2014 Season's End

 

Happy Holiday!  I wanted to pass along an update on how I ended 2014 and where I stand for 2015. 

            I finished the year on the European Tour with four top 25s but it wasn’t enough to maintain my playing status on that Tour for 2015.  As a result, I have status on the Challenge Tour, which you’ll remember I played in 2013. 

            Speaking from a historic standpoint, I guess it’s not unusual for players in my circumstance to return to the Challenge Tour.  Only about 15% of the graduates to the European Tour keep their playing privileges, and even fewer rookies keep them.

            By way of update, right now I’m a bit incapacitated with my foot in a boot for four weeks.  I’ve had a series of torn tendons since the summer, which has made it difficult for me to swing.  I suspect this injury and the constant drain of travel caused me difficulty playing over the past few months.  As you may have seen from my scores, it has been a struggle since early August.  I hit some shots and posted some results I hadn’t seen in a while.

Up until August I had either played well in European Tour events or just missed cuts (over the course of the year I missed nine cuts by just one shot).  But really whatever caused things to happen over the past few months or whatever may occur going forward – the good and the bad – is all part of my development process.  No matter what, I’m going to keep fighting hard.  

I learned a lot about competing and about myself over the past 18 months.  It has been a whirlwind without any real break.  I went from the Challenge Tour to Q School to the European Tour without stopping.  I played 44 events in 28 countries on five continents.  Possibly I pushed too hard, but all of us learn from our experiences.  And sometimes mistakes are the best teacher. 

I’m fortunate to have had so many wonderful opportunities to grow and learn as a player and as a person.  Once I get healthy and get a little rest I’ll be ready to go in 2015.  I feel like I’m better and stronger than I’ve ever been.  I’m looking to parlay what I learned over the past 18 months into something good.

            Best wishes to you and your family for a Happy Holiday Season and a wonderful, prosperous New Year!  Thanks for supporting me!  All the best, Brinson