Ryder Cup star Nicolas Colsaerts thinks he wouldn’t have made his 30th birthday, far less challenge for the Open Championship, if he’d carried on his partying ways.
The big-hitting Belgian arrives at Muirfield with many thinking he’ll overpower the fast-running links but the “Dude”, as he is known on tour, admits he had too much fun hinting that some of it was extreme in his early days.
“You can’t have fun the way I used to and play at this level of golf,” he said. “I had a lot of fun, but I didn’t think I was going to get past 30 years of age. A lot of the stuff I was doing was dark.
“I’m glad to have changed my professional way about things and that’s why I’m here today.”
In one way he misses that lifestyle, but he knew if he wanted to fulfil his golfing dreams he had to get his head out of the clouds.
“You get to a point in your life when you realise you are missing out on things,” he said. “I remember how much I wanted to play Ryder Cup before last year and you have these dreams, so you have to start sacrificing stuff.
“I had been partying for a few years and I had fun. I wish I could still be partying when I am 45 or 50 years old, but you can’t do that.”
Having played his part at Medinah last year, Colsaerts’ profile has gone skywards in the US and like new US Open champion Justin Rose he’s signed up with Mark Steinberg, Tiger Woods’ long-time agent.
“I figured we have this small structure built around me which is 100% Belgian, and we didn’t really have the contacts,” he said. “When you are dealing with the men who have handled Tiger Woods’ business for 15 years or so, it makes things easier.
“I didn’t know that Justin was making the same move and I never spoke to Tiger about it in fact I have never spoken to Tiger, not even when we played against him at Medinah.
“Maybe that might change now, but you are not going to talk in the middle of a Ryder Cup!”
Colsaerts played well at Castle Stuart at the weekend and finished seventh at Lytham last year, and he feels he is ready to contend in a major.
“It’s pretty cool to be seen as Major contender and a Ryder Cup player and I feel like I can have a good week at Muirfield.
“The week at Castle Stuart was used as preparation. I am sure this will be tougher, but I shot 67 on Thursday and Sunday at Lytham.
“If I get into that position again this week, I feel like I’m more able to deal with it.”