Matt Wallace says the disappointment he felt at his performance in Denmark last week has prompted a timely “reset” ahead of his return to home soil for this week’s Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo.
Despite pre-tournament confidence about his form, the Englishman struggled in Copenhagen as a closing ten-over-par 81 saw him finish in a tie for 64th.
The result ended his hopes of forcing his way into an automatic qualifying spot for Luke Donald’s Ryder Cup team at Bethpage, New York.
But Wallace is still retaining faith that he can make his case for a Captain’s Pick over this week and next week at the Omega European Masters, where he will be the defending champion.
“It wasn’t my best week,” reflected Wallace.
“Preparation was OK, but the golf course just probably didn’t suit my game as much as I’d have liked.
“My driving wasn’t great and that was key around there. You saw that with Rasmus [Højgaard] and Marco [Penge] playing great off the tee.
“Sunday was a really bad day but sometimes you need that in your career to give you a push start, go again and reset. I probably needed that at that time. I have got two weeks now to give it a go.”
Golf is a beautiful game where you get another chance and it’s the week after
Preparations were made harder when he cracked his driver early in the week, and Wallace admits he is having to put in extra time to familiarise himself with a new club.
But while that is unsettling, he is confident he is “not far away” from finding the necessary confidence to challenge at The Belfry Hotel & Resort.
“Golf is a beautiful game where you get another chance and it’s the week after,” he said.
“I just need to [stop] a few things I was doing last week. Golf is so small, it could be little tiny things and that is what I have found.
“I got a little bit fast, away… obviously, I was using a new driver so I was using something that I wasn’t used to. I just wasn’t comfortable last week and that coupled with trying to hit it too hard, causing me to go into some bad spots.
“I am working away at it and I can get it to a decent shape. I like this golf course, have had some good form. Visually it just looks easier for me.”
Having formerly been attached to the four-time Ryder Cup venue, the five-time DP World Tour winner finished eighth last year in his sole previous appearance over the Brabazon Course since the tournament returned to the storied venue four years ago.
A runner-up at Hillside Golf Club in 2019, he is set for his fifth appearance at the British Masters.
“The crowds are normally the number one thing that I enjoy the most here this week,” he said.
“Being an iconic venue like The Belfry, and with the Ryder Cup coming up, there is that sort of vibe and feel.
“I used to be attached here as well so I know a lot of the staff and the people who work up here. It’s always nice to come back here.”
