Well Dubai didn't go very well as I missed the cut but I did come back with one special memory from the week - I got to play a few holes with the legendary Tom Watson.

When you are preparing for a tournament you just look at competing and doing as well as possible without giving much thought to who else is in the field. I am not really in awe of anyone but Watson is a serious golfing great and I have to admit to being a tiny bit star-struck when he asked to join me for the last seven holes of my practice round.

I'd seen Watson behind me a hole earlier and as I was working on a few different parts of my game I thought I would wave him through because I was holding him up. Actually I almost said 'no' when he suggested pairing up because I was still trying to sort out my swing but then I thought "don't be daft Danny it's Tom Watson. You might never get this chance again."

Honestly it was an absolutely pleasure to play with him because the bloke is a real gent and so down to earth. We had a good chat and I can tell you he is still playing very well. Watson might lack distance because of his age but he makes up for it with his fantastic long and short irons. He did a lot better than me for a start with an eighth place finish which was five behind the winner Miguel Angel Jimenez.

I just never got going. It was all downhill from the very first hole when I lost a ball despite only going five yards off the fairway and racked up a double-bogey seven. I got a bad lie in the bunker at the next to drop another shot and it was all a struggle.

But I'm not too down-hearted. I spent a lot of time working with my coach Graham out there and feel in better control of my swing and my mind. If anything I might have spent too long practising but when I'm trying new things I like to get them right straight away and can get quite obsessive.

I wasn't tempted to go straight on to India for the next tournament because I'm not the sort who can play his way out of a slump. Some players find that is best but I like to get back home, recharge the batteries by taking a few days off, then get practising again. I want to be properly prepared for my next competition in Malaysia and to get the season back on track. I know what I'm capable of and it's a lot better than what I've served up so far.