LAST week was a big week for different kinds of reasons, I played my fourth tournament in a row feeling quite unwell with flu and I also had to miss my little girl's second birthday.

I was never really going to play at the BMW Italian Open but having missed the cut at the Spanish Open I felt I needed to go, unfortunately that meant missing Grace's birthday, which was hugely disappointing as it's something I never wanted to miss.

We decided to let her open her presents on the Monday, two days before her actual birthday, so I could spend some time with her and play with her new toys (a Wendy House actually), easy when your two and not so easy at 32.

Going to Italy was the right decision in the end, running in a seventh place finish and a first top ten of the year.

It was nice to finally see my name on the leaderboards again and back in the mix, even if it was always going to be a long shot to win after heading in to the last day ten shots behind.

I was, though, only four behind second and I have taken a lot of positives from the last week, proving to myself that my game is actually going in the right direction.

Having only got to walk the course instead of playing in the Pro-Am it was actually a blessing as I was struggling with flu and feeling very lethargic.

So I was able to get some rest and save as much energy as possible for the week.

I also suffer from hayfever - yes, I'm a golfer who does actually suffer from it, strange as it may sound - so by the weekend when I was just starting to feel better the hayfever started.

Being a golfer and suffering from hayfever is not a good combination, so if there's anybody reading my blog this week that has any ideas of keeping it at bay I would listen to suggestions. My medication just doesn't work.

One problem I do face this week is trying to find a new caddy for the third time this season, I feel jinxed.

For the last four weeks I have had a great guy on the bag and I knew it was going to be difficult to keep hold of him if any big jobs came along.

Yesterday the bad news came. One big job did come along in the way of German Martin Kaymer, who has had a great chance of making this year's Ryder Cup and playing in all the majors as he is ranked number nine in the world.

I have to say that I had a great time with Craig Connelly on the bag and I wish him all the best for the future.