he’s intelligent so it’s not really a surprise to see him come back and win.
Rory was one of the players who was approached by the Premier Golf League last year and it looks like it’s back in a different incarnation, with some top players reportedly offered huge sums to sign up. I spoke to Keith Pelley about it in Tenerife and he frequently mentioned how bad it would be for the ecosystem in golf. That was certainly the sense I got when I looked at the European Super League proposals in football – that it was a cataclysmic event for the ecosystem.
I’ve always felt that when it’s as egregious as it is and there’s so much short-termism, it’s pure greed and there’s no intelligent thinking behind it. I was glad to see the football league get quashed and it seems as if there are people very high up in golf who are determined to ensure the same thing happens. If the two main tours and some of the top players are firmly against it, I don’t really see how it gets off the ground. I hate the idea and the timing and frankly it stinks. I don’t think it’ll happen.
“I felt like I made some nice steps forward as the weeks went on”
Our playing editor has recorded two victories on the European Tour, including the 2018 British Masters, and has 24 top-tens on the circuit