Patience is the name of the game

By Jamie Elson European Tour rookie

Jamie will be filing monthly insights for the BBC Sport website on life as a rookie on the European Tour.

Frustrating times for us rookies.

It's tough turning on the telly and watching everyone else playing while we're sat at home.

JAMIE ELSON FACTFILE DOB: 23 May 1981 Lives: Kenilworth, Warwickshire Career highlights: Member of winning 2001 Walker Cup team; Turned pro March 2003; Maiden Challenge Tour win in 2003 Finnish Open; Qualifies for European Tour in debut season

Our lot is a tough one at this time of the year because the first few tournaments are co-sanctioned by several different tours.

This means there are not as many places for those down the exemption list, so we can't play as often as we'd like.

And being a Ryder Cup year the big boys are scrapping for qualifying points, so it's quite tricky to get in.

I'm seventh reserve for the Heineken Classic and the ANZ Championship in Australia in the next couple of weeks.

My agent's working overtime for an invite and I'm just keeping my fingers crossed.

I could go out in the hope that some guys above me on the reserve list don't bother travelling - but if you fork out the money and don't get a game it's quite costly.

But by the time the Tour reaches Malaysia in mid-February I should be fine, and I'll get a good run after that.

It's just a question of patience.

I can't see myself bowling up to Monty and having a chat - not just yet anyway! Jamie Elson

In the meantime, I try and get to the gym and do a bit of practice.

But the weather has been so bad you can't really do much so I'm just kicking my heels.

I don't go in for long days on the range anyway - I just hit a couple of buckets of balls to keep my swing going and do a lot of short game stuff at Kenilworth, my home club.

And sometimes I nip over to Henley-in-Arden to see my Dad [former European Tour member Pip].

He keeps an eye on me and keeps me in check.

Sharks? No thanks!

The only tournament I've played so far this year is the Dunhill Championship in South Africa.

I'd always wanted to go there and spent a great week in Cape Town beforehand sightseeing.

A few guys went shark diving in those cages but I steered well clear of that!

The tournament was actually in Johannesburg, and I made the cut easily but played dreadfully at the weekend - I just couldn't putt - and ended up last of those who qualified for the final two rounds.

Academy: Keep the ball bouncing with Jamie and Zane

It's obviously very early days - I've only played two tournaments - but I'm absolutely loving being on Tour.

I'm just getting used to it and getting to know a few people.

Already there's a good camaraderie.

A lot of guys I was playing with on the Challenge Tour last year are there, and you get to know people very quickly - you're around them all day every day.

It's like a big family, although I don't know too many of the big stars.

They tend to keep themselves to themselves a little bit but everyone's pretty friendly.

Having said that, I can't really see myself bowling up to Monty and having a chat.

Not just yet anyway!