PGA Features

European Tour player Sion Bebb is back with his blog, and this time he talks bad luck, poor weather, Q-School, Welsh rugby and scary All Blacks.

"I played golf with Robbie Fowler a few weeks ago, he was a good lad, but think I scared him off."

"It's been a frustrating few weeks all round really. At the moment I'm just sitting around hoping to get a call to go and play in a tournament which isn't ideal.

The last time I played competitively was the Quinn Direct British Masters which was two weeks ago. That turned out to be a bit of a disaster for me on the course, but off it I thought the whole thing was brilliant. It was the first time I'd played at The Belfry and I think it is by far the best venue we've played on Tour this year. The condition of the course was first class and the off course facilities were fantastic, just a shame my golf wasn't as good.

All year I've bemoaned my bad luck and the British Masters was no exception. I was drawn in one of the early groups and we caught some really rough weather, the wind was howling and the rain was driving down all the way round. Then in the afternoon it clears up and the players going out had no problems.

I was still in with a shout of making the cut on the second day as I was three-over, but then I had a disastrous 18th hole (which was my ninth as I started at the 10th).
My second shot to the green looked to be in good shape when I hit it, but it hit the bank on the green then rolled down and into the water. I ended up taking a seven, went from three-over to six-over and that was it.

It's a strange feeling when something like that happens, it's quite sickening as you realise you could be out of the tournament. But it also frees you up a little as your gameplan goes out of the window. I was planning to take irons off the first and second but had to go for birdies so took a driver.

I couldn't get it back though finishing seven-over and missing the cut. That didn't do my chances of retaining my Tour card much good and to be honest I'm now resigned to having to go through Q-School once again.

There are only a few events left for this season and I haven't been invited to any of them so it's a case of sitting by the phone and hoping to get a call. I didn't get into the Dunhill Championship and I'm down as 14th reserve for the Madrid Open.

I've been in this scenario a lot this season even though I have my Tour card there's still been a lot of waiting around and hoping to get a call to go to tournaments, sometimes it's been as late as a Tuesday or Wednesday before I get the call which makes it difficult as you have no time to practice or work on a strategy. I've even travelled to tournaments as first reserve and ended up coming back without hitting a ball.

I could really do with playing one more tournament just to make sure I finish inside the top 150 as that means I can go straight through to the final round of Q-School rather than having to play two rounds.

I'm fairly confident I can do well at Q-School, winning last year really helped as it proved I can do it, so having that experience going into it is helpful. If I don't get a call for a European Tour event then I'll keep my hand in by playing a couple of Challenge Tour events just to make sure I don't get rusty before Q-School.

Having had a few weeks off it's given me the chance to relax a little and I've been playing a bit of golf with Dave Jones, the mighty Cardiff City's manager. It's been a bit of a frustrating time for the Bluebirds. We've developed a habit of conceding late goals which often turns three-points into just one. I'll be heading to Ninian Park for the match against Burnley and hopefully we'll get back on track there.

I've also got tickets for super Robbie's return - Cardiff's Carling Cup game at Liverpool. That should be a great occasion as its Robbie Fowler's first game back at Anfield. I played golf with Robbie a few weeks ago too, he was a good lad, but think I scared him off. We didn't have any money on the game, but I wouldn't mind playing him for his weekly wage.

It's not been a great time for Welsh rugby and things got even worse when we lost to Fiji and went out of the world cup. I was watching the game in the pub and everyone was calling for Gareth Jenkins to be sacked, then lo-and-behold the following day he was. It was the right decision, he's not been the best coach we've ever had and I think he only won about three games.

The trouble is we don't have anyone who can replace him. There are no decent Welsh coaches around at the moment so I think we'll have to get someone from overseas in to take over. As long as it's not Sir Clive Woodward, I've heard his name mentioned I just pray it's not him. He might turn us into world beaters but it would be very boring to watch.

With Wales out of the world cup I only have one interest now - that's hoping England don't get past the quarter finals. I think their match against Australia will be a lot closer than some people think. Unfortunately England are starting to come good and are gaining some momentum.

I had a shock the other day when I was at The Vale, I'd finished golf and headed into the pool area to relax. There sat in the pool and spa area were the All Blacks. They are playing in Cardiff and were staying at the hotel. They were huge; I've never seen anything like it they made the Welsh team look like fat boys.

To find out more about Sion and life on the European Tour visit sionbebb.com