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May is JP Masters month. I played well in the main event but exited close to the end of play on day one. I did somehow manage to win the PLO event though. It was my first live PLO tournament and 100% fluked, but felt good nonetheless.
The other game I played in May was the GUKPT Newcastle. Myself big Pauly, Keith McFadden and Chris Dowling headed off by road for this one, although we had good craic, the car was noticeably light on Sterling on the drive home.
June/July was the highlight of the year for me as I found the perfect mix. Loads of golf with good company and the greatest poker festival in the world. I was in Vegas for a month and think I spent more time on the golf course with Marty Smyth, Paul Spillane and Julian Gardner than I did playing poker.
This may sound stupid to some but believe me, I wouldn't have been in the right frame of mind for the main event if all I did was play poker everyday. As it worked out, although I did nothing in the other WSOP events I played, I don't think I could've entered the big one in better shape mentally.
Although never in great shape through the four and a bit days I lasted in the ME, the only time I was all in at showdown was my exit 
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on day five in 353rd for $30k. It's the pinnacle for live tournament players and every morning of the 12 days I was surviving in the tournament, I woke ten feet tall. The experience I gained this year will stand me in good stead for future WSOP main events and I've been chomping at the bit ever since to sit again in that arena.
Back home the inaugural Waterford Masters took place in Tramore. I was involved in putting this one on and it gave me great pleasure to see the top players from all over the country playing in my home county.
I made the last five tables before losing a race to go out. Over all the Festival was a great success and boasted a top class final table. Marty put up a great performance to finish second and in doing so gave me my biggest golfing win. I got €2,100 and a funny story.
On the previous Friday we played for percentages in Tramore and Cork the following month. Having destroyed Marty on the front nine we doubled down on separate bets on the back nine, winning one each. Being the gent I am I allowed Marty pick which tournament he wanted me to have a percentage in. His reply, "You can have the Tramore one as I wont be trying" :-)
August has the Irish Classic in Cork, I was disappointed to see the buy-in reduced this year, as I felt it took a little prestige from a tournament that's close to my heart. It didn't matter much when I went out in 24th just off the money. I had managed to make the FT of the PLO earlier in the week, but also shy of the cash. I had a great week's golf again so it wasn't a total wash out.
Other notables in August were making the final table of TCOP in City West and finishing my association with Brucepoker. I made the final table second in chips but only lasted four hands. I felt I had let my team down after the performance as we were still well in with a chance of place money at least.
As for finishing with Brucepoker. Well, I felt I had a good year with them and gave good value for their investment. I certainly had no bad feelings towards them as it was purely an understandable business based decision.
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