WE avoided the rain, heard a few claps of thunder, and Dave Whiteley completed his tour of the North-East.

I had never met Dave before but having played his final round of the 111 courses across the region at Rockliffe Hall this morning, I have to pay tribute to his achievement.

He has raised more than £2,000 for WaterAid and we also went round with WaterAid's Mike Beattie, who I last saw on his boat from the banks of Loch Lomond at the Scottish Open.

It was a really good day. The golf course was in the best shape I have ever seen it and both Mike and Dave really enjoyed it. I hope they remember it. I played well, so that helps.

I haven't played half the courses Dave has. I hadn't even heard of half of them. It was embarrassing when he was telling me some of the names and I didn't even know where they were.

He played a bit over his 14-handicap. If he had stableford points then he might have got around the 30-mark, which is decent on a course as long as this, particularly when he was off the back tees.

I was five under, I played great. I miss hit a few shots, but I could have hit a really low score.

************************************ ON a day like that I try to use the outing as tournament preparation, with a tournament mindset. I am there to play golf with him, but he wanted to see me play well so I had to try to perform.

I try to hit certain shots that I would hit in a tournament. I was also trying to concentrate on my putting.

It's been a good week to have off because I also played up at Archerfield on Monday and Tuesday, near North Berwick, in the Ian Botham & Darren Clarke Invitional Day.

I won the pros prize, beating Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke, Lee Westwood. I won two hours on a private jet. I made some good contacts up there. It was well worthwhile.

************************************** I AM just hoping it has a positive effect on my end to the season. I'm having another couple of weeks off during the Ryder Cup and back in action at the Alfred Dunhill Links.

This has been as disappointed as I have felt since I came back on the European Tour because I face a fight to get in to the top 60 and a place in Dubai.

I have six events guaranteed left. If I can force my way in to the top 60. If I can make 200,000 euros, 30,000 a week, I should make it.

I had initial pressure on trying to keep my card. Once I had passed that maybe I relaxed. I have been solid, I have only missed six cuts, hopefully I will still make Duibai.