2 July, Smurfit European Open, 2nd round 71 (-3)
Started off the 10th tee today with a birdie, which gave me a good feeling for the round. Had more birdies on 16 and 18 to make the turn on –5 for the tournament. However I missed a couple of tee shots today and I hit seven out of fourteen fairways, which might not sound good but the wind affected the shots a lot today making it even more difficult than yesterday. I had two bogeys on my back nine at holes 2 and 5 due to two bad putts, but overall my game was really good today. I played solid and I am very pleased with my play and tied 6th place. Of course, I am looking forward to playing my third round tomorrow! Hopefully we will be a little bit luckier with the weather! Talk to you then, Niclas

3 July, Smurfit European Open, 3rd round 73 (+1)
Scoring was not easy today, the weather kept changing between rain and sun during the round but the wind was affecting us most of the time. Started off in a good mood but was a little bit taken back after a bogey on the par-5 third. Recovered with birdies on 5 and 6 but a disastrous double bogey on 7 set me back again. I kept working hard and birdied 10 and 15 to get to –4. On 16 my second shot ended up in the water and I made seven. A birdie on 17 was little consolation. Lost some ground today and fell back to tied 12th, but hopefully I can still have a good finish tomorrow. Wish me luck! Tonight I’m going to a barbeque party held by Dr Michael Smurfit, the man who is behind the company sponsoring the tournament. Hopefully it will be a relaxing evening with some friends and good food. Speak to you tomorrow, Niclas

4 July, Smurfit European Open, 4th Round 78 (+6)
Started off in a good mood with a birdie on my first hole, but made a treble bogey on 4 that took me back to par and after that the momentum was gone. Continued with bogies on 6 and 9 and made the turn on +2. I made bogey again on 11 and 15. for a disastrous 78 that dropped me back down to tied 44th. The only thing I can do now is looking forward to next week. I am heading home to London tonight and doing a sponsor day tomorrow, Monday and then off to Loch Lomond and the Scottish Open on Tuesday morning. Hopefully the weather and my game will be better then. See you soon, Niclas.

7 July Barclays Scottish Open
Had a practice day today, spending most of the time on the driving range. Everything feels fine for tomorrow. I have borrowed Jesper Parneviks caddie, called “Duncan”, this week as I recently split with my caddie, Jesse after nearly two good years. He has done a good work for me and I wish him all the best of luck in the future. I’m off the 1st tee tomorrow at 08.30 with Martin Maritz and Thomas Levet. I am looking forward to play. All my family including my Mum and Dad are going to be with me this week which feels great. Talk to you after my Thursday round. All the best, Niclas.

8 July, Barclays Scottish Open, 1st Round 70 (-1)
Played solid today, but made a few mistakes that cost me shots. I was out in 1-under after a birdie at the 2nd, bogey at 5 from the sand and a birdie 3 at the short par-4 9th. I dropped another shot at the long par-3 11th when my 2-iron tee shot came up short right and I could not get it up and down. After a birdie a the par-5 13th, I gave it back at the 14th. My 3-wood tee shot leaked right and I ended up behind the big tree on the corner of the dog-leg. My next hit the branches and finished in the bunker short of the green and I made a good saving putt for bogey. A birdie at 15 got me back in to red numbers and I should have holed for another at the last when my 7-iron finished 8 feet above the hole, but somehow the birdie putt stopped short in the jaws of the hole. Overall, 70 is not a bad score and hopefully I can build on that tomorrow. My wife Marie is on her way up this afternoon so we are going to have a relaxing night in and be fresh for the 2nd round. Bye for now, Niclas

9 July, Barclays Scottish Open, 2nd Round 69 (-2)
Starting from the 10th today, I made 3 pars and then reached the par-5 13th in two and made an easy birdie. I good tee shot and a wedge to 3 metres on 14 gave me another and I made a 3 at 15 for 3 in a row. I was very unlucky several times over on 16 after missing the green long and right and I ended up with a score destroying treble bogey 7 to fall back to level. Birdies at 2 and 3 got me back to -2 for the round which felt really good. Par on the remaining 6 holes was less satisfying as I kept giving myself birdie chances. I am tied 32nd and looking forward to tomorrow and hopefully moving up the leaderboard. Talk to you then, Niclas

10 July, Barclays Scottish Open, 3rd Round 66 (-5)
I left a few putts out there today, but overall a very good round. Like yesterday I started with two pars and a birdie at 3. Another birdie on 4 and I felt that things were really heading in the right direction. I made a very unfortunate bogey on 7, saved par well on 11 and 12 and made two putt birdies on the par-5 13th and the short 14th, which I drove the green. Got revenge from yesterday on the 16th with a birdie today and birdied the last when I hit nine iron to a foot. I am tied 11th now and if I can play like this again tomorrow then I will be in with the chance of a good finish and maybe even a place in next week's Open. Niclas

11 July, Barclays Scottish Open, 4th Round 67 (-4)
A good effort out there today. A bogey free round is always a good achievement and I really gave it a go towards the end. I didn't play quite as good and steady as the previous days, but still made a lot of good shots and many brilliant up and downs. After driving in the bunker at the par-5 3rd I got up and down from around 100 yards for birdie. Made several more great par saves at 7, 11 and 15, combined with birdies at 9, 13 and again at 16. I was tied for the clubhouse lead playing the last and hit a great approach to 12 feet, but the putt slid agonisingly past. It felt very good to finish tied 5th and get a decent tournament under my belt as I have never really got the momentum going so far this season, but the last month and a half the game has pretty much been there. Unfortunately I didn't get into the Open next week so I will have a week off before heading to Ireland. See you then, Niclas

21 July, Nissan Irish Open, Baltray
Been in Ireland since last Monday preparing for the Nissan Irish Open just outside Dublin. It is the first time we have played on this course at County Louth and it is one of the best links golf courses I’ve ever played. My game feels good and I have really been looking forward to play this week. I have had some good results in this tournament in the past so coming back to Dublin gives me a good feeling. I played in the Pro-Am today, together with three ministers from the Irish Government. We had a good round of golf and they were a really nice company. I’m off the 10th tee tomorrow at 10.10 together with Nick O’Hern and Sandy Lyle. Talk to you then, Niclas.

