Player Blog: Adrián Otaegui

Ahead of the Porsche European Open, Adrián Otaegui writes this week’s Player Blog. After a strong season, which included victory at the Belgian Knockout in May, the Spaniard discusses the challenge of maintaining consistency while travelling the world.

One of the keys to consistency is to enjoy the game. Of course, when you play well you enjoy everything more than when you’re struggling. It’s important to remember that the results are not always in your hand; you can play well, but other guys can play well, too. You might not win, but if you feel that you’re doing what you want on the course, if you feel calm and you realise that your game is dependant on you, that’s when you can really enjoy it.

I felt in control all week when I won the Belgian Knockout. I qualified for the knockout stage in the top ten, so I was playing well, and it helped that I also really liked the course. Although we were playing one v one, it was in stroke play format, so I was playing against myself as well. I finished every match under par, so I was trying to make my opponents play well to beat me. It was a really great week in Antwerp and the tournament was a lot of fun. As an amateur I used to play a lot of match play but I’ve only played a couple of traditional match play events since I’ve been a professional, including winning last year’s Paul Lawrie Match Play. I like the fight of playing against a direct opponent. There is a psychological element to it, which I enjoy.

There was a lot of travelling during my strong period

. I finished inside the top 20 for six events running. We played in the Middle East in Oman and Qatar, then in Spain and Morocco before heading over to China and finishing with Belgium. Of course, with a lot of travel comes jet-lag, but I don’t really mind travelling. It’s easier from the summer onwards when all the events are one or two-hour flights. You just get used to it, although you have to adapt to different courses with different weather. Keeping your fitness up helps you to recover from the long journeys. There are small details like that which help you to recover properly and be consistent in your play.

My caddie, Ian, plays a huge role

. I’ve been working with him for almost three years now. We have a great relationship and he knows what I need. Sometimes it’s not much, but when I ask his opinion he’s always there to give it to me. We have a good rapport and understand each other well and when you spend so much time with someone that’s key.

Keeping motivated is easy – it’s all about your dream.

If you have a target, that’s all the motivation you need. You use that in training and practice as well as when you step on the course. I don’t read any motivational books or anything like that, but when I do read I prefer biographies to get a sense of something real about another person; I think you can learn from that. For me, though, if you have a dream, that can be all the inspiration you need.

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