22 July, Nissan Irish Open, 1st Round 70 (-2)
I was in a really good mood before today's round and made a good start from the 10th with birdies at 16 and 17. I was playing well and birdied the first three holes of the front nine to get to 5-under, even though I had missed quite a few birdie chances. On the 4ht, my tee shot landed in a divot and my sand-wedge second went through the green as I tried to dig it out. I didn't manage to save par and when I bogeyed the 5th too, all my rhythm was gone and I let another shot go at 8. I'm disappointed with -2 as I felt I had a low score coming. My sand wedge wasn't working too well today and a lot of the shots were lost due to my short game. A lot of practice will be done on this during the afternoon! Speak to you tomorrow. Niclas

23 July, Nissan Irish Open, 2nd Round 71 (-1)
Even though I didn't birdie the par-5 2nd, I felt like things were going in the right direction. I hit a very bad tee shot at the par-3 5th and made a spectacular birdie by chipping in. More birdies at 6 and 7 and a realistic chance on 8 too, but I three putted for bogey, and missed the green at 9 and didn't get up and down. Made a nice 2 at 15, had a good chance on 16 but missed and bogeyed the other par-3 on the back nine at 17. The flow was missing from my game today and I lost a couple of places, but I feel I am only 7 shots off the lead and playing well. It's not often you have 3 twos in a round, so hopefully I can keep it going and make a good move up the leader board tomorrow. Niclas

24 July, Nissan Irish Open, 3rd Round 72 (Even)
Played alright today, but several mistakes with my wedge cost me and resulted in bogeys where I was hoping to make birdies. Had an erratic front nine with birdies on 2,6 and 9 and bogeys on 3 and 6. On the back nine I was steadier with just a bogey at 15. The wind was tougher today and my level par score was at least decent, although not quite what I was hoping for. I had a lot more in me and hopefully it will show tomorrow. I am only 3 shots off second place in tied 25th so depending on the weather, a round in the 60s could gain me a lot of places. Niclas

25 July, Nissan Irish Open, 4th Round 71 (-1)
This was my best day play wise, despite the tough conditions, but one again I didn't get the score I wanted. I got it to -6 early in the round after birdies on 2,3 and 6, but bogeys on 7, 8 and 9 made me loose the chance of a top-5 position. After that I had difficulties coming back to shoot a low score on the back nine. My wedge shots were better today, but I still have a bit left to work on before I am satisfied. I finished tied 22nd and I am now focussing on the Scandinavian Masters next week outside Malmo in Sweden. A lot of friends and family are coming to watch me play, so hopefully I can have a good finish for them. Niclas

28 July, Scandinavian Masters, Malmo, Sweden
Had a quite busy Wednesday. Started off early and spent all morning on the practice ground before having a meeting with Graham Crisp, my swing coach. I then spent the afternoon playing the course in the pro-am. The weather is fantastic after a very bad start to the summer in Sweden. The course is in very good condition but is playing longer then normal due to the rain they have had all summer. I am off the 10th tee tomorrow at 7.40am with Paul Broadhurst and Greg Owen. Looking forward to playing. Speak to you tomorrow, Niclas

29 July, Scandinavian Masters, 1st Round 71 (-1)
Had a great day on the course. Sunny weather, almost no wind and a course in very good condition. Started off the 10th with an encouraging birdie, but was straight back to level again with a bogey at 11. Birdied 15 but after bad shots on 17 and 18 I made the turn at +1. I wasn't pleased at all as my game wasn't as bad as my score. Holed a four metre putt on the par-4 3rd for a par which felt like a birdie as my second shot went into the thick rough. On the par-3 8th I hit my tee shot to four metres and made birdie.
A very satisfying par on the 9th after holing a long putt for -1 and tied 23rd. Practiced all afternoon and hopefully it will deliver results tomorrow. Niclas

30 July, Scandinavian Masters, 2nd Round 71 (-1)
Another nerve-wracking day on the course. Again suffered a little from late swing adjustments and the accuracy was on and off. Started the round with a birdie after a 25 foot putt that just dropped in the hole after staying on the lip for a couple of seconds. Had bogeys on 3, 5 and 7 and made the turn in 38. Hung in there really well though and made birdie on 12. Bogeyed 14 and was quite happy to finish eagle, par, birdie for a 71. I'm getting closer and closer to playing well and I'm really looking forward to the weekend. Bye for now, Niclas

31 July, Scandinavian Masters, 3rd Round 70 (-2)
Another beautiful day at Barseback. Played much better today and gave myself loads of chances. didn't really get the birdies going though and I made the turn in -1 thanks to birdies at 4 and 9. Got it to -3 after birdies at 12 and 13 and I had more chances on the finishing stretch, but no luck and a very unfortunate bogey on 18 saw me finish with a 70. It was a disappointing end to a good day, but my game is coming together nicely and I am looking forward to playing tomorrow. I am tied 15th, 3 off a top-5 finish, so if I can break 70 then I should be in good shape for a high finish. Niclas

Next Month
Back to Tour Diary